The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-21
+ IF REpU Bile.


it s seen that while the quantity imported has In
creased about four and a quarter times over that o.
l645, the aggregate duties received is less than
double the amount received from that source in
1916, and that, too, under heavier rate of duty al
the latter period.
This enormous Increase in the impoftations Of
iron, at prices SO Tar below the fair usual cost oil
production, both here and abroad. while it pro-
duced no corresponding benefit to the Treasury
destroyed in good degree the composition OF oui
own producer and manufactures. The result then
foretold is now partially realised The foreign
producer, by reduction Of prices his part, and
Of duties on our part. having possessed himself Of
the cont oil Of our markets raises the prices of iron
1t ID believed, beyond the refunerating points, and
certainly far beyond the rates ruling, during the
period of the late HOPELESS struggle of Our own
manufacturer to sustain himself. F4@
The effects of this state OF things felt in the
very large increase Of duties consequent upon the
suddenly enhanced prices OF iron, which must be
PAID by onr consumers, and with the most unfa
vorable influences upon our numerous railroad
enterprises now in progress, whilst 1t is attended
with no Corresponding benefit to those whose CAPT
tai embarked in this brancti Of rhantfaStiEe hai
been totally lpst On the other hand, by this rise
in the prices of iron it may be expected that new
stimulus will be given to that branch Of American
labor, which may again be met by similar conse
quences, when it shall have become formidable
competitor with the foreign producer, ending In a
destructive reduction in price, and redundant
supply.
Whilst the foreign commerce of the country
and the foreign market for its productions are un.
doubtedly of great importance, yet they both prob
ably receive an undue share of consideration, for
they respectively sink into relative insignfcance
when compared with our internal and coastwise
commerce, and with the home market
There are no records which will enable the De-
partment to give the correct of our internal
and coastwise trade, but some idea may be formed
of its vast e1tept when it ID recolecteI that the
annual value of the agricultural, mineral, and
manufacturing productions Of the country is not lees
than three thousand millions of dollars & 3 OOO,-
0000) as shown by the statistical returns of the
late census; large portion of which istransported
by river, canal or coastng vessels, or railroads
and which in the course of trade changes hands
several times before reaching the domestic cod:
sutner; making in the aggregate an amount OIL
traffic counting by thousands of millions; whilst the
whole amount shipped to foreign countries is but
900 600, being only .t,rentieth part of the
entire production OF the country, which thus finds
an outlet in foreign markets. t5,...3as.s
The single article of coal annually transported
coastwise, and in canal boats, railroads, is OF
sufficient bulk to furnish fulcargoes for four times
the Quantity Of all the American tonnage employed
in foreign commerce, and probably affords the
means of livelihood to greater number of persons
than the Inter. rs5..,s
The coastwise trade to and from the American
ports in the Gulf of Mexico is of itself probably
nearly point OF Vatue, 10 the enure export
of American productions to foreign nations.
striking difference between the ma gnitude and
of the home market and the foreign
one.s to be found in the statistics of exports of
what is familiarity called the famine year of l847
There was some difficulty at that time In procuring
foreign, to convey breadstuffs to the famishipg
nations OF Europe, and yet our entire exports dur
ing that year OF the two principal articles of food
Indian corn (maize) and flour were only about
three per cent of the former and about ten per
cent. Of the. latter, estimated on the whole crop
produced in the United States; leaving ninety
seven per cent. of the Indian corn and ninety per
cent OF the wheat crop for the supply Of the home
market, where it was actually consumed. Our
exports of breadstuffs at present are only about
one third of what they were during the above year
of unusual demand; exhibiting, in still more
striking contrast, the immense difference between
the home and foreign markets in favor of the for.
meF.
The mere tolls collected by the canals and rail
ro ds on the transportation Of merchandise for the
internal trade of the country, exceeds in amount
the total value of all the breadstus purchased from
US by foreign nations. Il a y a atls
The annual value of the crop of Indian corn, of
wheat, and OF hay each respectively s fully equal
to the entire value of our productions exported to
foreign countries. The annual amount of the man.
ufactures in the States of New York or Pennsyl
vania, in either of those States, greatly exceeds
the value of such exports, and even those of the
fully equal to all the productions of the country
consumed by foreign nations.
The latter State probably consumes breadstuffs
that are produced in the middle and western
States to greater amount than ia shipped to all
Europe, with the great additional advantage Of
this being regular and uniform demand, not de-
pending on European crops or the caprices of for.
eign governments in the regulation of their com
merce and the assessment OF arbitrary and ever
varying duties, according to their own actual
wants and circumstances. Yet all these immense
agricultural, mineral, and manufacturing inte-
rests, which are almost exclusively connected with
the internal trade of the country and the home
market, receive greatly less attention and consid-
Grafton from the community than the compare
lively small amount of our foreign commerce.
My views of the beneficial results which would
follow tariff with fixed and reliable. rather than
with sliding, and consequently uncertain rates of
to them as duty imposed upon me by the acts
esta blishing the Treasury Department ~ 81
The importations of foreign merchandise, liable
} for the fiscal year ending 3Oth June last,
amounted 10. .........-...... $2O7 ,lO9,73o
The exports for the same - es
period were, ofd omes-, - -,7
tic merchandise. $l54 1904 "s1t
Foreign merchandise re- f&Ha s''+.
exported. l2,037 ,O43 -. q
Total exports. ................ 5 l66, 1857 AGO
The imports of specie, during the same period !,
49, c'''.'' .. 1OyOOo ,C44
And the exports of the same........ 42,674l35
In tobacco Gable T) the exports show an increase
in quantity of ,152 hog heads, and of value of
5l2, 032, having been in 1851, 95 ,945 hogsheads
valued at $9.2I9,25l; 1852, 49,, 097 hogsheads,
valued at S 10 OBJ 1888
The exports of rice were l19, 73s tierces, valued
At s., 470, O29-being an increase in quantity of
Ia, l43 tierces, and of value 1920, 1922 as compared
with the previous year.
The exports ofbreadstuffs and provisions amount
ID to ss25,s56 1877, being an increase of 3,9O7,-
$50.
:, The aggregate exports of domestic merchandise
show decrease, as compared with the previous
year, of $24.349, 585.