The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-24
oNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER "a, ls4s

"Resolped, That this convention regards the pro
lection of american labor of the first duties OF
government; that the history of the protective pol
icy in this country is the history of the rise and
growth of our manufactures and the triumph of
American industry policy having for It's object
the just reward of labor and the elevation of the la
boring classes; policy which distinguishes justly
between American labor and half paid and half-fed
labor of foreign countries; which remunerates
American labor without injury to the consumer OF
its products, and uphods all the great interests of
the country by giving we'll paid employment to
our people, bringing wealth, Independence, and
happiness to all.
"Resolped, That We not in favor of an excess
i've duty on foreign importations but such rate Of
duty will enable us TO enter into fair competition
with the foreign manufacturer, and such compet-
ton can only be secured by system Of specific di-
ties laid upon foreign products.
"Res0lued, That the amount of duty on iron per
ton, excepting the smaller sizes, collected under the
present tariff for period OF twelve or fifteen months
after its passage, did protect the manufactures OF
iron in this country, for the reason that prices
abroad ruled at rate above their average value,
and foreign iron could not be 'laid down here at
cost below recommending price TO the home man
ufacturer. At the present time, and for the last
eighteen months, the foreign market has ruled at
less than half diminishing ofcourse the amount
OF revenue IN the same proportion, thereby bring
ing the article into the country at about one-half
its cost in lS47 If these facts, and the records
Of the trade show it, how the manufacture of
iron be prosecuted in this country, while the duty
of one year barely protects, and the duty of the
next is reduced one half
''ResolUed (as the Of this convention,) That
the manufacture of iron in this country requires
specific duties for protection That at least three
parts out of four of the value and price of iron
made up of labor--the labor which digs, burns,
cleans, blooms, smelts, forges and transports it,;
and that the production of iron in this country, to
any considerable extent, must be abandoned unless
the interest is protected, the price of labor re-
duced to the foreign standard.
"Resoiued, That it is the duty of Congress, at the
earliest practicable period, to revise and reform the
Tariff of 1885, 30 as to encourage the manufacture
of iron, by aboshipg the system Of ad raiorem du-
ties and substituting therefor specific duties which
shall produce healthy home competition, diminish
prices and afford reasonable protection against for
eign pauper labor.
''Resoiped, That our Senators and Representa-
tves in Congress be requested to urge this matter
upon the attention of Congress- and that they be
quested to take all proper means to procure so inn
porant revision and reform, affecting the interest
of so large body of their constituents.
"Resoiued That in consequence of the peculiar
tendency of the nd palorem system of duties, the
poorest qualities of iron largely introduced, to
the great injury Of the country, in place of the more
useful and better qualities, these being more highly
priced"