American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-03-14
fe For the American Union.
THE TARIFF. Sc. az.

"i' OiSS,iiicu--1 SeS al urtlClo In
your paper of the 7th February last
on the revision of the Tariff. 1t appears
that this modified bill will reduce the
tariff $13,0O0,0 900 whichi it is supposed
will be increased some millions by the
effect Of the measure in substituting
home manufactures for those imported.
This is new invention and 1 think it
must be democractic one. Now L
would wish to be informed how we are
to increase home manufactures by re-
ducing the tariff on the importations in
to our country. This will give Great
Britain and the rest of the European
governments a chance to import into
our country fifty millions worth annu-
ally more than they now do, of their
manufactured articles, while their cx-
portations increase nothing, thus leay-
inga balance of trade against us of fif-
ty millions of dollars every year. Since
1916 the balance of trade has been a.
gainst US, and the Democratic party
will not be satisfied with even this, but
are now determined to give foreign ma
tions still more advantages by taking
off the tariff from articles imported by
them. This is like the Jackass dane
ing among the chickens. The ID take
them who could not get out of the way.
lalso >see another article headed
Cuba, taken from GAINESVILLE paper.
The article goes on to show that we
had better buy the Island of Cuba to
get clear OF paying the duty on sugar.
lti stated that we pay $4,000 600 a
year of tariff on sugar imported from
Cubn-that the Island is worth $123,
100000, and that we had better paw
! $3.50, 100000 for it, and that we can
pay for it in ten years from the tax
paid by US for sugar. This idea is an
absurd one, but in keeping with the
source from whence it came. Now
wish to make brief estimate of what
conceive would be the result of this
purchase. This writer says we ought
to pay $67, 900, 900 more than the Is
land is worth. In ten years we loose
the $780, 100000 of duty paid by
Spain to this country instead of this
country paying it to--Spain; which
! would bring US greatly in debt, to the
tune OF $257 900, 900 in ten years for
tho purchase. Now | want it under
stood that Spain pays every cent of this
duty. Although parties have conten-
ded since the foundation of the govern
ment as to who paid this duty, yet when
we arc informed what caused the first
outbreaks between Great Britain and
her colonies in 1850, and the subsc
quent bloodshed and carnage, Which
followed, no man need be ignorant on
this important and momentous oues-
ton. Why did Great Britton prohibit
by law the establishment and working
OF all manufactures in iron from q hob
nail up to crow bar, as late as 1776?
Yet strange to say, there was then a
party favorable to that law in this coun.
try, and who still exist, who call them
selves Democrats' The ancient party
known all over the world as Tories,
were almost identical in their views on
civil policy with the modern locofoco
Democracy of the present day. The
former we're opposed to Home Manu-
features and Home Industry in the
times of the Revolution, and the latter
true to the instincts of their predeces-
sors, still cry out against that system
by which this country cannot help but
prosper. But this is not all. In Sep
tember 1764 the Stamp Act was intro
duced into Parliament. The Wings by
this time had got their metal up to fe-
yer heat. They gave the British to
understand that they would not pay this
tax. 1t was required to be paid in spc-
Gle, and there was not enough in the
| Colonies to pay it. On the 7th Feb.
1765 this bill passed. On the first of
November it was to 60 into operation,
but such was the opposition by the
Wings, thatthc stamps were seized and
burnt, and the law could not be enfor-
ced, and consequently was repealed -
But Parliament was not satisfied. An
other bill was introduced. This was a
tax OF three pence q pound on tea. -
This was the immediate cause Of the
Revolutionary war. The Wings were
/ detcrminednot to pay this duty. Now
if we had submitted to this law we wo'd
have had to pay this duty. But soon
er than submit to such tyranny the col.
ohists preferred the Revolution. Eight
years hard fighting proved to the Brit
ish and their Tory allies, (now the pro-
fcsscd Democracy Of this country, that
justice though seemingly tardy, will in
the end surely come. There is party
in this country who contend that if we
do not pay the tariff directly, we do so
indirectly. This | deny. Now, for
example, suppose Iron to be worth five
dollars per hundred in Baltimore, and
the duty is 20 per cent. We will put
np the tariff To 30 ner cent. In Gonna