Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-02-27
TIMES CHANGE AND MEN DO
CHANGE WITH THEM.

CHANGE WITH THEM.
In the Daily Globe, we And an inter.
esting discussion, on the Bill now before
Congress 10 grant to Rail Road Compa.
nies three years, in which Is pay the
duties on iron, imported for Rail Road
purposes. The discussion has elicitej
some very important facts, in regard to
Rail Roads, the Iron business, &c., and
it also shows how unstab able is the posi-.
ton Of politicians who do not ground
their views on truth. and fixed@prin.
ciplcs.
Our readers all know that Hon. SAN.
UEL +. ViNTos, was, for many years,
one Of the. foremost advocates of the
Protective Policy, both in Congress and
out Of it. Some Of us know, that in
1874, in certain speech Of Mr.. VIxToN,
at the Eina Furnace in this county, he
showed to the, satisfaetion Of most of
his hearers. that the importers Of foreign
commodities, paid the duty, and not the
consumer. In 1854, we find Mr.. Vrs
TON, who so long, and ably represented
this district in Congress, at the head OF
the Cleveland, Sandusky & Toledo Rail
Road Company, as its President.
In the Senate debates on the above
named Bill, we find in the speech Of
RICHARD BRoADHEAD, Of Pennsy ylvania,
in reply to Gov. JONES, Of Tennessee,
the folio wing extract from an agreement
between certain Rail Road Companies,
and committee Of lobbies, to operate
upon Congress, in favor Of remitting the
duties on Rail Road Iron.
"Mr. BRoDHEAp. The circulars dated
New York, March 81, 1854; and among
other things, it says:
"To make provisions for the expenses una
voidably incident to tie prosecution of the
measure, it was agreed at the meeting, that
each company coming into the arrangement
800, and that in case of success, there should
be paid by each company TO the committee, for
the further expenses that may be incurred, and
as compensation for their time and services
lin addition 10 the above advance,) five per
cent. on the amount of duty remitted, or which
may be saved to such company, on Rail Road
iron heretofore imported by it, or which it may
import or contract for prior to July 1, 1855, by
the passage of the law or laws, repeating, re-
mitting, or suspending for limited time, the
duty on such iron.
The circular is sig ned; Samuel F.
Vinton, Noah L. Wilson, John Stry.
ker, George Ashmun, H. v. Poor, CON.
mittee.
Thus it is that Mr.. vINToN. the late
leader Of the Wing party in Ohio. and
Governor Jones Of Tennessee. both Of
whom. in Congress. had stood shoulder
to shoulder. in the advocacy Of tho
"Protective Policy" are now with their
old associates and co.laborers in the
Whig party. advocating ia Congress q
remission Of the duty on Rail Road
Iron. The Railroad interest in, the
country now comma nds more capital
than the manufacturing interest can
command. The total amount Of Rail
Road stock, in Ne United States on the
first Of December 1853. tSo9. .s7s, ,o87.
and Of Bonds. tl70,l1l,e42, total
amount invested, four hundred and eigh.
ty millions, Eve thousand Eve hundred
and nineteen dollars,--a large portion
Of which is owned in Europe; the pres.
ent entire indebtedness Of the country
being 4225. 900, ,0o0,--a very large por.
ton Of which has been incurred 10 build
Rail Roads. We believe in building
Rail Reads a. fast as tho wants and
means Of the country will justify. but it
is certain the enormous investments
that have been made in Rail Roads,
within tho past few yean, have contrib.
uted very much 10 the present dsssngc.
meat ofsthe Gnancss'o Of ,he country.
Il i arapsius . ~ what sonssssts
agrsst msn'' can turn. The aristccsat.
10 psfsyspf ths couatsy looks primarily
4 ~ bSas6ts which capisdlmsy dsfivs
lfem tsisAiess q II esAss Wos1n ksw