The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-09

tHcy WlITINg ION az
not Justify disunion, and that the ongt no
TO be ovenhrown IN consequence OF their Passage The,
declare too, with the utmost earnesness that they vii
join resisting any further agg resson even at m,
hazard of q revolution. II is because lbe cup of ou
wrongs is filled 10 the bnn that one single drop vii
cause II 70 run oyer We all feel that the action Of h,
Norm upon this subject has not been what we hac
right 10 expect There is also just ground fol
complaint IN relation to the surrender OF fugy,
slaves Many Of the northern States. instead of pass
ing laws TO facilitate The execution of this provision
OF the constitutions have actually placed on their statute
books enacments calculated and intended 10 obslruc ths
eseslse OF our night Looking therefore. a, the
IN the decl araon OF the North Carolina legislature tha
we are under no obligation to extend additional proec
non % % he mining and manufacturing interests of thu
Notth am willing TO do them Justice bat not fayors
will not consent. for their benefit 10 impose greater
burdens on other classes
Let us look now at the second of these 1t i.
us greatly exceeds that of any other na,onhas within
lew years past, essentially modified and greatly re,
aucea her inpositIons on our productions The rate Of
her duties seldom exceeds ten per cent where ours Il
thirty. We are told. however. IRON time 10 time, thai
10 prevent lhe consumption Of tobacco among her sub
!ssss, shs imposes heavy duty on that article, and
therefore we ought TO retaate by imposing similar ex
orb'iant rate - But one swallow does not make sum.
meI ihs Is the exception. not the rule According to
such logic, because she admits our cotton free Of dutyo
more importance even than tobacco 10 ought tC
admit all her productions likewise free Comparing het
tari with ours as whole, il is vastly lower 1t
be pretended therefore, that additional dulles should be
imposed by us with view 10 retaliation existing
rates already being greater than those of of the ma
ons with which we trade. As they generally adopt,
ing our iree-trade notions Is il wise in seek to
drive them back TO the restrictive systems of former
times
We brought 10 the Consideration of the third
OF these grounds, yz the policy of protecting manu-
acues during their infancy The system of high duties
began with the war OF 1872 and has been continued by
me successive tariff acts down to the present time During
this entire period, with the exception of less than Two
years Immediately preceding the passage of the ac OF
ls42, when the rates to 20 per cent the du
ties on most OF the protected articles have ranged from
10 more than 100 per cent. In word. for period o
nearly forty years. manufactures have enjoyed the
advantage OF protection OF 80 per and upwards
Can they be now fairly regarded infant establishments
Ought they not now with the aid OF 80 per duties
and the additional advantage which they derive from the
cost OF the importation OF foreign articles. be able
sustain themseves' If they cannot. ought we TO give
additional bounties, in the language of Mr. Webster in
his speech IN 1924, 10 support business which will
not support itself" ...t .ts ..
admit The soundness of the doctrine of protection this
lar Ii by fostering any species OF industry for
able period, al expense other interests You
can enable II TO sustain itself against fair competition the
pohcy IS allowable By thus dversifyng the pursuits
OF our people, we advance The general interest No
Wl question that the existence OF manufacturing esiab
lshments IS advantageous 10 country; but it is equally
clear that any branch OF business which, after being
nursed bv bouniles Tor long while, able ,o
sand competition. ought to be abandoned AT any rate
am not disposed 10 go beyond the existing high rate Of
duties 10 bolster up such establishments. Were to
do il is obvious tina, should inct greater injury
on other interests than we should confer benefits the
favored.
As respects the fourth reason need hardly saw that the
United States have already made such advances every
species OF industry as to make them independent OF all
me .he world. Were we surrounded BY a wall 80 as to
nave our Intercourse with the OF mankind inter.
rupted, we should suffer no serious Inconvenience
Every variety of manufacturing industry is rapidly diff
fnsing ltse throughout the entire country. North Caro-
lima, ipr example, IS not regarded a manufacturing
State any extent yet they assure me that The ocomo.
ves for railroads made there quite equal any that
can be obtained abroad. OF her capacity to produce
I hnxU uVorI shoI al
We have thus, Mr Chairman, rapidly glanced over the
arguments usually resorted TO 10 sustain tariffs as
Tar as they have beer incidentally protective Whatever
may have been the force OF these formerly they
are new entitled to weight whatever We may now
examine thus whole question upon lis proper merits in
dependently OF all such exiraneous considerations. Al
The last session, elt myself Tree 10 upon this ques
ton, with reference solely 10 the present and the future
propose, IN the first place. sir 10 lake notice OF the
positions OF the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.
HAMPTON who spoke come time since in favor OF laying
additional duties such foreign productions
competition with our own manufactures. He discussed
especially the iron and coal Interests In this he has fol
lowed the example OF the advocates OF high duties gen.
eIaliy, who seem 10 suppose that they make then
strongest point with reference to on and therefore place
4 IN The foreground Of the argument II shall be able
to show that they fail upon this the point selected by them
as their strongest, shall have accomplished part OF my
present purpose The argument Of The gentleman and
those who argue with him. is substantially this Admitting
that the raw materials out oil which iron is made--o wit
ore, coal &c.-can be had at cheap in the Uni
ted States as elsewhere he airms that the labor en-
ployed constitutes nlDe- -enths OF the cost al making
iron. and that this, the element IN its production
four lmes cheap in Great Britain it in the United
States that the British capitalists, therefore, OBJ
tain as much labor Tor 20 25 cents per day tbt
American manufacturer get Tor dollar. III
asks, therefore, that such duty be imposed upon the
foreign article will make II as dear American iron
produced by aborers who receive the above high rate
wages regret that the gentleman did not state al wha
price per ton the Pennsylvania iron masters would un
dertake 10 deliver railroad iron in New York, o,he
cities the seaboard From other sources however
and especially the iron conventions, IN bis State and II
New York, am of opinion that they would not fee
willing deliver much less II any, than 800 PEI
ton Let us suppose, however that they could afford
al only $50, which is certainly favorable calculation
for them Nne-,entbs OF this cost s, according TO hi
showing be set down TO the item OF labor being
Sl5-leavng S5 only for the cost OF The raw material
bat according TO hrs figures the English manufacture
will obtain the sams labor a cost Of only Sll as Ad
ding S5 for the material. ton Of railroad irop there
fore could be made in England for $40 25 In snppor
OF this calculation too II may be remarked that the con
venlion OF IRON workers which met at Albany. 10 bs
State OF New York. little than year ago, stated u
their published proceedings that establishments avorab,
situated in Great Britain did deliver such iron on tide
water at a cost OF from Sl7 10 $40 per ton The usua
prce, however, is somewhat higher, and may be com
monty set down nj S25t S27 per ton. There rs nc
doub OF The fact that, il railroad iron admitted
free Of duty entirely il could be had in our seapor
towns al cost moi above $50 per ton After paying h'
existing rate OF dutes and all the incidental costs o
importation, il is obainable at $40.
If railroad company, therefore. should buy domes
tic iron at $50 per ton. instead of the foreign article
$780, il is obvious that such company would lose $50 OF
every ton of iron 30 bought. Does the manufacture
gain this sum According to the case supposed and thel
own showing he would in fact realize nothIng-benf
lion II ii were even conceded that he in this wa,
cleared ton. this wOuld be only -fOuNh nj