The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-05
Triumph OF British Capital over American
Industry.

We believe it is an undeniable fact. that the
British manufacturers combine TO sacrifice an
amount of particular article necessary to break
down competition in foreign market. They
then fix their own prices, and are amply in
IDENTIFIED for the temporary loss by perma-
nent monopoly. 1t is the policy under which
Napoleon would waste regiments upon forlorn
hope, OF upon which an omnibus proprietor runs
off all opposition that he may fix his own fare.
Since the protection of American iron has
been taken of, the British manufacturers have
applied all their energies TO destroy the iron in
terests of America. Immense quantities of sur
! plus railroad iron, made in anticipation of an
unlimited extent of railroads. have been ship
ped 10 the United States. and sold almost
as low as the raw material can be afforded
there. The iron interests have struggled
resolutely against the cruel abandonment
by the power which warmed them into being
They could not believe that Congress would
permit one hundred and twenty millions Of
property in Pennsylvania to be destroyed for
want Of protection, any more than it would
permit one hundred and twenty millions of
value invested in the slaves Of Virginia to be
impaired by any abolition legislation. We stated
a few days since thatthrce hundred and nineteen
out OF FIVE hundred and four iron establishments
in Pennsylvania had suspended Our friends in
the South were, no doubt, incredulous Some
thought. perhaps, that they stopped for effect
some that they had not stopped at ALL Like the
distant reports Of the cholera, the evil was not
realized because there were no cases amongst
themselves. We now regret thai this mortality
amongst the iron establishments is spreading
it is becoming endemic. We copy from the
Richmond Wing an account of the suspension
of certain iron works in that city and its vcin-
ity. We consider II significant, that no iron
establishments can subsist without protection.
These establishments have abundant supplies
of ore and fuel. Slave labor is employed TO
considerable extent. These iron-works re-
ceive their supplies by the James River
Canal, and ship their manufactures with
ont expense We think these suspensions af
ford palpable proof that no manufactures of
iron can subsist without protection. What a
lesson does il teach NiTginians Let them reflect
upon its consequences. Here is an important
interest struck down by the policy Of their Loco
/ oco politicians--tie reTy Representatives OF these
iron ,corks participating IN he policy that de-
stroys them. Here is an annual demand for
four thousand tons of domestic pig iron extn-
gushed Here is a customer annually requir-
! ing two hundred thousand bushels of coal, al
most at the pit mouths Of Chesterfield and Pow
hatan, who retires from the market
The interior Of Virginia is making every eff
fort to construct Improvements for the develop
ment of its mineral and metallurgic capaci-
| ties The magnificent canal, which stretches
! from tide water TO the heart of the Allegheny.
| is expected TO transport the products OF the
forge and furnace. If the iron of Wales is de
| livered almost without duty in the ports Of the
United States. how can the raw material Of
| Virginia be required We suppose that
other consequences must follow this paralysis
Of the manufacturing industry. II there be
no demand Tor iron. and the consumption Of
coal be diminished, then we suppose the value
| Of slave labor will be 90 that extent reduced, the
domestic demand for the supplies ofpig iron will
be destroyed. the cause of internal improvement
discouraged Every industrial interest must
| synpathize The blow struck at the manulac
turing interests Of the country will vibrate
throughout the Union. We add the appeal of
the Richmond JFhig To the common sense and
the common interests OF the country. 1t will
be seen that Pennsylvania is not the only suf
| ferer.
" How IT wopKs.--we understand that the Ar
mory Iron Works Of this city, and the Manakin
Iron Works, about twelve miles distant, have both
put out their fires and discharged their workmen;