Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-01-10

price Of labor here and in Great Britain is
great, and expresses hope ,ha, il will never
be diminished by reduction of wages here.
The difference has been estimated al an aver.
age of thirty-hree per cent, aud in some
branches, such as The manufacture of iron, il 10
much greater. This difference is in part com,
pensaed by the disadvantages under which
the foreign manufacturer is placed by The ne.
cessity in some branches of procuring his raw
material from great distance, or transporting
heavy article Of production, such as iron, TO a
dlsian, market. In addition, he is pressed by
a heavy bur,hen of taxa,on.. The greater eff.
cheney of our labor is TO some extent an addi-
tional compensatory element This includes
the greater capacity for acquiring skill. the
perior general intelligence, The higher inven-
tive faculty, the greater moral and physical
energy, both of action aud endurance, which
our people possess in comparison with the for
eign aborer. Better fed. clothed, housed. and
educaled-conscious of The ability to lay up
some capital annually from his savlngs-en-
couraged TO invest that capital in the enterprise
in which his labor is engaged-enjoying prac-
icaliy greater civil and political liberty, look
ing forward 10 an indefinite future in which,
through his own good conduc. and example, he
may expect each successive generation OF his
descendants, 10 be better circumslanced than
It's predecessors, il cannot be doubted tha, these
advantages will add greatly to The efficiency
of the American labofer. STILL the Secretary
admits and urges the necessity Of further pro.
,eclon. and he therefore proposes that the do.
lies on the staple commodities, lwhelher raw
material or manufactured ariicles,1 in which
foreign naIons compete with our own produce
lions, be raised 10 point al which they will
! afford substantial and sufficient encouragement
to our domestic industry, provide for the ne.
cessary increase and due security of the reven-
ue, and insure the permanence and stability Of
the system Al he continues, that is wanting,
is general determination that industry shall be-
encouraged and supported in the home produc.
tion and manufacture OF iron, wool. cotton, SUI
gar, aud our other staples. and that the legi,,
lalion necessary 10 sustain II shall be firmly
adopted and perserered in.
The rates of duty, he thinks. are too low, es.
pecialIy on articles similar TO our own staples.
He proposes, moreover, return TO the system
of specific duties on articles on which they can
be conveniently laid; and he argues the poin,
with grea, force and ingenuity. By the pres.
enl system, be says, the revenue not only suf.
fers, but certain sum 10. in effect, annually
distributed by the public among dishonest i'm.
porlers, premium for ;heir dishonesty; and
that fair American importers may be gradually
driven out of the business and their places sup
piled by unknown aud inscription. foreign
advenlurers. These are the chief points of
that portion of the report which aIlude, TO the
tariff. They cover the whole ground, are de-
cided and liberal without being ultra. In brief,
Mr. Meredith recommends
l. Adequate protection to home industry by
increased duties on certain articles.
2. A return TO specific duties TO very great
extent.
8. Permanency and stability in legislation.
These are indeed the great essentials. The
repor. Throughout, is, We repeat, clear, cOmprs,
hensive and able.