The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-02
From The London News, Dec. II.


ssns Of Manchester on Tuesday evening. 10 the Hon X
Walker Secretary 10 the Treasury Of the United States
in s4o. and influential IN the important reduction OF the
high tariffs then existing upon British manufactures.
The company included great number OF the members oil
The Chamber Of Commerce and the Commercial Assoea'
non. and presided by Mr. T. Bailey, president
Of the former There were also present Mr. Golden, NJ.
p, Mr. Bright. M p, Mr. 4. Miner Gibson, M. r.. MIR.
Joseph Brotherlon, M r., Mr.. Charles Hindley M r.,
and Sir Elkanah Armitage. Among the Americans pres
snt in addition TO the Hon. Mr. Walker, were General
Wslbridge, Colonel Colt. and Mr., Stell Mr. Malcolm
Ross, OF the Commercial Association vice presi-
dent
The Chairman gave :" Our distinguished guest, ihs
Hon. R. J. Walker; and may our commercial relations
with the United States be unfeered and amty between
the two nations be rendered perpetual" [Cheersl He
would now briefly refer 10 those commercial relations
He would observe. first, that probably own vicious
fiscal system had led 10 much mischief only in oui
country, but in every civilized country on the face
Of the earth Under the system called the protective sys
tenn this country had sustained shocks OF misery and
commercial revolutions 10 which he felt little disposition
TO aude but the transition from that state by our change
OF policy has been decidedly manifest and thanks the
valiant arms OF gentlemen now in this room and thanks
TO the lamented Sir r. Peel, he hoped that system had
been forever annihated [Cheers The increased COM
fort OF the people, the increased business OF the manuiac
tnrsrs would testify that the change had been beneficial
prove that the abolition OF the laws, among other
important changes, had led TO the benefits he asserted but
he would stale simple fact that exports alone now
showed an increase OF full so per what they
during the restrictive period, cheers and the consump
ton OF comforts by the people had also increased tending
topace them inan improved and something like civilized
condition The increase of the consumption of such
cles might also be represented by so per Cheers
Our trade with the United States had also very greatly
increased AS Tor shipping, not only our own shipping
had increased but The shipping Of every other power
raw materials and manufactured produce of every re-
gion the face OF the earth Vessels came from every
part TO our own ports, and though proieconisl OPP
ponens might be very much alarmed by these contribu
tons OF the world, we should receive them, none making
us afraid. [Cheers and laugherl The policy OF the
United States had been changed IN some respects stimuli
taneousy with our own. very important change was
effected by the nstrumentaty OF Mr. Walker in the
year l643. AT the lime exerting ourselves TO
change the fiscal system OF this country when Sir r. Peel
had the moral courage to forward effect its alter
aton-at that period their honored friend, Mr. Walker
was engaged in the same line of duty in his coun
be had placed himself at the head of most intelligent
body OF his own community and with their efforts aud
his guidance he Mr Bailey anticipated result salts
factory TO Mr., Walker and ourselves. [Cheers] He
was glad their honorable representative Mr. Bright was
here present. who had endeavoed many occasions 10
induce our Legislature TO give statistical accounts of
our varied products Hitherto he had not succeeded bur
he (he chairman) hoped al distant day the nation
would not be ashamed of annual stock account TO
show to ourselves and the world industrial progress
He made this remark because Mr.. Walker would, no
doubt this evening prove from the public documents of
the United States and other authorized publications. sta
hsucai facts exceedingly interesting to u.s. On the last
occasion he (Nlr Bailey met him, he learned from him
that the gross annual industrial products OF the United
States amounted to about two thousand millions of
dollars.
Now, this was a most enormous sum but he referred
TO 1t to show how far the protective system of the United
States bore upon interests Of that magnitude He would
suppose that fifth OF the 2Oo0 millions might COM
the DrOducts that nv 0f
United States Such being the assumption, there
products 10 the amount OF 400 millions OF dollars under
protection Now, 400 millions OF dollars would represent
something like so millions of pounds sterling. 1t would be
unjust TO suppose the whole OF that the amount OF
exactons which protection took from the people OF the
United States but he would suppose that 25 per cent
the valuation of those products had been added TO them
by the protective laws II was then reasonable deduc
ton that the manufactures and other products OF the Uni
ted States protected 10 the of not less than
30 millions of pounds sterling per annum. Now. when
eur own protective system existed, it estimated
that, as minimum the protected classes took from the
the Chancellor OF the Exchequer received in Queens
taxes He (Mr. Bailey submitted that in the United
States OF America at this me the protected classes were
receiving larger amount OF revenue than the whole
taxes OF the United States, which together went 10 the
support OF the establishments OF that great nation.
tCheers He therefore inferred that when the body OF
The people of the United States appreciate this
fact they would no longer permit party among them TO
tax them 10 greater extent than their own treasury
The Hon Mr. Walker in rising 10 respond to the toast,
was received with loud cheering He said Mr.. Presi-
dent and gentlemen, thank you most sincerely for
your kind recognition OF my humble services in the great
cause OF both countries and, firmly believe OF
mankind. fCheers.1 | thank you still for the
sentiment you have offered in favor OF unfettered
merce and for that which you have also given, and the
hope which you have expressed, that amy and friend.
ship may be forever preserved between our kindred
countries. [Cheers believe, gentlemen, that nothing
has tended SO much to pepetuate those friendly rela
lions the striking down in 1916, by the joint action
OF both countries, considerable portion OF those barriers
Of restriction and OF high tariffs which separated them
from each other. [Cheersl believe that commerce,
the most extended commerce. IS pre- emneniy the fuend
Of peace. (hear and that by the joint action of these
in the educton-the very great simultaneous reduction
OF duties done by those two single acts 10
cement and perpetuae the friendly relations OF England
and America than by all the preceding acts OF Parliament
and the statutes oil the Congress OF the United States
(Hear1
The first gentleman that was ever distinguished in my
country eminent advocate of free trade dis
ungushed Engshman, the friend Of franklin and Jeher-
son, eminent as scholar philosopher, historian,
and divine He came from the vicinity Of the neigh
boring city Of Birmingham, and his name was Joseph
Pnesty. [" Hear" and applause he settled, he lived,
and died in my native town OF Northumberland in
the State OF Pennsylvania and, so far my knowledge
extends, the first essays that written 10 my
own country IN favor OF the doctrine oil free trade
ted from his pen LHearl Some reference has been
made 10 the changes that were made by the American
tariff in 1916 but believe the radical change that was
then effected in entire system and The very great and
important reductions that then made and the total
abandonment OF the protective principle, combining our
duties exclusively TO duties for revenue are not so uni.
versay known among you. have read within the
last lew days speech, aninadverlng some what upon