Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-01-08
For the Fremont journal.
.DE nnpann. vs rArRuEE.


of the country, to review an occasional sec
ton of progressive Democracy. In view of
this would call attention to some Of the
fallacious reasoning of the Hon. Secretary
of Treasurer, Mr.. Howell Cobb, in his late
annual report to Congress; an extract of
which is the following: "The theory Of the
if the importation of foreign manufactures
is encouraged, and, being brought into tho
country at lower prices than they can bo
produced, the competition with tho domes-
tic manufacturer is ruinous to his business.
Tho remedy, is to raise the duties upon the
foreign article to such point that either it
will be excluded, and thus give to tho
domestic manufacturer the entire home
market, or else it will be so increased in
price by the additional duty as to enable
the domestic manufacturer to receive rcmu
nerating price for his productions. That
the effect would be temporarily for the ben
eft of the manufacturer is conceded, but
that the ultimate effect would be alike in
furious to him as we'll as all other interests
is equally clear. In looking upon the op-
Grafton as measure Of relief, we must con-
slider its effect not only upon the domestic
manufacturer, but also upon tho consumer"
Just so, Mr.. Cobb, cxactly-snd had you
been looking after their interests instead. Of
something described little further on, to wit ::
ave cannot expect to furnish the world
with our cotton, brcadstuffs, tobacco, rice,
&C., unless wo arc willing to receive in re-
turn their productions" it would have been
much better for your argument. How, read
er, is the sum of the whole matter; the giSt
of the whole argument, long as it isl 1t is
the old cotton argument; the English Of
which is, let three hundred and fifty thous-
and have n market for their cotton, tobacco,
&c, and no matter about sixteen millions,
their interest, and the interest of the coun-
try besides. The reverses of trade and its
calamitious consequences wo charge wholly
IuDOu lu0 Dhllho lhllOobS, am hie'iNN
Democrats believe it, and hold ourselves uE
to the country, and mankind at large, as the
special guardians of the peoples interests
not excepting those of MINNESOTA, and
Kansas
Mr. Cobb fails to tell us how tho 'ulti
mate effect would be ruinous to the manu-
factorer," unless he does so when he say
"What they (tho manufacturers need i
stoady prices, sound currency and protec
ton against the ruinous effects Of expan
sions in the credit system" Now how i
sound currency and steady price going t
help the manufacturer unless the latter
high enough to enable him to start his ham
mers, his looms, or his spindles? A littl
light if you please, Mr.. Cobb, on this point
Now let us look at that great bug-beaI
before which the cotton tails cannot stand
monopoly " "Monopolyl!" wero it not fc
this, the "consumers" might perhaps max
live of it, even if the country in other re
spects was ruined, rot a bit Of danger {
there being any monopoly in raising cottor
tobacco &c. Oh, no. not bit of dangc
of foreign machinery crushing out our ow
and monopolizing our markets; oh, no; pre-
postcrous. Suppose that we should argu
that the gold digging of California shoul
be limited to few instead of many for fo'
of making it scarce. Suppose we shoul
argue that tho Railroads in tho Unite
States should be crippled or limited to on
or two lines for fear the overwhelming caI
ital that would be invested in them woul
build rival lines, and thereby raise the far
so high that no one could travel unless
went to Kentucky or Texas, and bought hiI
a mule to ride on. Why has not the a
most illimitable amount of capital emplo,
ed on our inland lakes and rivers, in nav
cation tended to raise the prico Of tran
portation and thereby destroy, yes, utterl
destroy the "consumers?"
How has it been with the interest of OF
CONSUMERS" which has been looked aftt
with such disinterested caro- and anxiety
Take the article of iron since the tariff WI
taken off; and see how "sound the currei
cy, and how steady the prices" have beel
The prices fell with the removal of dutic
so as to shut up all our mills, or nearly al
and the country was flooded with the 70
oign article. But have tho "pricos bee
steady, and currency sound" since th'
timel Did not the prices go up in propo
tion as We opened market for it till it W,
far above what the manufacturers had eyC
asked by protoctionf There arc two word
just two simple words, with a coniunctio
between them, that embody all that go,
erns the laws of trade: these are supply an
demand, and nave quito as much to d
about "steady prices" as crushing our maj
ufactories have.
If | earn one dollar per day, and spen
two, at the end of six months NAV fin
myself owing merchant and cannot pa
him; now whose fault is itG why the banl
arS of courso vhosa hills / hava nsed Gsit