The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-02

and not one Of these e sta lishments would have
been left in the country. What is their condition
r under the fostering influence Of this much-abused
and misunderstood protection Why, sir, they
have increased fve-fold IN different parts Of the
! country. Producing annually six millions Of dol
lars, employing over six thousand persons, their
wages one-ihird higher than in 1912, aud furnish
0 ing all the varieties OF the article, from the COM
monest umbler TO the richest cut glass, at 20 per
cent less than they could be purchased in IS40 and
IlS4l-eOnsuming three-iourths Of all the Missouri
lead, and thousands of pounds Of potashes. Every
article which is used in the manufacturing Of glass
Is OF American production.
Mr.. Chairman, few days since | received a
Communication from an intelligent merchant in the
city Of New York, directing my attention to the
lcaTpetlng manufactured annually in the United
States There are some interesting facts connected
with it, to which | would ask the attention of the
committee;
The estimated number OF yards OF carpetng
| nov manufactured per snnum IN the United
| states Is l0,5s0 O5o
Value vi ditto $3.50 500 90
Wages paid per annum S3,l7i,lS7 90
Consumption Of South American and smyrna
Equal to iuil cargoes for 50 or 1870 VESTS
Freight and Pnmass at cen, per pound ~ '''''o'o ID
| this branch OF manufacture $1,000
Number OF small manufacture with not more
| than from two 10 ten looms each $50
should Congress alter the existing tarf 1t aLmpor.
a TO the carpet manufacturers 70 have The duty SPECIFIC
manufacturers Of iron
The amendment offered by my colleague will
break up, root and branch, every mandatory Of
carpet in the United States. He proposes to reduce
the duty the man ufacured article one-half and
increase the duty 25 per cent. upon the mate
rial Why, sir, this 10 an astounding fact. Is this
Congress ready to cast upon the wide world IS 900
persons, whose united wages amount 10 three
millions and quarter annually, and many of these
persons with families dependent upon them And,
Mr. Chairman, when you shave have done this you
haUa he frae NJ mai
interests Of the country.
| | also have before me a letter from a highly re-
spectacle constituent, calling my attention i'm.
portant branch Of our manufactures, and one, sir
but ttle understood allude to the articles made
Of bone horn and horn tips; tortoise shell, mother
opearl, and the different varieties OF fancy wood
Very few Of these articles produced in this
country; and OF those, the quantity produced falls
greatly below the consumption. IL is true the bill
before us discrminates between the raw material
and the manufactured article; but sir, the duty
the first is too high and too low the latter The
effect Of this will be give the foreign market TO
| the manufacturers Of other countries, who receive
| the material free of duty Allow these articles
to come to US free Of duty, the most Of them now
do, and you enable to give employment 10
many thousands Of our people, and to compete with
the manufacturers Of other countries all over the
| world Why, sir, this House is not aware, and the
country is not aware, Of the growing importance of
this trade. Large amounts are annually exported
portions of the globe. The effect OF the bill before
us, should it become a law, could not have been
! understood by my colleague. Ii will break up
valuable branch OF our industry, which has been
many years growing into importance.
have here, sir, another and an exceedingly well
| written letter, from an importer Of French and ltal-
| ian goods in the city Of New York, which | will
| read paragraph from. The writer says, "that in
| early life he became convert to free trade; but
more mature reflection, aided by observation Of the
progress Of affairs in own country, brought me
to the conclusion that, though free trade is beautiful
IN theory, the protective policy Is the true one to
develop the resources and prosperity of the coun
try; and this has been my opinion for the last ten
fifteen years, during which period | have been en-
gagged in the importing business, and have had no
interest in any manufacturing establishment pro-
tduct My belief is, that large majority Of import
ing merchants this city prefer to have the tariff
main 1t is, rather than have it much reduced,
pecaly if the specific principle Is 10 be abandoned"
The writer then goes on and says that a rcduc-
lion of the duties would cause a large increase Of
imports; our markets would be overstocked; the
business Of the country would be disturbed by
port of specie. 1t may be said that exports will in
crease in proportion. Here is the mistake. Eu-
rope will only take of productions what they
need, and that without any reference to tariff.
/ If the supply is excessive prices go down.
Would it be to the interest of the farmers, think
you sir, to have the prices Of their products fixed
by the export rates' Will it not be better for them
/ Y
protected and Aourishing at home, and thus give
them market for their breadstufs and provisions
Certainly, the home market is the best market for
the farmer If we look to foreign countries to
sumo agricultural productions, they only be
sent there when prices low at home and the COM
paratively small amount which is sent abroad, WILL
in great measure, determine the price Of the i'm
mense amounts consumed at home.
| | have before me sir, large number Of letters
containing important information on the different
| branches of manufactures connected with COM
merce. | could make valuable extracts from them,
but should be occupying more of the time Of the
committee than would be agreeable either to 1t
myself wish sir, that the Secretary of the Treasu-
| ry had had few of these before him when he COM
piled the paluable document he has published to the
world. Sir, must take this occasion to say, that
in my opinion, and believe it is the opinion of all
plain practical men, that there issued from the
press of this country work so full Of error, more
puerile or fallacious and, sir, am surprised that
it should have cmanaed from such high quarters.
Why, Mr.. Chairman, a second rate Pearl street
clerk can point out his fallacies.
| Sir, there is one question which is clear to my
mind, that the more you protect and develop the
home industry Of the country the you contrib
ute to the wealth and happiness OF the people. Ma
ture has done everything for us; do not let u.s. by
wise legislation, contravene her laws A few days
since met with address delivered at Columbia,
South Carolina, on the Goth November, 1910, by a
distinguished member Of the other end of the Cap
ltol, senator MCDUFF1E, III Whlcn nhu a passage
so much to my purpose, will read it. He says:
''The greatest most prevailing, and most pcrncious
of all the practices which distinguish and dcform
the agriculture of this and the other cotton plant
ing States, is the almost exclusive direction Of the
whole available labor Of the plantation to the pro-
duction Of greatest market staple, and the
sequent neglect Of all the other commodities which
the soil is capable of producing sustaining, and
which are essential to supply the wants of the
establishment. No scheme Of reform improve
II
this radical vice in our husbandry If | could
now reveal process (he continues) by which
our common soil could be made to produce two
bales of cotton to the acre, | should have great
doubt whether the revelation would be blessing or
a curse to that great interest ~ He then urges upon
the planters of the South to raise their corn,
pork, bacon, horses, mules, &c, and from his own
| experience tells them how it be done. Why,
Mr.. Chairman, this orthodox, and it is just the doc
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