The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-09
The Marauders In pennsylvania.

II Congress were 10 pass an act authorizing Eng.
hshmen to come into the United States and rob all
the farmers fields, pin folds, and hen roosts they
could get access to--just as Admiral Cockburn did
along the Chesapeake during the Last war--there
wouldbe, we fancy, somewhat of an uproar through
out the land; the robbers would DO nOggcd away in
an approciably short space Of time, and then there
would be such dinging about the OF Congress
as would be warning 10 Senators and Represent
ativcs through all coming time. Knowing this fact,
VIC cannot but feel staggered at the exceeding
tranquility that now prevails, when, as il happens,
there IL such law the statute book, and has been
for four years, by authority of which great many
OF our British friends arc at this moment, in the
country, and more especially in Pennsylvania,
making exceeding free with the farmers and their
pockcts-to cay nothing of the miners and forge
men, whose bread they take out of their mouths,
and from the lips oftheir little children. The tariff
Of az Is precisely such law, comforting on the
English manufacturer the privileges Of a licensed
maraudcr and, while he seems TO be combining bis
plunderng operations directly 10 the poor coal and
iron man, he Is in reality indirectly making his chief
spoil and pilla ge Of the husba Every hundred
dollars worth of iron he introduces into Pcnnsyl-
yania is lose of a certain amount value Of farm
produce to the Pennsylvania farmer. II the farmer
would only use his eyes 20 see how he is inter
eetod-and how much more interested than any
body csein the tariff question, we shoud hear
the death kntll of free trade in short time, and
ee-traders and disunioniss would be driven toge-
Their from Congress. like the thieves from the tenn
pie. Wear only sorry that, not using their eyes
for their own benefit, farmers yet fail in gen
erOus feelng for the poor WOrkfHen, their ietOw-
citizens, whom they can perceive plainly enough
TO be suffering from the ruin Of free trade British
competition.
From statements heretofore published by us, il
appears that Pennsyvania has upwards Of Ave hun
drcd iron works Of the different kinds, furnaces,
iorges, and rong-mills, Of which about one-hali
are idle. Considering their capacity for pig metol
alone, they competent to turn out nearly six
hundred thousand tons year; and they did, IN
l5l7, make about 100000 toms; but IL is estimated
they producing only 10000 tons. The
annual loss to the State may he inferred from tho
fact that Pennsylvania makes nearly three iourths
Of all the iron produced in the United States and
that, the total quantity,L is computed that the
wages paid TO the workmen employed in all tho
various departments of manufacture and transpor-
tation, amount TO twenty millions year and the
share OF those wages that goes TO the farmer for
food and such materials for clothing he furnishes
the farmer himself must be fully capable Of under
standing.
There are two hundred and fifty thousand work
men 10 be purvcyed for, when all the American
iron works are in operation. The law Of Congress
that drives nearly one hundred thousand Of them
from Pennsylvania does more injury to the farmers
Of the State in one day, than Admiral Cockburn
was able TO do in Maryland during the whole cam
paign OF 1913. And in view of the case, The
oss is as shameful as it IL ruinous. why should
we permit ourselves TO DC made vassals and lribu-
taries ~. s. Gazette.