Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-09-27
F,om nc Boston Ailss.
The American System.

F,om nc Boston Atbs.
The American System.
We are glad to see that the subject of the
Tariff is beginning TO occupy the attention
Of the people in various parts of the coun-
try. We notice in Southern Wing papers.
able and convincing articles in favor of the
protection of American industry. This is
particularly true of the Georgia press
Some of the best articles we have read in
favor of protecting the interests of labor in
manufactures, we have read within the year
in Georgia papers. That State, of all the
Southern States, has gone the furthest in
developing lis natural resources by the cree
ton OF mills for manufacturing purposes,
and in constructing railroads. The people
tSere have pursued wise and prudent
course. Manufactures have also sprung
up in Charleston, :. c.. aud in the ncirh-
borhood of Nashville, in Tennessee, the
nucleus OF a manufacturing prosperity has
been formed.
For the last two or three years there have
been so much prejudice and passion excited
on this topic, that the true merits Of the
subject have not been daily estimated, nor
have they had that weight which they other
wise would have had, and to which they
are entitled. The question of slavery eX-
tension or non-eXtension has been made so
prominent, and the feelings and interests of
our people have become so deeply absorbed
in it, that the question of projection has
been belittled, and has lost that prominence
IN the discussions of the day to which it is
entitled 1t has become in this part of the
country sort of axiom in many minds, that
he who talks about protection to naive in
dustry is an old llunker ia man of anti
Hnated notions, who is willing to sacrifice
c0HScicncc and immunity to cotton and broad
cloth. In the South, to like extent it has
been fashionable with the protested friends
of slavery TO decry and dcnouncc all those
who are the advocates of the prosperity of
their own countrymen aud the true glory of
their own country, in preference TO that of
foreigners and foreign nations, as eagued
with Northern AboIiionists and the natural
enemies of the South and Southern nsitu-
tons The truth is, our political discus
sions have been more strife between sec
tons than an Investigation of principles.
In the meanwhile the industrial interests
of the country have been suffering, and suf-
fering severely. The walks of industry and
enterprise are not crowded with men of
strong lungs or of ambitious designs. They
have felt their suilerings they have wit
messed the stoppage of their looms and spin
dies, and the eXtinguishmcnt of their furnace
fires in silence, feeling that they could make
but little head against the cry of " humani-
ty" on one side, and Slavery" on the 9th
err. They have been forced under the free
trade tariff of lS4G TO witness the foreign
trade of the country gradually passing from
the hands OF the American resident mcr-
chants into those of foreign commission
houses. The facts upon this point are in
deed startling. The friends of American
industry who assembled at Newport few
weeks ago, have in their Investigations in
relation to the practical operation of the ad
odforem system which is the distinguishing
feature OF the present tariff, brought to light
many facts which cannot fail 10 exercise a
most salutary influence in bringing the pub
lie mind of this country back to a wise con-
slderatlon of the subject. 1t was there
shown that of the three thousand looms
which were in operation at the time of the
passage OF the present tariff bill, in the man
uiacturc of broadclotbs in this country,
three hdndred are now not at work. The
iron trade of Pennsylvania has been well
nigh Frustrated. 1t has been found mpos-
sI0le Tor the American iron manufacturer
to compete with the English in our own
market, under the low rate of duties estab-
lIshed by the present law and those duties,
Dased as they are upon ad valOrems or for
elgn valuations, are little better than nomi-
nal. The tariff Of lS42 was favorable to
this great branch Of American labor. I'm
der Its wise and sautary encouragement,
thousands and thousands of dollars we're in
vested in the erection of furnaces for the
manufacture of railroad iron. They were
Just beginning to enter upon successful
business when that law was repealed, and
the present one enacted upon its ruins
FOR time they endeavored to strive against
adverse fortune, but the fall of iron in Eng
land, and consequently the reduction in the
amount OF duty upon it here, Gas is always
the case under an ad valorem systcm) were
more than they could bear up against, and
tins branch of the iron trade has almost
dled out OF this country, and the workshops
oil England have become the benefciaries
oil the iavors which wise people and pa
terhal government would confer upon our
domestic labor. The effect of this system
OF ad valorem duties is well described in an
able article in late number of the Boston
Courier, from facts elected by the investi-
CATION OF gentlemen who were present at
the meeting at Newport.
i" Railroad Iron in 1916 was in England
fl2 (s6O) per ton, and Pig Iron CO (S25)
the duty on the former at 30 per cent,
was SlS per ton, and on the latter 81 so. |
AT present Railroad Iron is Go ($25) per
ton IN England, aud Pig Iron 90 ($l0) per
ton The foreign article has therefore the