The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-25
Of manufactured silks only pay fifteen, and the

Of manufactured silks only pay fifteen, and the
others from twenty-five to thirty per cent.
To place this matter in its clearest light, let
US say that in round numbers we import annual
ly from foreign countries 100000 of man
ufactured silks. Those on which duty was
paid in 1851 were valued in round numbers ut
$25,750,0OO: and the total amount thrown on
the market in 1852, was as follows:
Manuf. silks entered for consumption. 1927
withdrawn from warehouse l,924,sl6
Total. s23, ,643
The imports this year will exceed this amount
considerably. Taking twenty five millions as
an average, we find that about one-eighth of
this paid thirty per cent, and the balance
seven-eigh ths-twenty-fve per cent to the ma
tional treasury. In other words
Paid by the people on Say three and o half
millions ofembrGidered sewing and twist am
silk thirty per cent. ........;. $l,ooo,ooo
Paid by the people on twenty-One and a
half millions OF other manufactures OF
silk, twenty five per cent b,375,OO0
Thus, our silk dresses, handkerchief cravats,
waistcoats &c. &C., contribute the pretty sum
of nearly six and half millions to govern
ment every year. We are taxed. and the trea-
sury overloaded to that amount, because we are
not permitted to import raw silk and manutac-
ture it ourselves.
Suppose the Is per cent duty on raw silk
were removed. There are at present several
millions invested in silk factories in this coun-
try. 1t is fair to suppose that they are not
worked at any very considerable loss though
they do pay 20 per cent for their raw mate
rial, or they would cease to work altogether.
IT. then, they can exist under prohibitive
duty of 20 per cent, it is obvious that they
would thrive to an unexampled extent were
that duty removed There is. in fact no reason
why-were this change eifected--our imports Of
raw silk should not swell from half a million
to fifteen millions year, and those of manu-
featured silks fall from twenty-five to four or
five millions. The practical consequences of
such change would be that we-the people
could buy silks at least Is per cent cheaper,
and that new and profitable branch of indus
try, requiring thousands of hands, and giving
employment to the highest skilled labor,
would be set on foot in the country.
To us these facts seem so plain and conclu-
sive that,we cannot doubt but that Congress
will at once, on touching the question of the
tariff, see the necessity Of removing the duty
on raw silk. In connection with this reform, it
will likewise naturally occur to those who have
the matter in hand, to correct the second
anomaly we have noticed, viz the classified
T., of Pa ell T. IN, tba
same line with raw silks Whatever can have
been the motive of this capricious arrangement,
it is quite obvious to the meanest capacity, that
if we intend to protect manufactures at all. we
must not protect one and abandon another
species of the same article. Tram, organzine,
and thrown silks-all ofwhich have undergone
very important and delicate portion OF the
manufacturing process now admitted at
duty of Is per cent, like the raw article, thus
affording premium to foreign manufacturers
to send us the goods in the shape of thrown in
stead of raw silk. No reason can be urged in
favor of this system After the most careful in
curry into its merits, one is compelled to con-
clude that it must have been an oversight on
the part of the trainers of the tariff which ought
to be Immediately remedied.
w II, SEWARD AS AN ORATOR-HIS RIGMA-
ROLE AT THE misunderstanding out from
this city with the fulsome laudations of the
Seward organs, the late address Of the arch
agitator at the Tabernacle. is going the rounds
Of the free soil wing press, accompanied with
the flatulent blarney of Greeley and his echoes.
Now, as we apprehend that very few Of our
readers have had the time or the patience to
wade through this interminable rigmarole, we
have undertaken, for their convenience to make
up table of it's contents, SO that they may the
better form a judgment OF its real merits, as the
production Of q great public speaker Here
are the strong points of this mass Of verbiage
before the American INSTITUTED
l. An exordium in honor Of the exhibition of the
Institute and congratulation Of the society upon
the general results Of the institution which, of course
was expected, including eulogium upon Dewitt
Clinton and General James Tallmadge.
2. A remark of DR.. johnson, that the first man
who balanced a straw upon his nose, and the first
man who rode three horses at time, &c, deserved
the applause of mankind, which the orator harps
upon as a true exposition of philosophy.
3. He endeavoIs to show that this is great coun-
Try, and enters upon some philosophical remarks
concerning the empire of Charlemagne, Of Alfred
the Great, Of Great Britain, France, and Russia,
in which, while it appears that Russia excels us 10
territorial greatness, fourifths of her people are
slaves. But, he says, that If these people could
shortly rise to state Of comparative social eeva
ton it would lead to sedtions and dismemberment
Of the empire. Yet he advocates the suppression OF
Southern slav.ry Mark that
A. He argues that all importations Of manufac
lures from foreign countries should be dispensed
with, that we have everything and should supply or
make every thing among ourselves
s. Shows what we owe to Franklin and Sherman
and the men who captured Major Andre.
6. Declares virtue to be the vital principle Of the
republic, but that virtue without courage is good for
nothiug-that we must go ahead in the cause Of
freedom, without being afraid of consequences.
7. Shows what Peter the Great and other free