The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-07
From the Pittsbtrg Gazette.
The Tariff Question,


What will Congress do to relieve the suffering
interests of the northern States is question anx-
iously asked by hundreds and thousands who arc
daily experiencing the injurious, nay, the blasting
effects of the tariff of 1916. From various
the evil consequences of the present tariff were slow
in their development, but they have steadily and
surely, like wasting and fatal disease upon the
human system, been embarrassing, paralyzing,
and destroying the industrial interests Of the
try.
The cotton and iron business suffering greatly
and through those branches, and by the direct ope-
rations of the tariff, every other business is more
less effected. The cotton mills Of Lowell are put
on half time, or entirely suspended and those in
all our eastern States have already arrived at, OF
are fast approaching, to the same state. The cot
ton mills in this vicinity will sooner or later be
compelled to succumb, unless something takes place
to relieve them from the pressure of these adverse
circumstances. We have been informed by one Of
our heaviest manufacturers, that unless some
change for, the better soon takes place, not mil
will be running in this vicinity after the present
stock of cotton is worked up.
We shall be told by the Free Trade party, that
this state of affairs is not consequence Of the tariff
coarse cottons fully protected already
These persons reason very specifically. Although
coarse cottons sufficiently protected finer quail
tiles are not. and the consequence is, that all the
American mills have been driven To the manufac-
ture of coarser muslins, thus increasing the com
petition on branches least able to bear it. The in
creased quantity of cotton goods of flimsey char
acter, thrown upon the American market from
abroad, paying very little duty on the ad valorem
and foreign valuation system, has further tended
to interfere with the sale of the home made article
Another reason exists in the depressed state OF
other branches of business, also caused by the
tariff, which renders that class of community
which principally consumes coarse cottons unable
to purchase as freely as formerly. These, and
other causes traceabe to the ruinous effects of the
tariff of 40 have depressed the cotton business to
the verge Of ruin
The iron business. the great staple manufacture
of Pennsylvania, is still more depressed. In the
eastern States the furnaces, rolling mills and nail
factories, in nearly every case. present the solitude
and desolation of the ruins of Thebes and Palmyra
No fires their hearths, no hum of indus
try, no indication of life and activity greet the
passing traveller. The baleful sirocco of the
"Polk and Dallas' tariff have passed over them,
and hushed them into the silence and nertitude OF
death. In the west il is but little better. The roll
ing-Inils of Pittsburgh running half time; one
furnace after another is blowing out; and soon
there will be supply Of the material to keep
mills in motion. The furnace men cannot live
at the present prices, and the rolling mills cannot
give more and compete with foreign iron.
These are plain, unvarnished facts, which cannot
be disputed by any who regard the truth. The
present is embarrassing and perplexing, and the
future is gloomy, indeed. Pittsburgh, and Penn
sylvania, which depend 80 much upon the pros
perity of our manufacturing operations, have but
little encouragement for hope and confidence in the
future.