The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-01
From the Pennsylvania
The Signal Of Distress.

Fory,two firms all engaged in the iron business, have
appeared In several papers of this city, IN an address, IN
which they complain of the reduced prices OF IRON, and
charge TINS reduction TO the American tariff OF 1916
They have therefore called convention, which is TO
assemble at Harrisburg the 22d OF March next Tor
the purpose OF devlsng plan in order to accomplish
by every honorable endeavor remedy for the evils com
planned OF, and OF making known both to the general
and Stale governments the injurious effects OF the present
laws the great staple interests of Pennsyl-
vania"
When we reroec, that presidential election is rapid
~ approaching and that the manufacturers alluded 10
have always been politicians OF the sraitest and srctest
Sect tins appeal will surprise nobody. The only wonder
u.s. that 1t was not made So intimately have these
gentlemen connected the business OF politics with their
own business and successful have they been IN most
OF their former demands for protection that they have
begun TO regard the government ITSELF the great mass OF
their fellow citizens and all other interests, as wholly
secondary and tributary to them. But we question
whether they have made call upon Congress and
the country which characteristic than the one
they have Just signed and circulated
urers Of iron have fourlshed beyond all former prece
dent They have realized immense profits; and it is com
puet by those who know that several of the large con
Germs have realized splendid fortunes within single
year During all this PERIOD OF course. iron has been
high TO the hundreds OF thousands who compelled to
use II ~ Their trades or in the cultivation OF the soil 1t
is stated, on pretty good authority that the late candidate
of the federal party in this State for governor General
James irwin, of Centre counly started three extensive
establishments in his district OF country, each one OF
which, besides clearing ITSELF made large sums of money
for the owners.
The first speck on the horizon, however, alarms these
successful spectators Forgetting their heavy gains dur
ing the past fifteen eighteen months they think alone
OF the losses which they appehend will overtake them
hereafter Anxious either to excite the country by a
new panic, that they may operate favoraby upon the
fortunes of Mr. Clay, else to restore system OF high
protective duties that they may be placed above those
fluctuations OF trade to which all other enterprises are
subject IN the course OF events they have taken the mi
tad step for the campaign of 1s4S, and will no doubt be-
siege Congress with pteous stories OF their sad and dis
heartenea condition.
But predict that they have calculated without their
host The glory has departed from Israel" The PEG
pie and the peoples representatives no longer to be
deceived by the statements OF special interest prepared
and published either for political personal considera
tons The masters, like all other persons investing
should stand aloneand not invoke the support OF legs-
aon which is not asked for by and never extended to,
others Besides how long do these gentlemen suppose
the depression in business will last in England There
few who presume that of lasting relief will
be long delayed that all classes OF business in the
Old World will not resume their former position
The state of things of which the ron-masters, in their
CIRCULAR falsely attribute to the tariff OF 1916, has grown
VIGOROUSLY out of specuaons of the most extraordinary
character and is to be attributed 70 any action
this side of the water than it to be charged to the
fact that Abdel Kaier is prisoner OF the French or that
Lola Monies governs the Bavarian emperor This state
of things would have occurred under the tariff OF lS42,
and we do not believe that that boosted bundle OF
restrictive and specific duties would have saved the
iron interest from the fate il is now SO anxious to anti
cpae.
else very poor business men, They either nsanely
eager to help Henry Clay else they are as easily alarm
ed children BY the COLLINS of the nursery We have
bt opinion of them than to presume the latter; but
presume that they are 10 be msled by any political
evre especially by any got up under such auspices
And suspect the fortytwo firms" in question will
not be long in finding this to be the fact