New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-04


heel of the session, by one Of those compromises
which we would rather not multiply; and yet We
are not prepared to say that what has been done so
hastily has been done badly. That the Tariff as it
il TO be il not such as we would have it, our read
ers we'll know; but such were the g'aring vices and
anomalies of that which it suppants that We will
wait awhile before condemning the change. As
we now understand it, its principal features are
these:
!. A large extension Of the Free List placing
thereon many articles scarcely produced or risaled
in tbi. country which enter as raw materials into
the composition of our Manufactures.
2. A reduction of the present rates of duty on
Iron, Cotton and Wooden Fabrics, Hemp, Sugar,
Wool costing over twenty cents per pound, and
most other articles now charged thirty, to twenty
five per cent.
3. Wool costing less than twenty cents per pound
will henceforth be free.
4. Distilled Spirits Liquors, &c, hitherto
charged one hundred per cent, are reduced to
seventy. FIVE per cent
5. Wines, Cut Glass, Meats, Raisins, Snuff CT
CARS and all forms OF manufactured Tobacco,
Sweetmeats, Prunes, &c, are reduced from forty
per cent. to thirty, if not to lower figure.
6. A general reduction of twenty per cent. on all
articles not carried to the Free List or reduced
either to four or eight per cent.
That this act will abundantly reduce the Reve-
nue., within tho course Of two or three years, we
cannot doubt. In fact we have never been able to
sympatbize fully in the commonly expressed fears
Of al overlooking Treasury. That large surplus
in the public chest, under our cumbrous and bar
baran Sub.Treasury policy, is calculated to embar-
rass trade and derange the currency, We cannot
doubt but need there be surplus To say moth.
ing of the Twenty Millions Of Public Debt still I'M
discharged the money honestly owing to the suffer
ers by French Spoliations, &C., why should we not
reduce the plethora in our finances by providing
promptly and Literally for the improvement Of
Rivers and HaIbors and commence vigorously the
construction of the Pacific Railroad Whenever
the Treasury is empty and the Revenue inadequate,
those facts are urged as conclusive against such
Public Works. Why should not an opposite state
Of things be urged and improved as cOgent argu-
ments in their fayorl
We hold that bill truly calculated and wisely
adjusted to insure the reduction of the Federal
Revenue would raise quite as often Is it reduced
dutie.-would increase the impOst ON Iron, Wool
ems, manufactures of Hemp, Tobacco, &C., and
thus diminish importation by insuring largey-in-
creased Home Production. Such bill would have
benefited every department Of our National Indus
try by putting life into oar now stagnant manufac-
tories, opening new mines, and calling into use our
now idle water power. This would have checked
the outward drain of specie stepped the accumula-
ton of our foreign debt, reduced the surplus In the
Treasury, prevented the commercial revulsion which
We feel is impending, given fresh impetus to Home
Industry in every department, and reduced the
cost of many articles We now buy mainly abroad,
but should, under such policy, soon produce
largely at home. But this was not TO be. The po-
Htcal theories of majority in Congress forbade il,
and We had no solid ground of hope that those theo-
ries would be waived or overborne.
We confess TO some disappointment in the action
of few Members whom we had understood TO be
in sympathy with us on the main issue. The poPu-
lar cry for Cheap sugar, and the readiness with
which Members of Congress and Legislatures sue
cumbed TO il, may be cited in Illustration. We
know that Sugar is now very dear, because the pro-
duct of the las.i or three years has been Short
while the worlds consumption has enormously in-
creased: but We do not see how this scarcity and
high price are to be obyiated by narrowing the
area on which Sugar is grown. Ia our view, the
admitted nature Of The disease indicates a remedy
the exact opposite of this. Vicious as Ad Yaore1
duties nect sssriy are-exacting the highest mposts
Just when they should be lowest tthat is, when the
article is dearest)-we would rather bear the Ills
We have" than sggrayate and prolong them by the
policy indicated. Instead Of weakening the induce
meLts to the home production Of Sugar, we believe
the e1orbitant rates at which Sugar is now held
should impel TO maintain If not increase those To-
duce ments. Yet hear our friend Colfax on This
point:
ITO these who advocate a retention of the duty
for the b. net Of the sorghum Chinese sugarcsne
Which is TO be extensively tested all over he county
the present season peed only reply bat if it succeeds
10 but half the extent that is claimed for it, viii prove
that nature has given II 30 many exeeencies to defy
competition and protection would be az useless in ia
behalf as Il seriously proposed Tor corn casbsge or
cord wood. IL this new plant viii mature ell the
country Vbere Indian cum will rpen-tf it will pro
ouce thirty 10 nifty bushels Of seed to the acre aost
&c gooc IS oss-an eI crop Of fodder beside thai
rsistd for sucN-snd then. after the syrup is pressed
from il fuinsh Q mash Of eminent value for cste--it
YOU'D o. farce to talk Of ereouraSing is culture by