Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-28

ON THE TARIFF.

ing pamphlet IN green psper binding, which may be found
every Democratic deck in the District in FREQ cir
eulaIion among Mr.. scddons constituency Il ens Thy
and quite speeous address against the Tariff ct lst2 in
particular and the system OF protection in general and bears
the impress OF much patient thought and indasiou.
search There air Of sincerity throughout its pages
which convinees one that the writer much in
rs he could be his theories built upon facts instead
OF being ingeniousy framed support themselves
without any such foundation But IL purpose
act the critic perpetate review. From friends Of
protection this pamphlet deserves has
received; and who has requisite and informs,
ton would render important by exposing
tail the erroneous principles 1t seeks to ineulcate
Our present purpose is to notice two propositions
forth IN this speech both OF which certainly Of novel
and startling character The first OF these and perhaps
most astounding OF the to be found page Of
pamphlet in these words: Without the Fictitious nu-
ences OF governmental interference. without tho poor de-
Pondence OF premiums and bountcs they
would in all probability have ourshcd more vigorously
and attained 10 harder aud nober growth The idea
rs as any one will who reads the whole passage that
protection instead Of being protection, actually injurious
10 the manufactures OF the country, and the friends OF
ne manufacturing classes the advocates OF free trade
Ihls Is bold announcement. How il would sartle Mr.
MeDufo IL he could be brought to realize il! How il
would animate our manufacturers with hope that the
sr OF free trade Is IN the ascendant! How would spread
dsmay among the British factories II they who own and
laeour IN them should be converted the belief
The Tarh OF lst6 must be highly protective f those who
are engaged in manufacturing agree with Mr.. Seddop)
since has excited sad aPptehensons hoe and accord
ing TO last advees abroad has even by the news
Otis passage through the lower House. already stimulated
the markets Of Manchester and Hudders6eld. We have
heard no loud complaints from dsas
uous effects OF the Tariff Of lSi2 And yet that was the
most abominabe OF protective tariffs These facts will
serve TO convince-us that those deeply interested IN
arriving at the truth OF the NATTER aud best qualified do
SO by their experience take quite another view of proec
ton The manufacturers OF the United States seem to
agree with perfect harmony, that protection their
interests Foreign manufacturers appear quite unan
the opinion that free trade best suits tb.irs
Its impossible, in this brief space upon all the
considerations which demonstrate the falacy Of this
/ l,atn thu NJ.
port H. IL might reasonably be expected that he would
compare the results OF different Acts and show s
that they have proved friendly manufactures when
least protective; and rice But this would be rather
difficult OF Accomplishment and he adopts altogether diff
iereni mode and one not little singular. We have
room to quote the pamphlet verbatim and refer TO it
| Tor the correctness OF our representations.
In order then to demonstrate that protection has no,
proved favorable TO the growth OF manufactures
his own words, that they, woud have hourished mere
vigorously without it, Mr.. Seldom proceeds 10 offer .as
tics OF the population of the u States in 1913 and 1910
and also OF the annual value Of during the
same periods The former by these statistics appears 10
have doubled, while the latter has increased quite
per
The object OF this branch Of these statistics s n eon
vince that the growth of has not kent pace
with the growth OF population; and inference that the
protective system has eNerted unhappy influence This
Is surely most "lame and impoten conclusion" Let
the fact be admitted in all lite imposing appearance ap
that increase in numbers been almost beyond
peceden'n the history OF nations appears also that
progress ss manufacturing people has been remarkable
beyond example, and only surpassed by our growth in
population But does follow all that they would have
been so Jostered by reorade to have equaled our
growth IN numbers, that they have retarded by be-
ing Proecedl Such deduction would most forced and
un"arranted Year after year, the ceaseess tide OF mmi-
grafton flooding our shores with the population of Europe
These immigrants have neither the means nor the skill 10
enter upon manufacturing pursu-nor are they likely TO
have the Opposition while the abundance and cheap ness
OF our waste lands invite them agriculture and promise
ready subsistence. Manufactures, moreover call for
large investments OF capital An OF the capital of
the country quite essential prosperity as an in
numbera-lnQeed. ford has,.
test OF their progress examine into proportion OF
ia employed in them, than compare annual value
with the increase OF population.
