Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-08-27
TIE WAY POLK'S TARIFF RAISED THE
PRICES.

On the first Of December last, the Tariff of
1916, that offspring of LocoIoco wisdom, which
was to work miracles upon the commercial, ag.
ncuIluu aud industrial interests Of not only this
country, but the world nj large, went into opera.
lion. The period intervening between It's enact.
mant and the day when it took effect, was EN-.
ployed by men engaged in the various interests
which it affected, in preparing for the change
which 1t would produce. So successful were
the efforts made to accommodate all things To the
yicissjludcs of Locoloco Iegslalion, that Tor some
Time after the new Tariff took effect men of all
parties were surprised ut the lltle commotion
which It's advent produced. To be sure, the
manufacturing interests sustained something of Il
shock; not few suspended operations, but by
FAR the larger portion, by dint Of care and econo-
my, and The reduction of the wages of the opc.
ratv,s some so per cent, n reduction which fol-.
lowed the Tariff as naturally as eff CT always
follows cause, were enabled preservethcir in.
tcgriDy and continue thor operations. but to
break down and destroy domestic manufactures
was ony one, although perhaps The first, object
OF free traders; and Notwithstanding they were.
in measure, lulled in the attempt, well planned
and admirably executed as it undoubtedly was,
they looked around with confidence for ndlca-
lions Of increased commercial importance, and
opened wide their eyes and ears to see aud hear
tho rcjolclngs Of those engaged in agricultural
pursuits. But here they looked and listened in
vain. The one had seen no inducements 10 par.
Icuar activity, and the other had fell nothing
whereat TO rejoice. Even some of the mos
brazen faced and loud talking of the Locolocc
dcmagoguos were we'll nigh discontinued at the re-
suit OF Il long cherished measure, and were dill
gently casting about for some proteuco that woulC
authorize them in throwing The odum of so sig
nal failure upon The Whjgpary, when an un
I Iorcscen and distressing famine in the Old Worl,
came At once to their relief and their disgrace
To their relief because the effect which II pro
duccd upon the business of our own country
was oil such nature aS 10 cover up the de!ecu
} OF Locoloco policy and Withdraw the public Gazt
from its deormlly and failure. To their dis
grace, because they were not backward in seiz
lg uIon an mscrulabIe providence of God ant
placing the results TO the credit Of their banling
1t will be rtcoll,ced by all, no doubt. butprob
ably denied by such plInls as the Plain DEALER
that for some time after the present Tariff wen
into operation, the prices Of breadSutf,, tn
great article designed 10 be especially bonetiue
Dy y. were exceedingly low. Men learned i
science of supply and demand found nothing o
which to predicate reasonable hope Of perma
neni advance. Even horiumph ol Free Trade
with all its attendant figures aud phiosoph!
aiied 10 inspir, confidence in The future. Ne
intrrealed IN this branch Of trade asked with Ell
b phasis, why is il that This Tariff which was TO
) SO much Tor u.s. has done so liule, or rather nosE