The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-06
Senator James and Protection.

| Inc New YORK Euentng P0a thus comments
on the last tariff movement in Congress
THE New CoTToN ScHEME.-It is related
that in the time of fable, the bat, presuming OF
his wings as credentials, attempted to join the
assembly Of birds. He was driven out, as be-
ing no genuine fowl Of the air. and next, confd
ing N his four legs, appeared in the convoca.
ton of beasts. Being repulsed there, he after
wards, from sense of shame, kept himself con.
cealed by day, and only came out in the nirht
That was long ago. The bat now comes out
boldly in the day time, and wheels in ostenta-
tious circles, over our heads. Mr. James, of
Rhode Island, member of the United States
Senate-a Democrat with Wing principles
the man who, while the Wings were apparently
in the ascendant, gave public assurances that he
was in favor of all Wing measures and who af.
forwards, when the Democrats had carried the
elections in most of the States, took great pains
to let the world know that he was Democrat
has lately given no ice in the United States
Senate of his purpose to introduce in that body
measure of great importance--one of the most
important which is likely to be brought before
Congress at its presents session.
1t is a proposal to abrogate a most essential
part of the present tariff and to make begin.
ming of higher duties For this purpose, it is
said by the partisons of protection that he has
intrigued both with the assembly of beasts and
that of birds. As Wing and friend of pro.
lection, he has, according to his authority, sc.
cured the support Of the Wing members for his
measure, and as a Democrat, he has made sure
of the assistance of sufficient number of the
Democratic members to secure majority for
the bill he is about to present.
The protectionist journals, we perceive, are
l. L 1 g. &. =.
thing, says the New York Tribune, TO get rid of
the tariff of 1886; any measure which will set
the example of introducing higher rate of du.
ties into our revenue laws, on whatever article it
may be laid anything which will break in upon
the system of moderate imposts Let ns but
succeed in beating one of the stones of the
building out of its place, and we shall by and by
have its entire walls level with the ground
A principal feature in Mr.. Jamcs's scheme is
higher duty on the finer cotton fabrics. One
would suppose that the duties on cotton goods
| of different qualities were tolerably well appor.
| toned to their value. Cotton fabrics which cost
dollar a yard, are charged with duty oil
twenty .live cents yard those which cost but
ten cents, pay tritle over one cent yard Mr.
! James is extremely anxious that the more deli
cate and costly tissues should have still greater
difficulties thrown in the way Of their importa.
ton into this country. Why is this!
! 1t is well known that Mr. James has himself
been concerned in the manufacture of fine cot
tons, aud in this enterprise it has been a sort OF
hobby with him TO cause his spndles TO be
whired and his shultles thrown by steam power
instead of water. lie is even the author of I
book, setting forth the economy of using steam
in the cotton mills =" Have you seen James
book ?" said one Rhode Island manufacturer tc
another, both of whom employed water power
al have was the reply, Z" and it reminds me o
an auecdote Of n gentleman, who happened, il
4 travelling at the West, TO stop at Cincinnati
lie entered one of the business streets, in which
he perceived that all the shutters we're closed
Perceiving door ajar he stepped in, and saw
man weighing out groceries by the brilliant
light oil several lard lamps, of whom he inquired
The reason OF what he had seen supposing thai
possibly the shops and warehouses had beer
closed in consequence of some public funeral
The man looked hard at him, and begged thai
he might be allowed TO ask how old he was
About sixty years, was the reply And in al
! that time, asked the man, have you net found
out that lard-light is cheaper than Daylight
! The anecdote is rs pertinent an illustration Of
! the absurdity of the whole system Of protection
as il is Of the mistake Of supposing that powe
! like steam, which it takes money to generate
can tie cheaper than that of water, which is spon
taneous.