The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-26
[cTIcATED.l
williroyvn, M. II.

occurrence, Dut lfern times lectures are the
order of the day, all subjects, from Shak-
speare down TO plsmarbles. At this, we are
not surprised, as sdnericans are valuable, and
like to turn penrn honest way, whether it
be done by informf ignorant how Hamlet or
Macbeth should be how railroad TO Califor-
mia should be clcted, how steam boilers
should be made TO at explosions, how TO shoot
a ball through twopes thrown upward, how to
plump from taw tfible in the very centre of
the ring, and othetcts too numerous to men
ton: no amazemes on our brow because OF
all this. But whehgner, and he member of
the British Parlia has the presumption
might say impudrto sit himself down and
coolly lecture the ID States Secretary of the
Treasury, every jean, no matter of what
party, must not Of astonished, but feel indig-
nant. William b, Of Richmond Hill, near
Liverpool" writin procuring some one to
write lecture to, M. Meredith, because the
said Meredith, in tpacity of Secretary of the
Treasury, made ,ort to Congress respecting
our finances, anddoing it, suggested some
changes in the re, system-changes which, If
endorsed by our Csss, might affect, unfavora-
bly,, the interest oSouse of which said Brown is
partner.
If recollection ,, the Presidents message
and Secretary Mh's report did not leave this
country till aboutrst of January, and, there
fore, these docum had barely time TO get cool
on the table of Mown, Of Richmond Hill"
when he sat himpwn to rebuke our Secretary
of the Treasury ouching upon the existing
tariff, (Which is unacceptable to all foreigners,)
and by consequeyiving left-handed blow at
President Tayiorn M. Clayton, and the resi-
due of the Cabines some of these gentlemen
are considered cal of mastering an idea or two,
would it not have in better taste if Mr.. Brown
had taken more to read and reflect upon the
subjects discusseopur official documents! Oh,
no! his great mifasped the whole matter at a
glance, and 80 bought it best to demolish
Mr.. Meredith insr, and by the next steamer
we suppose he Wise up'' the President and his
whole cabinet; the steamer following may
bring out revenll for this country, carefully
prepared at "Ricnd Hip by Mr.. Brown, who
may send with it;ture to the Senate and House
of Representative
In passant-s. Brown is known to have
made fortune ie American trade, it is to be
regretted that he not authorize the purchase OF
General WashinIs Farewell Address, as in it
he might have led something useful whilst he
holds seat in Rment Ii he cannot lay his
hands on that Grated address, Tin print,) he
should take anotlasty glance at President Tay-
lor's message, a that he will find something
about one nationddling with the affairs of an
other.
We will nowyert more particularly to Mr..
Browns lectureI cannot reconcile your argu-
ment, when yalmost in one and the same
breath. admit tho law should be passed but
for the good of whole; and yet you recommend
policy that worotect class at the expense OF
the nation too much interest in your pros
'perity, as add to the prosperity Of other ma
tons with wh,you trade, particularly that of
Great Britain, to endeavor TO show the fallacy
of your reason" &c.
Well, this is particularly Great Britain, Z"
which can meapthing else than that Mr.. Brown
is most anxioushave our revenue laws so shaped
as to enrich hi$erpool house and the English
people general md every citizen of the "fast an
chored isle" shd feel under deep sense ofgrati-
tude to Mr.. Bro for his generous, disinterested,
and noble erntidn behalf of the subjects of Queen
Victoria We into no arguments, but we beg
to tell the mem of Parliament Of Richmond
Hill" that, amopractical men in this country, il
is ga fixed fact, lat the demand for the products
Of the soil, and sir value, too, increase in the
same ratio that aides and looms increase, whe-
ther in the NORTH the South; and time, that silent
innovator, will s,fy the doubters on this suject
We hold, thereto that moderately protective
tariff-no one is n in. favor Of high 4if-i'
beneficial to all cles.
After some twae, and telling our Secretary ol
the Treasury thatwas unnecessary to establish
the fact that Congs had the power to levy tax
on imports, the M, launches out with an illus
tration. Here Il is
"Let me give yoa simple illustration of this
Suppose you can a bale Of French silks for
five hundred dolly but TO protect your manu-
featuring interestpu place on II an import duty
Of 100 per cent, king the coat TO the consumer
one thousand dolb. Now, If this 100 per cent
duty did not exstO0 barrels Of -four, at five dol
lars per BARREL woi have paid for those silks; but
by this extra duty y either put il out Of the farm
er's consumer's wer to buy, or he must pay 2oC
barrels Of flour or Q thousand dollars for it. dc
not GO into the queon OF higher duties requiring
more capital and ire profit TO the importers, by
making the silks nre costly TO the consumer.
merely want 10 sho the effect Of high duties IN
decreasing the comrts of the people, and com
interest, whether IN Of the ron-masters, cotton
spinners, or any oth protected class. During
my residence in thejnited States think the du
tics were about Is p cent, so that lis barrels o
-four would pay forte bale OF silk. For every
. ] per cent. the dutiore now or may hereafte
. be, above this rate, farmer, TO make the SAM
purchase, must sasice another barrel OF HI
-four, its squals,in cotton, Indian corn, pork
rice, tobacco or chees &C., &c. ought not 10 b
lost sight Of that the manufacturers price at bom
: is kept down by the nport price"
Allbruft1n ftilmen, b we will notice il. Now, !
we had extensive manufactures, this 'illustrstion
is "fallacy," (excusan Irishism--Mr. b. is al
HIMSELF an for reasons palpablc.
To make a show Of sintercstedncss, our Score
tsry is gracefully TAX. TO the continent, wber
the most beautiful silksre manufactured, and scn
10 this country, in lare quantities. but Mr.. Brow
should have invited te Secretary 10 England
where they, also, manufacture and send silks 10 u
in no small quantities, I'D no doubt he (Mr b.
derives advantages fron such exports as well a
the exports Of other gooe us and Of which we i'm
port far too many. Butsupposc we we're TO levy
duty Of one hundred pc cent. on French silks
which was never contemplated, and never will be
would Il not create silk Establishments among u'
giving additional employment to operatives, an
thereby enabling them pay higher prices 70
flour" And, whilst Jpn illustrations, we vii
lake the liberty TO remirs Mr.. Brown-what
knows, or ought to know that, after all, suppl
and demand have more I, do with prices than an
hing elsc; for il is anothe 'fxed fact' that whe
the supply is large-wc ande TO all articles-price
will be cheap; and when snail, prices will be hgt
To elucidate fhie we will not enter into spccula