New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-16

now desire So high duties as in a. for II reiutes
a common impression among his Partissns that
Protection involves necessity, or 8, least clam
Or. for higher and higher duties evermore. The
fact is Just the reverse Of this
Rat Il IS admitted all around that the interests
most easily affected by transatlantic competition
10y reason Of the comparatively uncomfortable
weight OF their products in proportion % their
value do desire Specific though moderate duties
They asa that whatever duty is charged on Fo--
eign fabrics shall be 50 much per pound, ton, buskel
some other exact quantity, 80 that the Foreign
Manufacturer shall Dot be able TO swear in bis
goods at lower rates Of duty than the American
lmporter-the rogue al lower rates than the con-
scientioos man. Sir Rober, Peel who praised AID
the British House Of Lords which printed Mr..
Walkers first grand attack on the Protective Pc
Icy, were very careful not % follow bis sugges-
tions ia this important psrticgsr but still cleaye
20 Specific Duties wherever they are practicable
which is little singular Il, ss the Secretary has
been induced to believe his Repor; aforesaid vas
prime cause Of the Repeal Of the Corn Laws.
France Germany and nearly all the world also
abide 10y Specific Duties. and rather change Ad
Valorems 70 these than the contrary. Free Ira
ders aud Protectionists the world over seem u be
generally agreed on ibis point-Mr. Walker aud
his American disciples alone excepted. Why
Mr. Walker tells Us that Specific Duties grow
higher as productions are chespened-s rule that
works the other way as weli-and that the gener
al tendency Of prices IS downward 50 that SPe-
cihc Duties gradually become practically higher.
Admit II. and If that be deemed an evil, how
easy 10 modify the law 70 suit the altered circum
stances Is TINS objection OF any real weight
But then The Poor are hardly used By Specific
Duties. because the Secretary assumesl they
usually buy the meanest aud least costly qualities
Of fabrics. We trust this Is not the fact, TO any
thing like the extent counted on by the Secretary
We trust the greater number OF our Poor prefer
sweet Mackere 10 tainted Salmon-the best Ging-
hams and Muslin de LANES 70 the fmsies' and
shsbbiest Silks, for the apparel Of their wives and
daughters. II We were legislatlng for Kamscatka
or the Tongo Islands, the Secretary objection
would have a weight which we cannot now attach
b it. The Poor cannot afford the costest fabrics,
bat If they do not know enough 70 buy good quail
ties OF the kinds they afford, they ought to be
sdmonished and instructed. And 1t IL one Of the
great Incidental benefits OF specihc Dutes tuat
they discourage he importation Of roythiess and
f,msy faJrlcs. Let the duty be so much per yard
on fabrics and few Of the lower qualities will be
imported. Tax wines much per gallon. and we
shall generally have real wines putting 10 the
cider and logwood and vitrol on this side. IL is
bad enough 10 have our people pnsoned with such
stuff any how, but TO have them swindied with 1t
beside is an aggravstion And IN view OF the iacii-
" with which markets are inundated with the
clearings Of Of foreign shelves the sweePlngs OF
foreign workshops by means Of Auction Sales and
Ad Volorem Duties, do trust that the Specific
remedy will be applied speedily and thoroughly.
We cannot close without rendering our thanks
TO Mr.. Walker for his hearty and forcible recon
mcndation that Congress shall create Home De
partment OF the Executive Government. II is a
wise and timely suggestion, and we hope to see
il promptly adopted.