Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-01-14
No. 30.

Oe lnJurlOuSlV dIeCleO OV lOreIgn competition.
This is power incident TO every sovereign
State, and as the separate States of this Union
are by the express terms of the constitution pro-
! hibited from its exercise. it follows that. unless
it resides in the federal government the United
states are without this essential attribute of
National sovereignty.
! The extent of these determinations. bearing,
as they do, upon conflicting interests, and IN
some degree arraying those of one portion of
the Union against another, can only be ad usted
under the influence of that spirit of concession
and compromise which prevailed in the adoption
OF the Constitution itself The history of our
Legislation on this subject, demonstrates most
concuslvely, that tariff to be permanent,
which is so essential 20 the manufacturing. as
well as all the other great interests of the coun-
try must be reasonable and equitable, and that
all attempts to establish rate of ultra protec-
tive, or low horizontal duties, have only tended
to keep the question in a state of constant aoi-
tation, than which nothing can be more prelndr-
al to the interests of the business community.
am therefore, in favor of such just discritnina-
ting duties as may be sufficient to sustain all our
| great National interests against injurious com
petition from abroad such as will give the home
manufacturer, and producer. reasonable profits
on his capital and enable him to paw his work
men fair wages, without unnecessarily taxinp
the consumer.
/ Pennsylvania, possessing as she does SUCH
vast agricultural, manufacturing and mineral
| resources, and commercial advantages, has a
peculiar interest in the adjustment of this aues-
ton, upon permanent basis. Should the
changes made in the rate of duties, by the tariff
act OF 1916, affect injnriously any of the great
interests OF the country, we must unite our eff
forts to induce Congress, to whose care and
ha j. "A 81.
stltutlon, and on whose wisdom and Justice we
may safely rely, to make all just and reasonable
amendments
From all the reflection [ have been able to
give this vexed and complicated subject, | am
thoroughly convlHced. that reasonable discrlmi-
mating duties, such as can be permanently main.
tanned, iii connection with the operations of the
constitutional Treasury and a sound currency,
Will do more to promote the permanent and gem
eral prosperity of all the great interests of the
country, than any other system of policy which
can be adopted. High duties, with the employ
ment OF banks as the repositories of the public
moneys, and consequent initiation of paper cur
rency, by which the advantage of the duty to
the home manufacturer and producer is DESTROY
ed, are as certain to hasten and aggravate those
commercial revulsions, to which all hations are
exposed, as profigacy and vice are to produce
want and misery.
The repeal or modification of the British Corn
Laws, by which our agricultural products are
admitted into British ports, while it was meas
ure dictated alike by sound policy and humani-
ty, toward the suffering population of the United
hlhgdom, has had most happy influence upon
our farming interests. This measure has al
ready augmented the demand for our bread
stufts: at enhanced prices, and there is reason
10 oeheve 1t will continue to increase perma-
nently our agricultural exports, which cannot
tall to add the general wealth and prosperity of
the State and Nation.
In the last annual message | expressed nv
views at length in regard to the policy of the
banking system, to which l respectfully refer
o the opinions therein contained / continue to
adhere. AT present there is reason to believe
that our banks are in a comparatively sound
condition. Without ascribing this creditable
and healthy state of things entirely to the policy
which has been adopted, of limiting the amount
of the banking capital, and making bankers, in
divdually liable for the payment of their debts,
am persuaded that it has a salutary influence
in preserving the soundness of the currency,
and that it should be adhered to inflexibly.
refer you with great pleasure, to the able re-
port of the Canal Commissioners, for detailed
statement of the operations upon the public i'm
provements during the past year.
The economy. skill and integrity, with which
they have 5een managed for few years past,
have greatly tended to restore public confidence,
and re-establish the credit of the Stale, and
Justly entities every member of the respective
Boards of Canal Commissioners, who has had
an agency in producing this great reformation,
to the gratitude and confidence of the whole
community. refer to the fact, with no ordina-
ry satisfaction, that during the last three wears
there has not occurred, among all the officers
and agents employed on the several lines of i'm
provements, single case of defalcation.
The improvement of the Ohio river. from it's
mouth to the city of Pittsburgh, has heretofore
been deemed an object of sufficient national i'm
portance to claim the attention of the federal
government Numerous appropriations have
been made for this purpose, hut nol sufficient to
carry out any efficient and useful system. Many
of the Western and South Western States of
Lhe Union, are interested in this improvement.
The connection, however, of the main line of our
canals and railroads, at the city of Pittsburgh,
renders lbs Improvement an object of the greatest
interest to this State. If it were made naviga-
'.e during all seasons of the year Except when
ce bound) tor steamboats, of large class il
would add to the commerce of Philadel phla and
and to the carving trade upon the
public works, an amount of business that cannot
'e readily estimated. therefore suggest to the
members of the General Assembly, the proprie-
y of memorializing Congress oil this subject,
md pressing il upon the attention of the general
government, unincumbered with any minor pro-