New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-26

years ago. IL Wes endcteu as L Tee- L rauc hoa7-
ure, under the auspices of James X. Polk and
Robert j. Walker, by Congress thoroughly de-
voted to their vews. The fact that it did not n
medlately paralyze the Industry and subvert the
prosperity of tie country was widely trumpeted as
evidence that Free Trade was the true policy and
Protection an exploded fallacy. Though we hold II
clearly demonstrate to any impartial mind that
will carefully consider the facts that the changes
effected by this Tariff have done great harm 70 our
country by seriously gripping many branches OF
manufacture aud preventing the development OF
others equally important and promising-though we
firmly believe that this country is to-day one
Thousand Million Dollars poorer, and it's Industry
producing One Hundred Millions less per annum,
than it would have been if the Tariff Of lS42 had
stood unchanged till now-yet we never regarded
This Tariff of '46 otherwise than as we now do
as a measure partly Revenue partly Protect
i've, and partly inconsistent with either Princi-
pie and more injurious than any measure
consistent with either principle could be. We never
supposed that duties of thirty per cent. on the
value of the Iron, Sugar, Cotton, and Wooden
Fabrics imported into this country could be ac-
counted purely Revenue dutes nor that q Tariff
made up Of such imposts would produce the dsas.
trous results which We anticipated from the aoan-
donment of Protection. The Tariff of '46, though
framed and passed by professed Free Traders, was
q half aDd-half MEASURE Il" with feet part OF iron,
port of clay" while some of its clauses are un.
jushfiabe On any accepted theory Of poticil econ.
ony or public policy. Why for example, all Wool
imported should be charged thirty per cent, while
Wooen Flannes, Bookings and Baizes are admitted
az twenty five, and Wooden Blankets, Wool Hats,
Hat.todies, Wooden ListDgs, &c, at twenty
PER cent, we have never yet been able to induce
supporter of this Tariff to state. We know what
the tftct of such legislation has been-tO shut up
nearly half the wooden factories in the Union after
running their owners; we know the object of maAing
tbese unjust determinations to cheat the
wool. growers with show of protection, while the
substance was withheld by the low duties
Oh large classes of Wooden Fabrics; but no posi-
bic form Of inquiry could ever induce the advo-
Gates of this Tariff even to attempt to give reasons
fur such anomolos. So with the duties Of thirty
per cent. on Paper, twenty on Blank Books, and
ten on Printed Books imposed by this Tariff;
with its taenty per cent. on Sulphur and ten
Sulphuric Acid; with its thirty per cent. on raw
Hemp, twenty five on COrdage, aud twenty on
Hempen manufactures, and others. Why such
should be made by an American
Congress against American labor and in favor of
foreign workshops, we have found no supporter Of
the act wiling to say.
Atlergth there is prospect of revision Of this
and we have great hope that it will be
made in such spirit as cannot fail to give
Lew impetus to pasied manufacturing interests.
Wecohfdently expect tOsee all the ncoDgruities of
the present act cleared away, and many of its Obec
tOhsbe features softened by the action Of the pres
ent Congress We trust therefore, that no conflict
of personal interests, no pressure of business, will be
permitted to preclude careful and thorough revi-
sien of the Tariff at this Session.
Half dozen projects of Tariff amendment are
now before the House, and will in due time receive
its attention. Without having even read one Of
them in detail, and while trusting that Congress will
select the best provisions from every bill presented
We shall yet be inclined to prefer the schedule or
draft Of Secretary Guthrie, which we have not Jet
seen, as the basis Of action. Mr.. Guthries Report
TIRE ats the subject Of Tariff revision in way 80 clear
sensible, business like with an earnest desire 10
free it from all partisan aspects and complications
and with 80 large a command Of the essential facts
tina. We have grea! faith in his ability to digest and
commend Tariff bill which will at once diminish
tie revenue to the desired extent reduce the bur
deus Of taxation, and give lew and lasting impe:
tus to cur Home Industry.
That different Members of Congress should en-
deavor to serve ard crafty their constituents BY
procuring reduction or removal of the duties now
levied On some staple in which these constituents
have The interest only of large consumers, is a
matter Of course. These efforts may aid or they
NAY defeat each other. We confess, however, a
little surprise in finding Mr.. Cofsx of Indiana
clroncltd as the mover Of bill to repeal absolute
ly the present (twenty per cent duty on Sugar.
We bad supposed Mr.. e. q believer in that school
Of public ecenoDy which holds tina. the true way TO
maie a staple permanently ctesp is to incite its
production nearer 1ome rather than driving it
further of. Bis bill seems to us bill for local and
MON. ntary popularity, at the expense Of sound and
in mul able policy II assumes that Sugar is purely
tropical or at best sem..tropical product-tha.
lis only source is the cane-snd that there is no
reasonable expectation Of its profitable production
fr,m any of the plants of the temperate zone. Ye.
the last census shows that Maple Sugar alone to the
value If over one million seven hundred thousand
collars was maJein lS50-not very large amount,
We admit, but sufficient to prove that Sugar is not
necessarily a tropical product; Maple Sugar being
made US far moth as the shores of Lake Superior.
The Beet, also, is a sugar-producng root, and is
e1. erSi xeir L. in Enrnno L