New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-03
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE WOOL QUESTION.

SIR: | have observed in the columns Of rHE
TRIBUNE from time TO time articles in reference 10
modification of the duty on wool have not before
..ingt in the discussion-though sometimes provoked
to do So when msstatements have been made or
erroneous nferences deduced from admitted facts
because have felt confident that the decision must
be in favor of the change desired if al irrelevant
matter can be put out of sight and the question de-
cded on its merits By sensible men who properly
egard the rights and interests of all parties and tLe
whole country think the opposition TO the cha go
comes oitoner from the importer OF wooden goods tha
from the growers of American wool
! Your correspondent who signs himself =" An Onon-
daga Farmer in THE TRIBUNE of April %, gives a
fact which though intended for different parpose,
Furnishes very good reason why the duty should he
repealed He says that, notwithstanding the protec-
ton afforded the woo.grower here, more wool is
manufactured in this country than is grown in it. >
"The home demaud exec, ds the home supply" IL
this il So il proves that after all the protection as-
frded and the Efforts made to increase the production
of wool it still falls short of supplying the wants Of the
manufacturers in their present iufantle state. Now,
however much in excess Of the production of wool here
may be the manufacture, il is an equally well known
fact that the consumption OF wooen goods In thls
couIt try largely in of the manufacture and
that We incur large amount OF indebtedness every
year by their importation.
All will admit presume, that these goods had bet
ter be made here from foreign wool than to be made
abroad from the same material; Tor IT rsqunes much
less spece TO pay for the wool in the state than
after it has been made into finished goods, while it
adds materially to the industry of The country, anu
consumes largely OF other products III feeding ana if
nishing those engaged in the business.
Your "Onondaga Farmer shows that, after all tho
encoura cement afforded the wool gI0wer he does not
furnish supply of wool, and think he might have
added that il has not increased essentially for several
years past and that the growth of wool is not likely to
be increased by this means in this country at present.
He also shows that, despte the embarrassment attend
ing the manufacture, the competition from abroad ana
the lack of supply of the law material at home, to say
nothing of home prejudces in favor of the imported
Article we have yet Outstrpped the producer of wool.
He will admit that are, after all much, very much,
behind supplying the wants. OF the country ana that
the demand for such goods here would furnish employ
ment for the industry and capital OF the country TO the
advantage of all. What, then, is to be donei Hero
are goods wanted; here are people ready to make
them but here is not the material to make them OF,
and we cannot induce coubtrymen just to fur
nsh us Shall we continue to import the goods, paying
largely for their increased cost, and encouraging tho
manufactures abroad or shall we import that portion
of the raw material which country will not supply
u.s. at much less cost than the goods, and set to work
Thousands who are idle, aud add largely to tho
wealth and comfort Of all classes
Our rivals abroad have every encouragement az
forded them by their respective Governments. Every
facility for the procurement OF the raw materials &C
the best possible cost IL given them. Ought we TO
receive from the hands OF our Government precsey
opposite treatment!
Give the change asked for and the production OF
woolen goods will increase largely in short time, and
with the increase amount and stability of the trade
will be the improved demand and remuneration for
American wool. Nothing can be done 10 promote tho
interests of the gUwer better than 10 tho
stability of the manufacture. Nothing renders his in
teress precarous than that policy which crpplsd
and enfeebles the consumers Of bis products.
To show this just suppose that there should be such
demand for goods that all idle machinery should
be started certainly not an undesirable event in
self what is the consequence The supply OF wool,
before below the demand, is Of still further
short now, and rise takes place which continues to
increase until it sttains such hight that loss attends
it's working, when the manufacturer discouraged and
dishearened by his failure to succeed at o season
when the business, where the material is suffi-
cent, has been good and when the demand for goods
here is active at the prices at which goods can be de-
livered from abroad gives up in despair stops his ms
chinery and discharges bis employees This stops the
demand for wool, and the next season the price low
enough but the manufacturer remembers, for
probably, his fate the year before, or bankruptcy
has rendered him unable, ard he stirs not. The grow
creased bis fOck in consequence of the good prices OF
the year before, very possibly kills of his sheep, curse&
wool growing, and goes TO growing wheat OF corn.
II is not because We expect to get wool at esG
prices than the average price for the past half dozeH
years that wish this change but that we may have
reliable state of things, and not such vascating and
uncertain condition as described above, first running
the manufacturer and then the grower, and aordinE
adequate encouragement TO either.
Let the proposed change be effected, 30 that manu-
factures may feel thai the increase of machinery viii
not produce these variations in the wool market here,
and that they will only be affected by the that
affect the general market Of the world, and
am confident that the woolen manufacture vii
increase at once, and go increasing until the pro.
duction Of this country shall equal the consumptons
furnishing a. home market for q largely increased
amount Of American products, aud giving increased
employment to our pSU)e.
Then, too, An ODondaga Farmer" az weli AZ
Ar@t tkakth nd
branch Of business has given 9 certain and rehaoIo
market for their wool at remunerating prices without
being subject to such unforseen changes as hereto
fore. y.
"THE TYRANNY OF SHAKERDOM."
To tie Edssov ef TIE N. Y. Tysbsns
RESPECTED FREED: l notice in The TRIBUNE o.
the 23d inst., under the above caption article
signed Amasa c. Robinson" Of rather extrsOrdi-
nary character, for a smaH affair. / have often ad-
roI -