The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-24
THE DAILY UNION.

political friends, but hia oPpoaenis siso'"
THE stand which the HOn. J. NJ. Miles, senator
/ from this State, has taken the tariff question,
has taken by surprise not only his political friehds,
| but his opponents also. We had supposed thai on
this point his principles conceded With large ma
| jonty Of those Of the democratic party Of the
Union He bad been accounted hm supporter Of
the present administration, although At The canvass
which resulted in its elevation 20 power, modihca-
| ton Of the tariff Of 1872 expressly made a con-
dlton, and was considered a. one Of iis leading
measures. Whether his opinions have undergone
change and he Is hereafter 10 be considered tariff man
We do not know but the speech which he delivered
In the Senate on the question VI referring the tariff
reduction bill 10 the finance committee looks very
much like a tariff speech. The Wig papers arc
publishing it with much eclat, and begin To think
that he has more sanity about him than they
gave him credit for. Well may they do 30, for he
adopts the slereotyped wing cry OF ruin and dis
tress a consequence Of the passage OF MchAy's
bill He says: We may find ourselves two years
| hence under the necessity, from the operation Of
this bill, of a loan Of twenty-five millions Of dol
lars, our finances deranged aad the great bust
ness interests Of our country In state Of pros
| tradon.'
1--WE must permit, then, according TO the notions
of Mr.. Niles, the present high protective tariff to
remain as il is, in order TO prevent this ruin. In
short he says that legislation is not now specially
called for much as TO say the tarh Of 1912 10
good enough il is. He wished that the iron
interests, the woollen interests, &c, might not be
wholly abandoned Wholly abandoned = A
duty Of thirty per cent, equal to u probecuon Of
fifty per cent on iron is going TO ruin the business
IL is we'll known that the profits Of the iron makers
under the tariff Of 1912 have been enormous. In
some instances, they have made 100 per cent on
their capital and cleared the cost Of establishments
in one year But this is only a specimen Of the
tariff Of 1912 Ii is one-sdea thing it enables
portion Of our citizens 10 make enormous profits
IN their business at the expense Of other portions
IL not only protects, but enrlches; It not only en-
courages manufacturing, but II pays a bounty 10 the
manufacturer We cannot believe that the democ-
racy Of this State will approve the course which
their senator has taken"
From the wsstheld a. Y standard
THE TARIFF-sPEECH OF THE HON STEPHEN
STRONG
In compliance with our promise, this week
present TO readers the able speech Of the Hon.
Stephen Strong, Of New York on the tariff and the
only regret attending it is that restricted TO
few brief suggestions, instead of the more general
remarks with which we had designed TO accompany
IT, the more pontedly, if possible to illustrate and
enforce the great political truths fearlessly
serted and so clearly set forth by the speaker.
The present tariff, as shown by Judge Strong, was
passed as a temporary measure, TO meet existing
emergency with no expectation, or at any rate, no
grounds for any, that il would remain unalteTed and
unmodi6ed the settled law Of the country Several Of
the most distinguished members Of the Senate voted
Tor It, protesting against its oppresBlyey restrictive
and protective character, because 1t was the only
revenue measure presented 10 them by the wing
majority, preferring suffer- with their constituents,
It's gross injustice rather than that Congress should
break up without making provision for the wants Of
the government. The bill was in its most essential
features gross violation Of the policy to which the
wing party was pledged before the country the
whole democracy were opposed to il; and II was, IN
r. a Il -f.l- IL a
LESSONS OF both OF the great political divisions OF the
United States well of every interest except
that Of manufacturing. With what consistency, then,
do the wing editors complain, when il s proposed to
modify law, which is so glaringy defective, that
even senators, without whose votes 1t would never
have passed, felt called upon to accompany their
votes with protest against its oppressive and OBJ
jectonabe characterl The people, by the election
Of James X. Polk, have demanded that this law
should be repealed, and the duties on imports rem
dered more equal, and more consistent with the rev.
enue principle, which is the only constitutional BASIC
for leyying taxes in any form.
The tendency of the manufacturing system, fos-
tered and buih up by the special protecton OF gos
ernment is truly stated by Judge Strong; and it be-
comes the people TO inquire into the subject lest, be-
fore they aware, in legisatng for classes, their
government shall have brought into being, in reality
state Of dependence Of labor upon capital, as much
to be dreaded and destructive Of liberty, the
ation Of the vassals OF the monarchies Of the Old
World TO their hereditary mobiles and lords.
The argument urged in favor of protection, that il
creates "home market" for the products of the
soil, Mr. Strong clearly shows to be fallacious. On
the other hand, 1t deprives agriculture Of the only
protection which government can extend to it, and
that is, the privilege of trading without restriction
wherever its products are wanted-"free commerce
with all nations" and the world for its market. 1t
Is the restrictions of this very tariff law of 1872
upon commerce, that is bringing down the price of
grain in the west, where there a sufficient surplus
to supply scores Of such "home markets" as is fur
nshed by protecting manufactures and which is
kept in the country because it would not pay the
cost Of expectation after deducting the enormous
duties upon the foreign goods brought back in
exchange.
The speech of this distinguished representative
from New York embodes our sentiments, and we
may say Of TRUTH the democratic principle upon
the tariff. Free trade unlimited, is the true doc
trine; and all classes and interests in a community
will be found to enjoy the greatest degree of pros
perty, when the artificial shackles and restraints of
legislation shall be removed from commerce. and
every branch Of trade be left free to regulate tsef
We, too, "fondly hope the time is not far distant
when we shall see THESE principles in full operation.
M MI ES or C0NNECTJCITT