There Is n flaw in this argument more serious still
II proceeds upon the suppOson that policy of protec
non has had fair and full tral from 1873 lS4O unin-
ierrnPed by measures tending and intended destroy Its
effects Now, in this very paragraph is admitted that
the Tamil OF le2l Is generally regarded first di
recty protective Tariff So that population had the
IN the race by eleven years. And sveu during the re
msnder CT The period, the has been almost
ciusvey IN the hands of the Democratic party who Lny.
thrown every obstacle IN the way OF the friends OF prot.c
ton and crippled their efforts whenever they runohed
Tor briet Tho animal value oi IN
Ie4O was obtained at time when hey !snguis hrg
under the bhghung effects Of the Compromise Bill which
al that time reaching lowest point had los. en:rely its
protective features and presented sample OF the
beauties OF comparative free trade This year of great
depression IN all industrial pursuits shews an invested can't
tai IN Manufactures OF 1888, 600 900. Since the Tariff
Of s42 has infused lie and vigor among them by its
healthy protection # We may Jgdge from what we see |
around this capital Is in 1876 more than doubled
But there is still another link argument to be sup
Piled Although Manufactures have increased but IS per
cent IN value since 1873, under such protection as has
been afforded them, attempt made in this pamph
let to prove that without any protection they would have
advanced with more rapid pace. This is what is meant
TO de sure but TO arrive such opinion must in
fer bindly for there nothing these statistics which
even hints at it, The deductions which ssem to us to
recommend themselves a candid aud sober Judgment |
are these The Manufactures Of the United States have
grown from infancy TO maturity with unexamped speed
This they have done under systems OF protection at times
efficient at times inefficient, and amounting to |
little nothing. While the
has done much for their advancement it has done less
than might have been expected under efficient and
bic system.
The transactions Of the late session Of Congress am
ply illustrate this view. The u ls42 was tie work Of
The friends OF protection. IL has been operation bot
lew years, aud tho pursuits IL Is intended cherish are
Just beginning to reap its blessings when this free trade
Congress 81 1876 destroys the whole fabric and lamen
tsuons, here and elsewhere, already begin 20 respupd
from the acories aud workshops OF land What sort
Of logic would be to denounee American System OF
protection 10 Home Industry because IN 1850 our home
manufactures should be found struggling for bare e1s-
'ehee under the provisions Ut the OF 1876 Or
que from this fact that free trade would have given an
impetus TO their progress aud that they would have flour
lshed more vigorously" under its benign proteefon7
We have proceeded altogether upon tho suppo-on that
NJ Seddons hgurcs We do TO yield
this We believe the Of facts will show the pro
pofuonae Increase Of manufactures fully equal 60 that
OF population Their annual value in 1873 a. stated in
the report Of Mr.. Tonch Coke, was 5000 900 600 In
inc census OF lo4O' the cspiA invested IN them put down
NJ SSS9OOOOOO, and MI Soddon infers that the annual
value could be greater, and therefore fixes that at the
same sum. The American Almanac for l643 In giving
these statistics remarks, that ho estimate Of invested ca
pal eannot be relied upon all and for tho simple rea
son That no man IN disposed reveal the amount Of bi.
capital ~ trade But etus take the figures find them
The FIRST objection have urge IT, that the estimates Of
1913 aud 1910 refer to different subjects The former in
GUIDES al tho products Of domestic industry, whether
made for sale OF for domestic Il gives ~ the grand
sam total oi every Thing made by the labor the country:
10y the mechanic, by the agrcultursi we'll as by tn
manufacturer properly called. Its peposorous to say
that manufactures, in tho modern sense Of the term
amounted TO 500 100000 when thoy their very
bth IN 1873 II the invested capital be equal 10 the annual
value o. Mr. Seldom then the invested upita
IN 1913 must have been S2OOOOOOOO also which nobody
will believe. Inc statistics of 1870 present only the oapi-
n vested m our factories tho vue Oi their products in
tended Tor sale, aid the subIectso trade and commerce
Tho hguros orc incorrect IN another particular The an.
nual vauo Of manufactures IN 1870 h stated be $780,
VUOUO upon the moro opposition that 10 be great
Or than the capital invested. On reference tho statistics
OF lstO' and upon enquiry Of persons engaged IN