New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-06
THE TARIFF QUESTION.

All the schemes OF the Railroad and other
borefs for the modification of the Tariff by the
late Congress, for the supposed benefit Of Rail-
road makers or others, were defeated, as they
should have been. True, the Tariff sadly needs
revision, quite as much in regard 10 ito details a.
to ito general principle; but the beet bill pro-
posed-that Of Secretary Guthrie-was not even
considered by either House. The bill submitted
By Mr.. Letcber, of Virginia, and on bis motion At
tached az rider to the Civil and Diplomatic APP
preparation bill was better adj listed than thep res
ent Tariff and would have redressed some of the
prosser wrongs now endured, especially the
crushing burden under which the Wooden Mani
facture is now staggering down to general bank.
ruptcy, our own Tariff discriminating against
American and in favor Of Foreign Industry, by
imposing thirty per cent. on imported Wool, and
charging but twenty-five on Fannels. &C. and
twenty on Blankets. We should very gladly
have seen the Weolen Manufacture reprievei, but
not at the cost of reduction BY twenty per cent.
ofthe present duty on Iron. Indeed, We think
the Massachusetts, men committed grave
misttk when they united with the bitter
enemies against the stesdfsst friends Of Pro-
lection and diversified National Industry
in voting for Letcher's BILL We know "drown-
ipg men will catch at straws," but 1t were
nobler and better to stand or fall with your friends
thar SEEK safety in the councils of your enemies.
PeDnsylyania and the Iron districts generally did
not impose this Tariff upon us, nor help TO do it;
they will help to modify it N the right way in the
- ktpvs az ala
it best can, for another year, AID we may fairly
hope for revision of the whole list Of duties 10
such manner ss to reduce the aggregate of Rev.
enue to any extent which shall then appear desira-
Bile, without injury to any Industriainte and
with decided benefit to nearly all.
The present Tariff is thoroughly Protective Of
Just one interest-the Distilling, or Whisky
mskpg-and this is of course the most active
and prosperous of any, while its product 10
cheaper here than almost anywhere else. Iron,
Cotton, Woolens, do not ask nor need duties IN
their behalf so high as are established by the
Tariff of '46 in behalf of the manufacturers of
Intoxicating Drinks. When this Tariff was
enacted, it was commended as Free Trade
measure; now Letcher's proposed modification
OF it, with duties striDging all the way down
from so per cent, through 81, a. 90, &c, to
4 per cent. and netting at all, 10 Wanted the
real Free Trade. In fact, each Of these meas
ures is partly Protective, but the former the
more inconsistency, irjudciou'lys 60. The duties
in either of them are in fact high enough but
their graduation is based on no principle, and
guided BY DO intelligent purpose. No wisely pro-
tectye tarf-avowedy such-would have taken
go much money from the people as the present
Rerenue Tariff has done; the act of AZ would
have taken much less-whle it would have built
up our home production of Iron, WoOlens, Wares,
Cordage, &C.. beyond the fear of Foreign CON.
petition. If one Congress Of practical working
men could be assembled-men who could COM
prehend the effect of suggested rate of duty
on particular branch of Industry-shey might
at once take the subject of the Tariff GU. of the
range Of partisan politics and give rest and Sta
biliry to our exposed Industrial interests con-
summation devoutly to be sought and gratefully
accepted.