The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-06
TO THE EDITOR OF THE UNION

What tremendous clamor the lords of the loom
and their hirelng presses have raised at the reduce
ton of the black tariff of 1912 They howl like so
many hungry wolves disappointed of their prey II
the manufacturers will permit their business to mix
with politics, and howl for repeal Of the tariff,
We ready TO meet them at the ballot-boxes, and
decide whether the whole country is to be taxed
forty to fifty millions annually for their private
benefit.
Never let il be said that mechanics and laborers
cannot cope with the pauper labor of Europe. That
song-like all the rest of the wing songs manufac-
tured to delude the peoples worn threadbare a
humbug longer useful for the purposes of decep-
ton The farmers under entire free trade, able
to compete with all Europe in their own markets;
SO the mechanics and operatives in factories;
and still the lords of the loom SANDER their work.
men and women, by demanding protection of 80
to so per cent, to enable their operatives to- COM
pete successfully with the paupers in Europe. The
inference to be drawn from the manufacturers own
showing is, that their operatives in factories
miserable, slow set of drones; and they must have
protection to enable them to compete with the pau
pers of Europe. What shame it is TO underrate
their own workmen and make them out more use
less than the paupers of the old country, when, in
fact, it is just the reverse. Our mechanics and
workingmen in factories surpass the English with,
perhaps few excepdons) in quick comprehension,
activity, originality and ingenuiy and still they
cry for protection What sin to tax the poor la
boring man. with large family, with nothing to
depend upon but his exertons for daily bread.
The widow, as well as the servant maid, who toll in
the kitchen for scanty pittance, all taxed for
the clothes they wear, to swell the profits of the
lordy manufacturers. The free-trade principle,
sprnging up in all directions will be quite revolving
to our wealthy oppressors; but we would beg to
remind them that they stretch their consciences and
their suspenders, in demanding exhorbtant protec-
ton, as tight as their miserable cotton-mxed fan
nels palmed of upon the people as wool When
washed and worn few times, shirt can scarcely
be drawn on a bean-poe. We shall purchase Eng
sh hannels hereafter the best and cheapest, and
let the lords ofthe spindle grow honest at their eis
ure t..s +A.at# H..t" #.#H3H h,
The majority Of the people have the right to de-
eide whether they will be taxed beyond the wants of
the government for tho private benefit of manufac-
turers; and the laboring classes will insist upon and
maintain it at every hazard. They produce all the
wealth, and should control what they create. When
public opinion is fairly expressed 1t is the sovereign
law, and should influence such important con-
sideratons as the prosperity of the community de-
mand. ... .t,s. a..,i .,rl.t-s.... =.
The crisis is approaching; and it depends upon the
aboring classes whether the cold, calculating selfish
ness of wealth. with their agents in Congress, shall
rule the desnes Of the labbring people, who never
will fawn and crouch like whipped spaniels and be-
come hewers of wood and drawers of water for their
oppressors Public agents, in State legislatures or
in Congress, who have deceived or misrepresented
their constituents, should not be trusted again 1t
tray and prove recreant to the trust committed to
their hands--serve other masters, egisaie in favor
of moneyed influence, sell themselves to the highest
bidder, and let labor take care Of itself Voting for
| such men is forging chain TO bind the working
mans nose to the grindstone. Laboring men have
the power in their own hands; and it is pll-mport-
ant that they it cautiously and with discretion
Place those in power only who you know will car
ry out your wishes in Legislation.
The people of Pennsylvania have been deceived
and misrepresented by public agents in public
counsels more than any other State in the Union.
Public men have sold themselves by scores, like cat
tie in market All remember the big bank legisla-
ture, and many other transactions Of similar nature
that have taken place within that State; and we very
| strongly suspect Pennsylvania was misrepresented
in the passage Of the new tariff act Certain /,
u.s. that few of the from that State who
voted against the new tariff act were renominated IN
Congress. We viii, however, leave this question
in the hands Of the aboring classes of Pennsylvanr
TO answer A MICHIGAN FARMER.