The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-07-21
The Tariff Bill.
NEw YeRK. June Is, 1876.

To THE Hon. RosERr J. WALxER,
sH-On the 9th Of September last received from the
Hon. G. W. Lawrence, Collector OF the Port of New
tain asd reoSs"n% sn,
which might be able to afford the government in rela
on 70 my s, OGa n o. business My works
could not furnish any statistics which would
have been Of a reliable nature. ! thought it better
therefore not 70 communicate with you although had
for many years been led lock closely into our none.
tay and commercial regulations and arrive certain
icy OF our government AT tina earnest solicitation
however, OF many persons, to whom my views
known and who believe that the present moment de-
mands public expression of opinion ON the part OF those
whose business has led them pay especial attention to
these matters am induced to request your attention to
the following outline OF the true principles which, ny
humble opinion should guide the action of the govern
ment In the present possn Of our commercial relations
The true policy Of every government looks to ma
donsl wealth and independence In other words the
security Of the rewards of honest industry to uvaua
far practicable of whatever necessary for the sun
port and happiness of its constituent members The
earth is the sole source Of wealth lst by the mineral
treasures contained wthu its bosom Id by ths vege-
table productions which it furnishes upon it's
, S 0D, mn sn.r two things are
agents most perfectly and SUCCESSFULLY mankind
mot .nassvor TO- et.r in both fields but one portion
other must be employed in developing and giving
full form to the crude in which nature has
ut to place her treasures The value Of days labor
will be that amount which furnishes a comfortable sub
sssncs to the aborer end His family and enables him
old sge and the natural standard Of value will be
article whose bulk 10 small in comparison with the cost
least subject wear and variation Just in proportion
then. as nation distributor labor that there il
mutual cependtnce between its members and the results
OF ITS industry are SO varied as to meet the wants of the
whole community, and its standard OF value is UNIFORM
Just IN that proportion docs 1t aPpro to the perfec
uon OF political organization just in Droportion the
other hand - confines itself to particular channel
Of industry. and is dependent on foreiga nations
is ever wavering and uncertain in that same pro-
portion is it govsrned and certain to entail ruin and
these cardinal principles, obvious enough in themselves
will perhaps be shown in q striking and forcble
and leading to certain conclusions which cannot help
thinking will leave doubt to the course of policy
which the Government Of the United states should Dur.
sue in tho present crisis 10 ts action At this time must
determine the dssnes of the country for good or for
evil, for many years to come.
msnu to exist in the same country separated from
each other only By narrow streams possessing
character, and adopting a. the of the value
Of property, one uniform currency. For the sake of
upper and lower Alter many years uuorn prosrs nS
during which time their only circulating medium was
taon Of certificates Of the actual po:seson Of gold and
silver let US suppose that the upper ancied
that its condition could BE- bs.red ~ pouring paper
money not representing the actual of gold and
silver into the volume Of is circulating medium Tho
effect il obvious and 10 set forth in the language Of
Washington when he declares THAT in exact proper
ton As you pour paper money into tho volume Of ccu
lang medium in that proportion will every thing in
country rise in price" bushel Of corn although L will
feed days labor, although il win produce no
more will be increased in price Is not clear then
teraed standard Of value viii Continue to uroauss the
bushel Of at the old cost and carry across the
river and sell it for the advanced price And long
the old or upper government continues to redeem
bills with silver or gold just long will the lower
government continue to send the river every ar.
its interest to take nothing in return but silver and
gold. ~ everything else it obtain at homo at a
ands that the operation Of its internal trade
become embarrassed from the absolute want of silver
and gold that some remedy must be devised II must
stop this continual drain Of SPECIE and therefore il
temps t. fence out m neighbors by tariff of heavy du
ties the immediate operation of which is If paper mo
ty the previous price Of every imported article then in
the cosntry and this advance in price would straight
pouring another issue Of paper money into the Volume Of
circulation The immediate effect Of this increase of pa
per money would be an advance in prices importatons
would again commence, the tariff must again be raised,
and high prices and high TARIFF would 20
hand in hand. until BY such course of poll.
be diaused among the people to such extent, that
in accordance with the mmutabls laws of trade where
become involved in one general ruin opening wide the
chances for few to smsss huge fortunes that they had
never earned out of the general wreck of the many.
An attentive consideration Of these principles will lead
to three natural conclusons:-
First, That it is the duty ofeyery government to
standard OF value possible; standard which the expe-
risncs Of all time has proved to be gold and silver in
shsuld be composed of gold and silver coins or paper
representative oftho actual existence Of gold and silver
dollar for dollar o. of property the actual
Second, That tariff based upon currency which is
uncertain and huctuatng in its nature viii in itself be
designed and will be but the FIRST In the great drama
ofexpansion convulsion, and general bankruptcy.
political At the same ms ws the n .sms sns Of
sgy and the Same natural advantages and adopting one
uniform standard Of value no tariff Of protective duties
with the principles stated these three conclusion.
history Of this country, independent government,
instead ofconanng currency 10 gold silver and
has been mainly the policy for many years Of those
countries from Which We import most we have allowed
upon the accumulations Of honest industry upon
ths confding faith ofsn public and the de-
sire Of many msnto do business hey ond their
The result has already been shown and while at first
all were ready to admit that protective tariff
cesssry to- developo these mineral treasures that ma
to mingls with the music Of her waterfalls the busy
hum Of machinery, and to afford ready, convc
nsn, and certain s,n market for our agricultural
produce the effects anticipated have been induced to ar
but: it, failure to it, own inherent weakness rather than
the true cause namely an ever expanding and contract
ing currency We have already seen that tariff foun
ded on such basis must from the nature Of things be
But does hence follow that protective tariff il not
necessary for this country to induce the manufacture
Of those arcles the material for which is found
here in great perfection and can be wrought into
useful and neoessary articles with az little expense Of
our original parallel We started the Two IN ns w@gid IN
the race OF political existence at the same time and
hence we reached the third conclusion above stated
but in order to understand the true position OF
tries, we must vary the parallel in this wise.
sssncs Aens.nd yea Continually sdV Usen IN
in science knowledge Of the arts the development Of its