The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-20
!. PROJECTIONS, IN PHILADELPHIA.

which deserve attention Among the SUBJECTS treated
with significant incognizsnce that Of slavery.
Mr.. Colaner Of Vermont, the leading speaker of
the occasion, and harangued at great length in a set
speech. Mr.. Collamer is of the recognised anti
he represents Vermont in that body and he is noto-
rious for the persstency and pertinacity with which
he has always endeavored to thrust the slavery
question the leading issue into the political CON
troveraies of the country But at this Philadelphia
meeting, Mr. Collamer the great gun Of the occa-
sion and the oracle Of the backrepublcan party on
tho senatorial Committee Territories, totally ig-
nored the subject Of slavery in his address. Nor
was Mr. Collamer alone in this novel silence on the
subject. All the republican speakers on the
occasion adopted his example and for the first time
at an opposition political meeting in the northern
States for eight years, slavery was tabooed subject
The ovation was in behalf Of protective tariff
" American Labor and American Protection was
the Shibboleth under which the meeting was called
and the revival of the obsolete American System
Of measures was the object designed to be pro-
NOTED.
We might dwell upon the SURPRISING absurdity of
this movement for the protection Of the strongest
and most Hourishng interests that are to be found
the world over, il the subject was worthy of grave
consideration. Agreed, that the manufacturing and
mining interests of our country are for the moment
depressed from temporary arrangement in the
finances of the country. But the case is the same,
except that the depression is severer in all other
mining and manufacturing countries of the world.
Yet If every povernmept u,ero 70 reaorf 10 Tho s.~o
recommended by the Philadelphia meeting to
ours-that Of putting shackles upon commerce, by
way of curing its temporary ailments--the depres-
sion would be fastened and riveted everywhere
rather than relaxed.
When we consider the rapid strides which our
country has made in the last ton or fifteen years to-
wards undisputed superiority in mechanical,
mining, and manufacturing enterprise over all other
countries; when we consider the immense growth
of our wealth, the mighty swell of our population,
the marvellous development of our commercial and
industrial power, and the amazing activity of enter
prise in every department of human effort amongst
us, those who insist upon encouragement and pro-
lection from government for the stalwart industry
Of our country, from competition from abroad seem
to put SANDER upon institutions and to fix the
stigma of ingrattude to benignant Providence
upon our national character.
1t is an old halucination to suppose, whenever an
untoward condition Of circumstances happens in the
business Of people, that remedy lies in the pow
ers of the government. We cannot consent to 90
over the arguments which dsprove this lethargic
fallacy. The time is come when the people of the
United States no longer need to be taught the mpo-
tency of to minister relief for the casual
depressions of commerce or to be shown that the
very measures proposed to be adopted by il for re-
lief are really in the end but measures Of agrraya
ton.
simple recital Of established facts will suffice to
show that the prosperity Of the great Pennsylvania
interest for instance, of iron manufacture which we
suppose was the immediate object Of this Phiadel-
phia meeting. does not depend upon the Legislation
of government and what is true of this particular
interest can be readily shown to be true of ALL We
extract FROM the speech of Mr.. Lctcher which we
published yesterday. Err uno disco omae:
SIN 1909 the production of iron Of all kinds in our cou
try about $4,000 tons In 1920, owing to the war;
it down to about 10 900 tons. Between the wears
1920 and 1926 it steadily until it reached 100 900
TONS In 1928 it rose to 900 tors in $780, $780,
compromise measure was adopted under the opera
tons of which the duties were regularly reduced each
year. Between the years 1888 and 1910 the production
steadily increased until in the latter year it reached
3l0 900 tons. In 1912 it dropped down to z4O, 900
tons Between the years 1912 and 1876, after the mil
road fever had broken out in country it rose to
10000 tons The production continued to increase
until in 1848 it reached 900, 900 tons In 1919 IL sunk
to GAO 900 TONS in 1885, to $50 900 TONS and contin
ucd to fall until in 1882 it had reached 500 900 tons
In 1853 it rapidly to ESQ 900 tons in 1854, to
500, 900 tons and continued TO rise until in 1855 it
reached 1000, 900 tons If the theory Of gentlemen
commended for be true, call upon them to explain
how it that under the operation of the tariff of 1916
the production sunk from 800 900 tons in Is48 two
years after the bill passed. to 800 900 tons in 1852
and, again. call upon them to explain how (uner the
operation of the tariff the production rosc in the
short Of three years. Nom 500 900 tons 1852 to
1000, 900 tons in 1855 These facts are important and
eminently deserve consideration In my view they dem
onsate conclusvey the aacy of the opposition theory
which charges tho depression of the iron interest to the
tariff legislation of the last Congress. The revusion
through which passing is Justly chargeable
to individual imprudence and not to governmental &C
ton
We repeat that II to MS to be the most erro-
neous and unworthy idea that could enter the Amer
lean BRAIN to suppose that the industry and enter
prise of the American people depend, at this day of
their gigantic development upon the protection of
government.
MIR. HUMPHREY MARSHALL AND BANKRUPTCY.
The most remarkable, and quite the most droll oc-
currence at the Philadelphia meeting, to which we