Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-01-07
From the New York Journal of Commerce.
VOTE YOURSELVES A TORTUNE.'

By the annexed outline of the proceedings ola
convention Of Iron-masters at Pitsblrg, Penn
sylvania, it will be seen that they have resolved
that $40 ton on pig iron, 800 on bar, and in
the same proportion for other qualities, are ne
cessary TO protect the American market AS
the average price pig from England for six
months ending 1st September last was less than
Ss15 per ton, and of bar iron less than $3.50, it
follows that a duty of more than ST per cent,
on the foreign or duitable value is necessary TO
protect the American market In addition to
this, about Is per cent. must be added for the
various charges OF Importation so that the ac-
tual protection asked by these modest Pennsy-
vania iron-rnen is now more than 80 per cent.
upon the dutiable value. In regard to large
part of the country; our manufacturers enjoy a
still further protection, equal tc the expense OF
carrying imported iron into the interior. This
expense to Pittsburg is estimated at Us a ton,
and fer half that distance 81. Ifthen, the IRON
masters could have their way, they would vote
themselves projections OF one kind and anoih-
or, equal to 81 or 80 per cent.
1t is estimated that 1000 tons of American
iron are produced per annum. Unless the IRON
masters design that the proposed duties shall be
prohibitory, the price of the whole mass of this
domestic iron must be equal to the dutaible val
ue of the foreign averaging say $50 ton, with
$50 added for duty, and $15 for cost Of mporta-
ton making an average of 1865 per ton. Now,
! let US see what will be the effect upon consul
1ners Twenty dollars a ton multiplied by the
number Of tons Of American iron supposed to be
made, gives quotient OF p1i 0o0, 900. This is
the tribute which the farmers and other consul
nlers oil iron are expected 10 pay annually to the
aron-n1okers. The duty on the imported iron goes
into the treasury, but the corresponding tax or
enhancement of price on the domestic article
goes TO the iron makers.
If any gentleman undertakes to say that the
price Of iron will not be enhanced TO an extent
equal to 662 per cent on the dutible value, we
will not split hairs about it but will deduct "a,
100000 on account of such abatement This
would leave $4,000, GOO per annun 10 be paid
by the consumers to the iron-Enakers--a sum
which the latter no doubt deemed entirely reas-
enable and proper. But if the consumers think
so and act accordingly, they deserve TO be made
~ pack horses forever. Let il be remembered that
one citizen has no more right to protection than
another, and that when protection is granted to
particular classes, not Tor the sake OF revenue
but to enrich them at the expense of many, it is
rank robbery, and none the less so because per-
petrated by law. No duty can be said to be laid
for revenue, which is i'll effect prohibitory, OF
which it is known will produce less than a
lower duty would.
The advantages of cheap iron to the country
can scarcely be conceved.--Not only does i
enter largely into railroads, steamboats, ships
houses telegraph lines; machinery, &c, but every
farmer, every family in the whole country, re-
quires more or less OF it continually. 1t is
necessary Of life, almost as much as bread or the
common air. We exempt tea and coffee from
duty, because they are III such general use, ane
have become necessary to the comfort of The
masses But they are scarcely less necessary
than iron, and perhaps more generally used
Give us cheap iron; and the country may be ex
pectea to prosper; but burden with taxes ant
you make the rich richer and the poor poorer
1t is now evident that the protectionists intene
10 make a4genesalonset upon the present tariff
at the approaching session OF Congress. Wher
shc duties are enormously high they urge the i'm
nogtance of stability but wasen.a moderate tarif
exists; stability loses its charms, and they clam
or for. a change. We.trust that nc change vii
be made, except to adopt sliding scalesin tilt
ease OF iron, agreeable to the plans which we pre-
scented the other day. Other things are vel
enough and it is best to let well enough alone