The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-10-17

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Ti.s.sisi Crisis rrsssssavs IsEiis..
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LErrER Fnon Hox. DAviD wIIneoT.
ISra the IAii.aelphIa HesA Amssiess, sept sol
We have been Furnished with ~ annoxe,
copy of ) very interesting letter, addressed
by the Hon. David Wilnot to or estesms,
fellow-citizen, David 3. Brown, ESQ. Mr.
B. 10 not . politician, and never has been
His position rs the head OF one Of the yer,
largest domestic jobbing houses in the coun
try, has given him an interest in the pros
perity Of American manufacturer equal {.
that which he necessarily has in the trad
and commerce Of Philadelphia. To sucl
men the policy Of tariff for protection, a.
well rs for revenue, Is Of course grea
study; and it is in this way only that Mr.
Brown is connected with politics. The let
ter Mr.. Wilmot has addressed him upon tina
topic, just now an absorbing one, 10 truly
pertinent missiye. ;aa8
HARRISBURG, Sept. %, 1857.
Dawn S. BRowN-Dear Sir:-l am deep
" panied by the news that reaches me FROM
your city. This sudden financial reyulsioI
threatens to carry down hundreds of you
worthy and enterprising mcrchants and blu,
siness men, bringing distress to their home,
of comfort and atfluence; and what BY man,
is felt as greater calamity, commercial
dishonor and loss of credit. Its most disas.
trous and painful effects, however, will fall
upon the thousands of honest md industri.
Gus working men, unexpectedly thrown Out
of employment and deprived Of the mean,
Of support for their families. d
1t is truly a calamity calculated to excite
the sympathy of the most selfish and insensi.
BILE. do not profess to be able to fathom
all the causes, proximate and remote, of d
disaster such rs is now upon Us. Doubtless
excessive importations, overtrading, ex.
travagant habits Of living, and fluctuations in
the currency have had much to do with it,,
You will recollect that, on our visit to
Gloucester Mills, we had some conversation
upon the subject Of the tariff policy. of the
country in connection with its influence upon
American enterprise and labor. The events
of the last few days have given to that SUBJ
ject an interest it did not seem to possess.
That the tariff policy of the Government has
much to do with the revulsions that periodi-
cally convnlse the country,is doubtless true,
intimately connected rs that policy must
always be with our financial and industrial
interests. The very considerable reduction
made in the tariff at the last session of Con-
gress, must have had disastrous influence
in bringing upon US the present state of
causing heavier drafts upon the country for
its precious metals. '...-- ... .....' 20.
1t Isl great misfortune that our tariff
policy cannot be wholly removed from the
party conflicts of the country and placed
upon permanent and reasonable basis
Aside from partisan prejudice, there is not,
imagine, a wide difference of opinion upon
this subject among intelligent and rejecting
men. --..-.... ..- ... ...+.:5 :
The policy Of imposing prohibitory duties,
of actually destroying the revenue upon a
large share of the articles Of commerce, for
the purpose of protection, would hardly
find an advocate at this day. Fair incden-
tai protection, without gross violation of
the revenue principle, is all that is asked or
required for our manufacturing interests,
and this should be cheerfully and promptly
extended. No one contemplates the policy
of free trade and resort to direct taxation
as means of raising revenue to meet the
ordinary expenses Of the Government-cer-
tain it is that never contemplated such
policy. have always looked to our policy
rs settled in this respect-that the ordinary
revenue is to be provided by duties upon
foreign importations, and have ever ia
vored the policy of such determinations as
would afford adequate and ample protection
to American interests and American labor.
We have an immense revenue to raise
Already the expenditures Of our Govern
ment reach the enormous sum of about $780,
OOO, 200, and it is rapidly increasing under
the pro6igate and demoralizing expenditures
Of Democratic Administrations. In raising
this vast sum there is ample room, by Judi
clous and proper Determinations, to afford
to our great industrial interest ample pro-
lection, and to American labor a. Just and
adequate reward. have never Intentional
ly violated this sound American policy, and
would cheerfully unite, to-day, with the
reasonable and judicious men Of the coun-
try in placing our tariff policy on a basis
that would secure to American enterprise
and labor a fair and Just measure Of pro-
lection.
The great struggle in which We are now
engaged, and in which my feelings are So
deeply embarked, is a struggle to maintain
the dignity and rights of free labor against
The degrading competition of the labor of
The slave; and am equally in favor of pro-
tecting our American labor against ruin
ous competition of the cheap labor of the
Old World.
confidently trust that you will weather
this storm, and that years of prosperity will
attend you in the noble enterprise you have
thus far successfully sustained.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant and friend,
u. WILMOT.