Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04
THE TARIFF AND THE TIMES.
rnor rHr nosrox atlas.

The operation Of the tariff of 1916 has been lost
sight of, and with most people has to be con-
sidered harmless thing al least because we have
not already been crushed and wholly ruined But
its operation is not the less certainly disastrous,
though hitherto not much felt; and the ruin pre-
dicted by opponents the less because
it has been delayed. That will be altered for the better,
under the present Administration utterly hopeless and the
only safety for all who exposed its eecs-for all
manufacturers and merchans-es in gradual curtalnent
of their business Men may attribute the scarcity Of money
10 railroads, the war; what they will but il lies mainly
in the fact that imports exceed exports and while
this exists other need be sought may
well expect grow rich salary of 81, 500, while his
penses 50, 0OO that money will be plenty while
continually called upon for specie pay up the yearly
balances accruing against
BY the official saemen, Of Mr. RoBERr WALKER il appears
that exports for the year ending June, ls47 $780,,
637 464, while imports only sl3s 534 4s0 leaving
the very handsome balance Of s2 9s4 Add this the
earnings Of ships for the time, carrying forward
productions. which, may be assumed paid by the
of those productions and the balance favor may
have been s20 900. This exhibit shows high
prosperity for the time and had II been for the fact that
all this profit has been than wasted in the inqut
with Mexico, should have felt any want Of
money up this day. But Mr. WALKER states another fact
which is Of great Importance this connection. He that
export Of breadu during year exceeded the
Of several preceding years in the Of Sfl 2s2 This
every knows caused by the short crop OF
1916 in Europe. Speaking commercially, was an aeci-
dent and an accident that which may neither hope
expect will happen again for years But how should
have stood without With the average usual export Of
breadstu whole export for the year would have been
about Sos, 000 000 against import Of $685. $780, 600
s2g, 900 against From this may be taken
r. - AZ.
have been balance Of about $4,000 TO be paid for in
specie. is said BY Of good udgmen, that
heavy and profitable expectation gave stimulus importation.
The evidence Of this is by any clear altogether
pesumpve but let much be set down to that cause
any reasonable ask and, without the aid Of the
cieD referred to- the balance against would have been
sufficiently alarming produce panic that would have OPEN
ed the eyes Of the bndes the operation Of the
tariff"
We have official returns to show what has been done
within the last nine months but the mercantile baomeer
the Of exchangendcaies with sufficient certainty the
tremendous alteration which has taken place in RELATIVES
position with Europe For three months past ,here
has been constant return Of specie, and bills London
still at per cent? per above par Investments
in railroads do not affect exchange England The Mex
lean may carry every coined dollar Of the country.
but will not alter the Of that exchange that stands
indicator Of the balance Of trade and when stands against
for any considerable time, may be certain beyond
question, that importing than own domestic
productions paying for We need not wait for official
satisfy Of the actfo to wait Is dangerous
but should the information by taking in sail and
getting all snug for There has not been time for
years when prudence and caution necessary now
especially amongst importers Of foreign merchandise II
they tempted by low prices abroad they win be met by
low prices at home There is than stock enough Of
foreign productions in the country for the consumption Of
the next six months, and every addition il will dpecas
the value of the whole.