The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-21


composed Of the original cost and import duty. below
which il cannot be sold in markets without run but
al which the home fabric may be sold with considerable
profit The immediate object contemplated and avowed
by the government in imposing such duties Is the protec
ton of our manuiac and the OF in
vestments in them. But against what is protection
askedi Why is foreign competition formidable unless
il reduces pricess And how Investments in this
line OF employment to be encouraged bat by an aug
menation OF prices and profits An answer to
these inieog announces at once, and delneaes
with pencil OF light, the true character and opera
lion Of poeeys dges ,d ~ p,oss,1" asn or
Them, IS protection against loo prices Of manaJae.
tars and me cheap rates at iDh Msy are sold 10 our
of their prosperity and the alleged incubus weighing
them down, and afesng our manufacturing enterprise
is the low price Of foreign fabrics driving their fabrics
out of market This is the evil against which they in
woke the nleposition of the government; and the only
sovereign remedy for the imputed evil Is to be found in
augmentation OF prices arising from heavy import da-
ties taxing foreign merchandise Unless such duties
crease the price of foreign merchandise by increasing its
cost in ports, exclude IT altogether from Market
how protect home manufactures, or encourage
vesments in this branch OF our national industry An
augmentation OF prices by such means only be effect
ed the sacrifice OF the sources OF agricultural prospect
ty Whatever increases the prices of articles OF con-
sumption which the agriculturlst must purchase tbs
same ratio sinks the value OF the product OF his industry
Protection to the home manufacturer against the low
prices OF foreign merchandise, in such state OF things
may be safely assumed unerTing test Of the eec,
OF protective duties prices, that foreign fabrics
be bought cheaper without than with such duties and
that our manufactures cannot be sold cheap the
foreign fabrics is unansweaby demonstrated by the i'm
position and continuance Of such duties to embarrass and
discourage the importation OF such fabrics
Although an augmentation OF prices all protected
articles is the inevitable effect of the protective system
advocates uniformly maintain that competition among the
home manufacturers. our experience to the contrary will
keep prices down that in point OF fact prices have fall.
he pAta
ates home market for our agricultural products.
The great and memorable law regulating prices, eQer,s
par,bus according all experience competition and
as it is increased diminished prices fall Our
protective duties for the most part prohibtoy, and in
all greatly discourage and diminish foreign compe-
tition. The home competition substituted for it, among
fifty or hundred manufacturing establishments is in
competent to replace the excluded competition arising
from the existence OF Ten thousand such establishments
abroad OVERLOOKING with capital An uninterrupted com.
petition at hone, with increased and increasing protection
Tor sixty years. has not done il centuries to come, with
thorough revolution in our relative condition,
not 40 and .ne aH,asye expeG'anon. IKE an gny Jal
Stunning that home competition reduces prices will not the
multiplied competition OF ten thousand manufactures
abroad reduce them still more on admitting their fabrics
into our markets. An nfallble ouchsone Of the real
operation OF protective duties and the absolute nadeq
OF home competition is found in the criterion Of foreign
prices Whenever they are beow ours which Is invariably
the case such duties by iaerposng betUeen ,he foregn
and purchaser haze augmented prIces and
home competition has taiied q counieraet the augmenla-
lion Such is uniform observation OF lis inetcacy
and in acknowledging that prices have fallen since the in
sti,ulon OF the protective policy let II be remembered
they have fallen abroad also.
The simultaneous existence Of the tariff and reduc-
ton of prices fortutous coincidence OF events, but
not cause and effect have they any necessary or
natural connexon. improvements in machinery, i'm
proving the fabric and increasing the manufacturing
power increased competition, arising from the great null!
tplica,on OF manufactures abroad, multiplied popua-
ton reduced prices of labor; increased production of
materials, filling the markets at reduced prices and
the general paccaion which succeeded the French
luton stimulated commerce, turned millions to the pur.
of industry, and are the poximate and controlling
OF reduced prices OF merchandise every where The
ta-or, according to its new bapsmal name, the divs-
ion of labor-instead OF contributing to this momenous
result participation in its blessings has retarded
both. and additional duties have been demanded, from
time to tme protect from
reductions in foreign prices to low points OF depression
BY prohibitions in some cases and taxation IN all II has
intercepted the transmission OF cheapened fabrics into
markets. indirectly demonstrated the futlity OF home
petition hemellcally sealed ports against foreign
prices and substituted for them home prices reduced from
The causes enumerated below former rates, but,
theless, enormously above foreign prices. Our home
manufacture cannot rival the foreign manufacture in
prices from an remedabe difference in The prices of la
Dor Europe has overlooking population OF $50 ,0oo-
600 the United States, with nearly large, but
% 900 600 An aristocracy, brilliant with wealth and
hereditary honors, monopolzes her lands by feuda nsi
tuons, and laws of primogeniture transmitting estates
sOtido from generation to generation, and with exav
agan, salaries public functonares. heavy high
renls and high pces rendering her lands unatianabe by
the millions who their bread by the daily of
their brow. Her iron institutions and laws, deriving
strength from their antiquity, and encouraging the
remes of fortune condemn them TO Hereditary penury,
and competition for daily Bread until wages reduced
to the last cent which Inundated nature subsIsi.
Our institutions different, and invgorae the hands Of
By intoxicating the remembrance that he is born in
the image OF God our country is new, and our popula
ton comparatively small unoccupied and untold mil
lions of public domain al nominal prices embracing every
climate and soil mountains and valleys forests and rra
res invite The toiing millions TO the rich recompense OF
virgin soil Of exbaus,ess fertility, and manufacturing
employ ment The tariff, inlerposing in the competition
bet ween the rival establishments, foreign and domestic,
on accoun, Of the real supposed national advantages OF
manufacturing institutions, imposes duty OF twenty
five per cent the present average rate OF protection
foreign fabrics TO counerva the cbeapDess OF foreign
labor and authorize the home manufacturer TO advance
his prices twenty five cents beg ond foreign prices. The
thus pays twenty hive per cent on all protected
articles support manufactures the aggregate amount OF
which exceeds tenold annually the amount OF products
sold in the home market and The whole ~ stem may be
said rest upon pyramid OF taxes But, enormous as
this rate OF protection, The South acquesces IN IT 10 re-
deem the faith OF the government under which invest.
ments have been made bat the Unsuitable spirit OF
nopoly, insoent IRON imperial wealth. and supported By
pow erul party, seeks levies agriculture which
must result in organized arlsiocacy OF associated
wealth. emneniy dangerous TO The ultimate character OF
the government. Deriving its existence and dra wing lie
breath the will of the general government, ever
ready, with fixed bayones TO sustain its
and occupations XiMlNES
ny DYEa ~ Mcguire, A"c,'o"s.rs.