The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-20


Of the rest of the world.
THE COMMERCIAL LEGISLATION OF ENGLAND
AND THE UNITED STATES
We continue to-day our extracts from the au-
thoritatye statistical work recently published in
England by Mr. Macgregor, under the direction of
the Board of Trade. We have already spoken of
the prodgious research and the full mastery of the
subject which is displayed in this most valuable
volume. We have only further to remark, in alu-
sion to what was said upon this subject yesterday
in debate in the House of Representatives, that
the work is especially remarkable for the en-
tire eatdor and (lirnssS of its views upon Ameri-
can institutions. In this respect il contrasts favora
bly, with almost any English publication which we
remember to have seen. Advocating freedom Of
commerce-or rather stating on a large scale the ar
ray of statistical facts which constitute the impreg.
nable premises of that great argument-it does in
deed denounce the prohibitVe policy which, at some
periods, our government has pursued. But it con-
dennis with at least equal energy the restrictive
system of England. II Is not a toork prittsn in dis
paragement Of .amsriea. If it were so, we should
quote it only to refute and to censure In making
our further extracts we deem it proper to set this
point right at once, and once for all.
We respond heartily to the idea suggested by
Mr.. Macgregor, that to no other two nations on the
face ofthe globe is such opportunity given both
Of mutual benefit and of mutual injury as to Eng.
land and the United States. Recent events seem
to have disspated the one dark cloud that lowered
in their horizon. The standing controversy Of
halfa century between them, which defed so many
efforts at adjustment, and seemed at times almost
incapable Of pacific adjustment, has at last, by a
union of frmness and moderate on in the statesmen
charged with the question, been composed A
grand perspective Of benefcent commercial inter.
course, far more expanded than the world has vet
seen, now opens before the two great branches OF
the Anglo-Saxon In their acquisitions and their
products, in their wants and their supplies the two
continents-the two worlds respond each to the call
Of the other. Let our legislation rise as the COM
mercial Legislation of England has lately risen, to
the height and the dignity of such crisis and such
mission. 1t will be between two great nations the
enduring covenant and the perpetual bond of peace
Who would not rejoice in such a contamination,
AN""''' J'o"' '""'s''S"' commercial InlUs, Sc.
on Inc 9th oil December, 1871, Hamilton's cele-
brated report on manufactures submitted to the
House Of Representatives.
On the 23d of January, 1892, the. House came to
the following order:
"Ordered, That the report of the secretary of the
treasury on the subject of manufactures, be COM
m.tted to COMMITTEE of the Whole House, on
Monday next"
Protection, however, excepting so far as might be
concealed under the revenue prnciple did not re-
'e,oe Tue so sane OF congress.
vi cue io'h Oh august, 49, before the presenta-
non OF Mt. tiaF'''ton's report the second revenue
WI 10 49, tne Sancuoh OF Inc PRESIDENT. The
P'e e.ump uec'ares:
nereas, py an act ehtued An act for laying
a"ty on goods, wares, and merchandises imported
'n'o INC ohiteu states, diVcrs duties were laid on
Sooas' wares ana merchandise so imported for the
u'S''a'se vi Tue oep's OF the united States ana the
AnJ uSoro,s .,hn loa, "e VI '''l'Iu'ac'"' re-
d;sch,rae or ,hoo,J Jai, ~ "''u nc
crso 90 he sa;d dn,;as ), ~ ~ ''e'e'''y ~ III
D., ,h;s ao, ~. :, ;,s 0,o,o r. ,.
rsusnrs b AND ~. ;ro,os sae - =, "!ues, purely
teas and cofTees m s,r;,s I'd uues 1'l iote'gn
ennroera,od in 10 f,,tom. 'a "i'''S, anu On those
nrincnIe of nro,oc,;o ~ e"oW qua. t''e
p''op1oi pto'ec''oi 10 manufactures was not IN
'ouu'o'' except III the preamble;
On caoinet wares, buttons, saddles, gloves of
lea'her, mats OF beaver, ielt, wool, or mixture of
any OF hem; miliinery ready made; castings iron,
and slit and rolled iron; leather tanned or tawcd +,
ana all manufactures Of which leather s the article
o. ch'el value, except such as are herein otherwise
raten; canes, walk sticks, and whips; clothing
ready made; brushes; anchors; all wares of tin,
pewter, or copper, all or any of them; medicinal
druSs' except those commonly used in dyeing; car.
pets ana carPetng; all velvets, veverets satns, and
o'ner wrought silks; cambrlcs, musllns, musinets,
'awhs' faces, gauzes, chnzes, and colored callcoes
ana nankeens, Scuen and hag per cent, ad vao-
rem
On March Goth, 1916, the committee reported to
the House bill, which, with some amendments
celebrated protective tariff of IaIG ''o
This was the first tariff, which was avowedy in
principle protective; tariff which underwent n,od;
fcaton afterwards but which continued unsound in
all its principles. With reference to the modifca-
tons OF the tariff, Mr. Pitkin, disciple of the pro-
tectve system, observes:
1--WE would here observe that q p,,,n,n,, a,,,, of
thirty per cent nd poloyem was imposed nm W