The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-12

4xAo 1N6AW 9x1&@A6
The New American Tariff md French Bran
tfrAnsAttd ON Ia Pare of PsrS, of March ID, 1851
FOR tho New York Herald
The American Congress has settled the tariff
question much more speedily than it was thought IL
could have been DONE At the end or February a
vote was taken On bill which does nothing more
than simply To increase the number of free goods
beyond what was done by the bill of 1S46. The
change thus effected is to come into operation on the
first Of next July. The question with us IL, whether
this vote is final and if the bill is already become
law. This is what we are not yet able to affirm.
The tariff OF 1916, which will in the manner above
stated be slightly modified, may be considered as
bavisg been sort of compromise tariff 1e was, as
its authots declared it to be, measure Intended to
provide for revenue and at the same to establish
protection In certain cases. The duties to be
levied ranged from one hundred to five per cent, and
were calculated with view of producing the largest
possible revenue to the treasury and at the same
time of giving certain amount Of protection TO the
industry Of the country, by heavy duties on some
articles. This tariff Of 1916 has now been in ex-
istence ten whole years. thus exhibiting duration
in its career which is something quite wonderful
with such tickle and changeable element as that
Of the American democracy. Under the action Of
this tariff the commerce and revenue OF the Union
have increased to prodigous extent. The produce
Of the customs amounted in 1856 and 1857, under
this tariff, TO the sum Of sixtyfour millions of dol
lars, lees twenty -four millions of the years ls46 aud
ls47. At the same time the importations Of 1856
and ISL from Sas hundred and twenty
years, 10 three hsssdred and iiseea millions.
Let us not be supposed q. implying BY these OBJ
seivations that the tariff OF 1916 was free
from imperfections. III chief fault was the regular
and systematic adoption of the ad p9iorvm principle
IN the estimation of duties 10 be paid and ts With
Inspect even TO goods which hardly admit Of this
principle. The ad O0Lsrem principle OF regulating
the duty on goods Ia plan universally condemned
in Esrrnp nd fho Cuoin
Houses Of the German States, Austria, and in fact
every commercial Power In the Old World, have al
together exclud ed this principle in their legislation
on The customs ORR tney 40 o. al Admit II in re-
restI ctions. But Il seems that the United States
want 10 be wiser than We In Europe are, and there
fore they continue TO be greatly attached TO the ad
raiosm principle, in spite OF all the frauds Of which
il has been the cause and in spite Of all the disputes
aud ltigations which II has occasoned between the
Custom House and the merchants.
II has frequently happened that serious disturb
lures have resulted rom the adoption Of an ad rS
loren duty. This has especially been the case when
ever foreign goods were very cheap and low priced
and consequently the duty, being regulated by the
value, fell suddenly TO a very low figure. This has
particularly been the case in the iron manufacture
much SO that it was propo sed some years back TO
introduce an exception tathe rule in the case OF iron
wares, and 10 admit them on fixed duty having re-
spect only TO weight.
tho tar,r 81 IsaS wh,ch howsvar' a. 20 h.l,ova
r.wnvsd 80 tbe 10 ~, 7, 10 tba c.iiy ~
svstem ~ hind ana banSazard nrn,ection
in which duty 10 Lid ON articles from other mo.
tives than those Of aording protection TO domestic
manufactures The eject Of this has been that 1t
hssn mt ~ : biS{sr dutv than even the mannfac-
.ns.a raoS. - -. a. 70 rna,sri.I IN "a, ~.
Easnek rsrcSs,ts nave ,,ss Sanss 81 samnl.,,s
aesinst the tsrifr law nj isle- Tn eonseonence M
lie MOVER ana inanences NJ the tenn nersnce socie.
5as 4, ~ 1Ir,Asd Sat-. arr hrsnd;es hsve bssn
sS,.S a. sr - s,Iosa AT =, hnndr.d ,sr cont
while our chrystals. our glass ware our Furniture
.nd onr .sras hs;n, tra.,ad 40 rns,,ors ~ Inxnrv
n1oce,tv s,nsnshis a hiob r,,e If .axstion have
baS to ~ AT ~ No lac tbsn sar,r nar can't al
raJorsrP 'Thsse ~,ss.;ve ;manais borever ba ve
not had the eject Of diminishipS our impor.stions
s,sa an8 t..Iv. r,,,,,s~s ~ srencs wb,Sh thav
smonnteS IN In IsAT ths have zone on in reasng "a
The sum ~ two hundred srd thirty five millions of
france IN IasS
uovsvor 1s~r,t. .usne aefects nj the tar;f In
opsst;on noss,ify ~, r ia faults n Chi he weuld
e ahie ~ srrsSt - - .raieIeJ imneins OF the az
49, - AnsSi~.s - rrity. which has been going
- the Last ten wears Besides
shs NM ~ - Si~scrlonsIv rsnid incresae of
nee ocrr,ls1scc ne ucissA states have met within
~. ~. .ort,ccea 49,, vib eeveraI strakes of
80 .s,S.f5a eonS ~ n :. NAV s,v an Eire, t1e
fsmines n Enroas In liza and isi7 created a dc.
msnd FOR tisir aryicnlirrnl nrodnce. Then. again,
after the yesr 1870 ths7~ eel la stream OF Euro.
mean sm,grs,or 20 .h~ iy-;ted states nm ann am ex
'nssS ~ ~ 800 $500 ~ snan a, hasrs ~
yext came the as ,overv If The gold mpss of Cali.
soyn,s Win an ths exty~oraInar, re.nits flowing
fyosr 'tbat si.ccv.rv prep aIl these tblngs there
Fore n h rs1 d,;cult tssk 10 exnIsn tbe cauae Of
~ .,sra ana tsssss,s srssss of t,s tae az Islg
both with respect 10 i,s narcial and ~ com uercat