The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-01-24
For the Sentinel.
Tariff Duties and Protection
No? Z.

IL has been estimated mat t1e AgriCul-
tural products of the United States, for the
year lS4S were sufficient TO maintain one
half the population of the world for the
space Of one year. And il is manifest that
these products may be doubled ard srebled
in few wears, thus enabling rs to feed
the whole world provided we encourage
agriculture al home, and cherish commerce
with the crest of mank ind" In fact II
would seem that Providence had reserved
this country as a wheatfield and "potato
patch" for the old world after the popula-
lion has outgrown It's territory until 1t can
no longer raise bread sufficient for itself.
What then must our farmers think of
the protectionists who would deprive them
of the market of the world, and .confine
them TO narrow limits of home consump-
tion. This must be the consequence of
restrictions on foreign trade by tariff duties
and besides these high duties are retaliated
by corn laws and other restrictions which
prevent the expectation of breadstuffs at
any reasonable price. The protectionists
are not ignorant of the consequences. If
they can prevent expectation of agricultural
products, farmers will then be obliged 10
sell 10 them at an under value or let their
produce remain unsoId. For Instance the
value of the exports of breadstuffs for the
last year was Sill 100000. Now a res
friction of that trade would have prevented
this expectation would have thrown this a
mount of farming produce more in the mar
ket and of course reduced the price of 1t
at the manufactures.
Thus it appears that it is not enough 10
faY bo a mr. nt
merchandise for the benefit of manufac-
be reduced for the benefit of the latter
also.
But there is another consideration which
ought 10 give farmers better insight into
the protective policy than all the sophistry
of the tariff school. And that is where
manufacturing establishments are founded
they, in few years, monopolize all the
lands in their neighborhoods and stock
their own market by the labor of an en-
slaved tenantry where formerly, there were
wealthy and independent farmers. Where
is the man venerable in years and of sane
memory, who has observed the progress
of the manufacturing establishments in
Pennsylvania who cannot point ort lordly
estates covering whole neighborhoods and
owned by corporate companies or perhaps
individuals where some years ago he saw
communities of independent farmers
And he can also point out the sons Of these
nosy ''rooted OUT farmers toillng at day
labor, or greasing cars on the public
works.
Can this be true, says the protectionist,
or how can men be swindled out of their
farms unless they consent TO it! Let him
who would make such inquiries own
farm in the vicinity of manufacturing es-
tablishment, and let him engage in social
dealings with its owners. Let him pur-
chase merchandise in their store. Let
him send his team or his laboring hand 10
work at the establishment at leisure times
thinking as most men do in such cases,
that he can thereby earn what trade he
has need of without paying money for it.
Let him, | say, do these things, and if he
never learns the cause of what is above
stated, he will at least learn to feel its
consequences Ill a manner that viii send
him tottering down the declivity of old age
in poverty and destitution, or he will be
more fortunate than most men who engage
in similar enterprises.
The tariff question has generally been
considered as purely national one, as re-
CARDS taxation, and in no way connected
with state revenue, but the policy of latter
times proves that it may be applied to
state purposes and strong efforts have been
made to apply it to that use, that thereby
state taxes may be extorIed from labor,
and property relieved from that RESPONSE
bility. This will be the subject of the
next number, which will be the 'uItinaa-
tum,'' at least until | undergo an "aaaiy-
sation" In the'crucible called the Johns
town News"