Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-03-27
OUR IRON INTEREST.

duction of iron was more than doubled in
three years; and during the last year, at
least two-thirds of the rails laid down,
were Of American manufacture; and so
great has been the reduction in the impor-
tations from England, that the miners of
that country had become seriously alarmed.
In view Of this state of things; the Lon
don Mining journal lately said:
"These facts have led some, interested
in the trade, to the conclusion that it would
be sound policy for the Staffordshire Iron
Masters to reduce prices, next quarter day,
two pounds per ton, with a view to regain
the command of the American market,
and to get rid Of the competitors who are
supplanting English iron in the United
States. Doubtless, if the price of iron
could be reduced to that extent, it would
ruin many of the American manufacturers
and would for time, open the way to
large demand for English iron"
How beautifully the American Con-
gress, hating everything American, but its
spoils, and loving everything foreign, plays
into the hands of the English manufactu-
rerl No sooner does the English Iron
master discover that his American com
petitor is running him, and doyises scheme
to turn the tables, than the American Con-
gress, finding what the foreigner complains
of, and learns his mode Of redress, comes
promptly to his aid in crushing the Amer
lean Iron Master, that his foreign compel
itor may "regain the command of the
American market" Frequently, in the
history of our tickle tariff policy, have the
English manufacturers resorted to heavy
reduction in price in order to crush our
manufactures, and just as often has Con-
gress given aid and comfort to foreign
competitors, by Withholding, or withdraw
ing that mcagre protection vouchsafed to
American industry. Upon what principle
of justice, or upon what well tested theory
of governmental policy American would
bestatesmen base their preference of for
eign over domestic manufactures and con-
ceive the Nation to be poorer, in proper
ton to the development Of its resources
and the prosperity of its industrial pur-
suits, we have not been able to discover
But that such is the fact, no one will
honestly question who is "bright on the
record" The statistics of the country
show that the manufacture of iron has
more than doubled in the last three years,
and that American rails have, within the
last year, nearly superseded the foreign
Well, who is any the worse off in conse-
quence? What other interest has suffered
by the growth of that of iron? None!-
Then, why interfere with 1ts growth, when
no public necessity demands its curtail-
mentl Ah but the "Staffordshire Iron
Masters" are loosing their command of
the American market" and democracy,
true its policy, that foreign influence shall
have precedence, here, extends helping
hand to those Iron Masters who were about
to iject themselves to loss of ten dol
lars on the ton, and throw the loss upon
the American manufacturer
IF the success of the iron bushes seri-
ously impaired the prosperity of the other
great interests of the country, there would
be a show of justice in curtailing its over
shadowing influence. But no one con-
tends that such is the case. On the con-
trary, it was aiding in the accomplishment
of che very object sought for in the modi-
fcation of the tarif-a reduction of
revenue. 1t had nearly stopped the i'm
portaton of iron, and, of course cut off
the revenue from that source. But now,
"the Staffordshire Iron Masters" will "re-
gain command of the American market"
and fatten themselves aAd pour money
into the treasury, whilst the American
manufacturer must quit the business, or
be ruined by the difference in the price of
labor. Such is the policy, and such the
effect of democratic legislation; and yet
the poor devils whom it victimizes, worship
the Juggernaut that brushes them.
ra- Advices from Washington state that
the health Of buchanan rapidly failingun-
dorthe pressure of Office seekers, No matter
ifho die of that epidemic, since the remedy
is in his own hands, and he will not apply
it, Not being candidate for reelection,
why does he not close his doors against the
whole swarm of treasury patriots, and pa
city make his own appointments. Ne
should have stated, in his Inaugural, or
when elected, that no man should receive an
nnrnin Ilnnnt .uLn Arnnt 10 Wnshinmtn TO