The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-27
THE TARIFF AND THE COMPROMISE.

We have already adverted to the efforts made
to enlist the Manufacturing Interests of Psnnsyl-
vania and Massachusetts, in favor of the Compro-
mise bill. That private assurances have been
given Of modification Of the Tariff, If those In.
terests would assent to the demands of the slave
holders respecting the Territories, we have no
doubt Ii will be recollected that Mr.. Clay, pre-
sentng memorial from Pennsylvania praying
an increase of duties on iron, plainly told the me
morialists that nothing could be done for them
till the question now agitating the country should
be adjusted and Mr.. Webster takes particular
pains to impress upon the Lowell capitalists that
no business of general Importance can be trans
acted, till the agitation of the Slavery Question
in Congress be terminated; and his mode Of ter
minating it is by concession to the shareholders 1t
would seem that the deputation lately in Wash
ington from manufacturing companies in Massa-
chusetts, to ascertain whether there was no
hope Of additional protection, understood that
their object could not be obtained except on con-
ditions What they were may be inferred from
the character of the letters addressed to Mr..
Webster for the purpose of sustaining him in his
position.
What is to be thought Of these things? Men
who make haste to be rich will risk their souls for
gold Mammon is as potential now as it was
eighteen hundred years ago when Judas sold his
Lord for thirty pieces of silver. Who cares how
many slaves shall clank their chains in our free
Territories, so that Monopoly may grow fat on its
extortions from the milion2
But, if there be manufacturing capitalists, so
sordd as to be contemplating an arrangement by
which they are to receive additional protection
for their fabrics, on condition Of their betraying
the cause of Human Freedom, we ask them TO at
tend to the Washington Union, the great champion
of the Compromise bill. That paper derides
their complaints of hard times and low prices
denounces them as hypocritical panic-makers-
and hints at the policy Of reducing rather than
augmenting the Tariff.
"A few days since,n it says, ain order to show
the unfounded character of the representations Of
distress put afoat by the Northern manufactur-
ers we cited the fact that new factories were ris
ing up in the South and that in that section Of the
Union, those engaged in the cotton manufacture
were doing good business. The intelligence re-
Celveu ny the last arrival from Europe exn1Dlt6
the same state Of things in the manufacturing
districts of England. Now, with these evidences
of the prosperity of the cotton manufacturing in.
terest in every district and country in the world,
except New England, before our eyes, we respect
fully inquire, how it happens that the mammoth
corporations of Lowell, and other manufacturing
towns Of New England should be in such state
Of suffering and distress The answer is obvious:
IL is untrue that they are IL is q shallow and
miserable Device invented to enable themt get an
increase Of duties in order that their profits may
be swollen to an amount which no other business
can hope to obtain. 1t is gross attempt to impose
upon the people and upon Congress, and instead
Of being rewarded by an increase Of duties, ii
should be met with a reduction. We have no
doubt a much larger revenue could be derived
from cotton fabrics imported in the country by q
reduction of duty than is now derived from them.
Thus would the people obtain more cloth for the
same money, and the Treasury would derive
more revenue Certainly, II the manufacturers
would expect favor from Congress, they should
come before that body with the truth, instead Of
lie, In their mouths. We advise them to reflect
that honesty is the best policy and that they
will gain nothing by such shallow and transpa-
rent attempts to impose upon the intelligence Of
the country
II any arrangement has been made BY which
an increased Tariff has been pledged on condition
Of support to the Compromise, the Tariff men
will be inevitably cheated. This is our predic-
ton. The expectation that the Senate will con-