The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-17
revolution, and unh'1ppy Spain, the victim Of
family quarrels, is e.gan In the hands Of political
40

family quarrels, is e.galn In the hands of political
matadors.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND
MANS ON THE TARIFF-This document proves
two things: First that Mr.. Speaker Banks
has thought more of political partizanship
than of the public good in the composition
of his committees; and secondly that Mr..
Campbell of Ohio is very unfit man to be
placed in position. where he can exercise infu-
ence over the commercial interests of the coun--
try. II will suIice-to establish these assertions
to say that tie performance which Mr.. Camp
bell has Just reported to the House as the report
of the Committee OF WAYS and Means on the ta-
riff is the lame 4. most choolboy sort Of essay in
favor of protection that we ever remember to
have read
One needs to hear IN mind that Mr.. Campbell
comes from Ohio, ard naturally knows nothing of
trade beyond what h. may have seen in snail
country stores, in order to realize the possibility
Of any sane person. at the present day, under
taking to prove to Congress that we had best pay
double prices for our cutlery and onr dry goods,
in order that certain parties here may make for
lures. 1t is absolutely necessary we repeat to
remember that this Mr.. Campbell perhaps never
saw the inside of merchants Office or read a.
single work on commercial economy til he found
himself Chairman Of the Committee on Ways and
Means, if we want to understand how such arrant'
nonsense as we find in this report came to be
printed at the public expense. On questions Of
farming, railroads and pigs Mr.. Campbell would
doubtless do better.
1t is too late in the day to argue the question
of free trade ard protection. M. Campbell
must allow Us TO take some things fof granted
we cannot give up space to proving for his bene-
fit that the earth moves or that twice two is four;
nor can we indulge him in refntation Of protec-
tive theories which were exploded when he was
very young man. He will find, if he reads or
inquiries on the subject that the propositions
which he advances in his report and seems to
consider az new all fully discussed. and set
tied fifteen or twenty years ago.. and that the
people of this country have made up their minds
Oh all of them. They are not more likely, at the
present day. to revert to the old plan OF taxing
themselves in body for the benefit of q handful
of manufacturers, han they are to abolish
railroads and set up the old lines Of stages once
more.
We are not very sure that we are justified in
taking any notice of such bald nonsense as the
report contains from beginning to end. Still, as
it bears the name of the Conmittee of Ways and
Means We will give the net results of Mr.. Camp
bells study Of the commercial history Of the
country in the three resolutions in which he sums
them up himself:
Fbst-Fe immediate efs.t Of duties below rates
which protect id,suy from the iralry OF
reign conn o6i,ics o. same Kind is proporionie
enhancement q such import, and a corresponding 10
cresse OF TIE revenue from customs which ii her an
prnach. squsl exceed he rom OF the
higher tariffs. but in insaa is certain dsappont
any expectation OF reduction OF the customs iopor
| tltn TO the abatement ~ the rates.
srccDf-The Mcseass ~ i'm consequent upon
ducten of dues below the p"nt OF adequate protection
drives MAJ ufscurnP caIasi - labor into agriculture
ard trade, and by this vastly increase the
from The sale pubtc aad from fore gn
and greatly overpsses aud so tends to plethora
N The treasury, Instead OF limiting its income and re-
FtrsipiDR ia orcffov.
Third The indirect effects q The same DO ICY IL 10 ex
Faust the sources cf onai ard irtivdua prospety
nd by lite reaction 70 bsrkrup, The treasury and pros
rate the enterprise q the county leaving debt public
fnd private q punish he extravaganza which induced
nd INDUCED.
If the reader can conlive q more silly.
ronsenscal sentence than the las. of these PROMO
sitions We should like TO see il. And to
think that il comes from the Committee of Ways
ard Means is really pitable.
However. Mr. Campbell's report will not mat
ter much or course 1t is already consigned to
the Tomb Of the Capulets Some day. perhaps,
Mr.. Campbell viii regret his share in IL; for assn
rcdly more fatal documen: for en- ambitious man
TO be connected with could not well be devised.
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