The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-03

in attributing the relation Of cause and effect to
certain results which they invariably point out as
a consequence upon high duties. Whenever me
duties upon imports are increased, we ma, nol"i-
standing our increasing population and growing aa-
yantages that our exports and tonnage either remain
nearly stationary absolutely decline, ana mat the
prices of agricultural productions TALL. We hnd
when these duties are diminished that our exports
and tonnage increase most rapidly, and that the
prices of agricultural produce rise Notwithstanding
the increased quantities thrown into market The
inference is therefore, irresistible that the effect OF
reducing the duties is TO elevate the agricultural and
navigating interests by increasing not only the guam
tity of their productions, but the prott upon them
Now, according TO a statement Of Mr.. Woodbury.,
which seems TO have been carefully prepared and
entiIely reliable, out OF 100000 Of our people
about IA 900 600 depend upon these emPloyments
for support But, Mr.. Chairman, when this picture
is presented of decline in our agricultural exports,
of general fall Of price in agricultural productions
and of declining or stationary tonnage IN grow
ing population and with increasing natural adVan-
tSges, and when 1t is shown TO be the inevitable con
sequence of high duties, we are told that this is
compensated by the increased consumption OF the
home market
IL requires but little reflection To detect the falla
Cy OF this pretence. Before the tariff Of 1912, we
furnished oil the tobacco rice, -four, and cotton con
sumed at home, and exported larger value abroad
than since the enactment Of that bill Now il these
exports, which are no longer sent abroad, have not
been entirely lost bat found a market at home Tor
portion of them, they have been exchanged for such
articles could only be manufactured under u
protective duty, and have therefore obtained in re-
turn fewer Of Them The effect Of this sytem upon
the whole industry Of the country, therefore, is to
diminish not only the returns for agricultural pro-
ducuon, but TO decrease the quantity Of manufac'
tured articles furnished for its consumption. Its
abilities both for production and consumption, are
thus diminished. Mr. DIXON III. LEWIS. in a ia
ia nT,tlaI nT
estimates the persons engaged in manufactures
Mt 79l ,545, and their productions at 1896, S52,'
6l5. In that year the total amount Of duuable
imports retained in the country for consump-
lion was s44, 1879, SOC, or less than one-ninth
of the value of manufactures produced at home.
proportional estimate would give less than
81 949 persons as the additional number neces-
sary to produce the entire amount Of dutiabe i'm
ports Allowing three others to depend for support
upon each ofthese laborers should have as an ex-
tnvNgani allowance, ISL 796 consumers. SupPo-
sing each to consume s25 worth of food, the pro
duce Of agriculture, which ia very extTavagant al
lowanee for families consisting Of men, women, and
children, and the entire amount consumed would be
SS,794, 800. The estimate for the raw material ne
cessary for the manufacture OF all the cotton fabrics
imported that year from abroad was estimated by
none above $4,000 bales, which, at $40 a bale,
would have been about ~, 0OO, 000-making thus, in
food and cotton, sum less than sll 900, 900 Now
the tables show a loss Of five cents a pound on
776,27S,Sj2 pounds cotton, the average annual ex-
port from lS43 to lS45-thus making loss on that
article alone of more than $50 900, 900. They also
show a loss on the average annual export OF Hour
for the years of 81 40 per barrel on 1853 426
barrels, and of s2S 80 hogshead on l34 1888 hogs
heads of tobacco-making in all s., Ash ,729 upon
The articles Of flour and tobacco which were export
ed; thus showing a loss of more than S43, 900 900
upon the exports of cotton, -four, and tobacco
without considering the loss upon the large amount
consumed at home. But appeals have been made TO
The selfish feelings Of the gran-growing States, upon
The ground that they at least benefited, they
did not export so largely as the planters, by any
law which would increase the home consumption Of
their provisions. Nothing could be more falacious
than such pretext The capital and labor required
10 produce given value in cotton, tobacco and rice,
are both far greater than would be required for the
production of the same value in manufactures. Our
exports. exclusive of the amount Of foreign mer-
Chandise re-expored, will be increased about
$4,000 900 annually by the proposed reduction Of
the tariff Of 1912 according to the estimate Of the
Secretary of the Treasury. The tables compiled
by Mr.. LEWIS, - which | have before referred
show that the pro ortion Of manufacturing produc-
ton was $500 "A to each person engaged in that
species of labor, whilst the proportion Of agricuu-
raj production TO labor was as S2l3.71 to each per-
son engaged. The proportion of capital employed
10 produce given value in agriculture is as
500 to $50 % of production, whilst in manu-
features it ia as 500 TO Sl47.56, according to
the same table. Upon the estimate here given
Sl4000,000 Of manufacturing production would
employ $4,000 persons, whilst the same amount
produced by agriculture would employ IS, APO per
sons. The capital employed by this amount of
agricultural production would be, according this
estimate, about 500 900 ,000 whilst the value
in manufactures would require a capital of about
50, 500O0 This estimate, too, throw out Of con-
sderation the value of the land engaged in produc.
lion, which ought to be estimated, and would in
still further the amount of capital required
for this value in agricultural production. | know
that tables taken from the census returns cannot
be relied upon for entire accuracy, but they may be
used for an approximation close enough for sound
general results. But the same proposition may be
demonstrated in another way. We all know that
the profits Of capital far greater and the number
of laborers employed for given value in produc-
lion are fewer in manufactures in this coun-
try than in agriculture. This is well known,
that | need not refer to documentary evidence
TO prove it. Now, if this be so, it is evident
that Sl4,000,0 900 produced in cotton, tobacco,
and rice would divert far more capital and labor
from the production of other agricultural sta
Piles than the same value produced in manufactures.
More than twice the number Of persons, and nearly
three times as much capital would be diverted in
the former than in the latter case. But for the in
reference Of restrictive legislation, we should give
desirable employment to many more persons, and
facilitate the Improvement of the old Iands and the
settlement of the new-a consideration which is
of vast Importance to the States
But have been treating this subject sir, if the
provislon-growing States were not Immediately
interested in the export trade of the country, when
the reverse is the fact. They already exporting
provisions largely, and the change in the British
commercial policy opens to them vast prospect for
the future know it is alleged that the repeal of the
English corn-laws be of no service to US. For
mery it was urged that we ought to lay restrictive
duties upon their manufactures in retaliation for
their cornaws; but now a informed that what
we were called upon to revenge no injury.
The admission of Indian corn free of duty, the low
duties upon provisions of all sorts, including wheat
must open new and great demand for our agr-
cultural products, if we act wisely ourselves. The
question has been argued one to be deter
mined by the relative cheapness and quantities
of gram in this country, and in the north
of Europe, and about the Black sea. On the one
side has been urged that the countries around the
Baltic and the Black Sea can furnish more than will
be wanted for British consumption, and at cheaper
rates than we can afford it, on the other, attempts
have been made to show the inability of those coun-
tries to furnish the requisite supply. l have no
doubt myself, MIR. Chairman, of the capacity Of