Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-08-11
Pipe Laying.


The opposition press is teeming with all sorts Of
smprObsbls and contradictory charges agsirst the
present administration. The same pepper frequently
contains, in 9 single issue, statements which are
not cnly absurd in themselves but inconsistent win
each other They seem to think that nothing u 100
ridiculous for tie people to believe provided the
alledged enormiiy is attributed 70 the Democratic
party. The Philadelphia North Amsriean recently
asserted that the administration had given The con-
tract to furnish iron for water pipes in Washington
70 q gentleman who purchases his iron in Glasgow.
It states that the iron mOngers Of Pennsylvapis
offered to supply the material cheaper, than il could
be bought in the foreign market; but that the De-
mocratia administration was partial to foreign
Manufacturers that this speculatng contractor re-
fused to buy the iron at home better terms than
fheforeign article Our neigbbor ofthe Banner adopts
this statement and repeats it with an appearance Of
sincere and confident belief which ue really think
Is genuine There is no limit to our neighbOr's
creduliiy when the Democratic party is the CHEST
Of attack, and.the auihor of the charge is q Know
Nothing or a Black Republican. Il Is really re
fresbipe to observe the unsuspeOting faith with
which the Banner receives this budget Of sosufol
ties L does not pause to reflect that the o0Jee1 Of
the contractor was to make IS much money IS pos
Ebe out Of his contract and that he would be very
likely TO purchase his material wherever he could
obtain it cheapest. The opposite course would be
Inconsistent with the laws which govern human
conduct sndincompaible with the specializing views
attributed to this contractor in the very article 10
vbieh We are aliudiDg Not satisfied With the
sbsurdiies involved in this proposition the Bonner
transfers 10 the Democratic party the whole blame
Of this most singular transaction. The Norfh AmsT-
scan certainly knows though it appears the BaaaeT
does not that the government has nothing whatever
10 do with the price which contractor pays for
his material or the market from which he purchases
IL. II however, the administration had fraudu-
lently controlled these matters as the Banner in
pocently charges, "to reward the past services
Of Democratic minions, and bride new recruits
70 enlist under the Democratic standard" we
should certainly think these objects might have
been more readily accomplished BY purchasing the
iron from Pennsylvania manufacturers than from
Glasgow. If the Democratic party wished to bride
votes they certainly would not 60 to Great Britain
to do it.
But the BaHnsT follows up these statements with
an argument in favor Of high protective Tariff 1t
argues that our domestic manufacturers need pro-
lection to enable them to compete with foreign
tries. Il states that English capitalists his charge
the Banner gets from the Philadelphia Inquirer
paid $3.50 900 for the purpose Of efectiDg repeal
of the Protective Tariff of AZ. Now if the NOrtA
Americans statement and the IRqHHers statement
are both correct, land the BnsHsr endorses them
both,) the English CAPT sists are certainly great
blockheads If our manufacturers at home can
afford to sell their goods cheaper than they can be
bought in the foreign market, the English merchants
certainly made bad use Of their money, in estab-
fishing a system which has led to such results The
Baansr's argument in favor of protecting and fos-
tsring home industry is quite as absurd the COZ
duct it attributes to the English capitalists L
American manufacturers can underseTl their Eng
lsb competitors, as the BaaHa says they can, what
need is there Of protecting the former? II
the domestic article is cheaper than the for
eizn, what good would be accomplished by in
crossing the duties? We should like to have th'
North American the Inquirer and the BG7HeT, con
suit together and endeavOr to reconcile their state
ments and arguments. A certain degree Of oonsis
tency should be observed by these organs of thu
united opposition" If they cannot agree viii
one another each one might at least be expected Il
make its own facts and reasoning less contradictory
than we have found them in the present instance.
But the Banner is not satisfied to leave its forme
statement from the North AHlsTean to die Of its Owl
sbsurdity In its issue Of August sth, referring Il
the subject of the water pipes contract, the B0RHe
copies another srtiole from the NOrth -AmsrieaH
showing how it is that English manufacturers, car
furnish iron cheaper than the article be sold il
this country So Mr.. LAwHENCE MYERs has no
only been foolish enough to buy his material a
higher rates than he could have bought it at home
but according to the North American and the Banner
he has actually insisted paying higher price il
the foreign Market when he could have obtained i
there Ct lower price than st home.
Mr. LAwREEOE MYERS should be put in q s'raigh
jacket or else the editors of the North american anC
the Banner should have their heads shaved It i
unsafe to allow them to go at larg lille "the dog
star RACES"
wT.rr,- -,