Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-01-12
m.-.,nen1s Of me Iron.1Iongers.

the movement. But such is not the case. Inc
members of the association are wealthy capitalists
and manufacturers, whose only object istO enhance
their profits and increase their gains. And how do
they seek to accomplish this Object7 Net By in>
creased energy and eKeriOn, in their business; not
By improvements in the implements Of manufacture;
not By developing the resources Of the country;
but by imposing additional burdens upon the labor
ing and agricultural portion of our people. They
ask Congress to make the producing classes pay
them higher prices for their iron. They desire the
exclusion Of all foreign competition, that they may
extort more money from their customers They
know that iron is an article of prime necessity.
They know that the mechanic, the farmer and day
laborer are all compelled to have tools and utensils
of iron. If they can induces Congress to increase
the duties on foreign iron, as to exclude it from
the market, they can force the people to pay them
what price they please for their own manufactures
This demand for higher duties on iron, has MOTH
ing but the oYergrOWn power, wealth and arrogance
Of the claimants to rest upon. They are already
more favored than any other class of manufacturers
They have always been the pets of Congress and
they have enjoyed SO long the protection and pat
ronsge of the government that they low claim as
right, what Was only granted as bounty They
have grown into great aristOcracy of wealth and
capital which politicians think it profitable to con-
ciliate and dangerous 10 resist No matter how
unjust and exorbitant are their demands, large
portion Of both branches of Congress deem it pru-
dent to comply with them. They know their power
and deprecste their displessure They tremble at
their potential voice They have erected them into
a sovereignty which they are now forced to obey.
They have Witnessed the consequences of resisting
their 6ictation They have seen political organize
tions crumble beneath their power. They have seen
these States almost rent asunder by their exsctions
They have the ablest and best men of the nation
sacrificed on the altar of their hate. They have
seen pslry place-hunters elevated to Office by their
influence. 1t is natural then that demagogues should
seek their favor and shrink from their resentment
They
Know the dangers which environ
The who NEEDLES with cold iron -
and they have no ambition to encounter "the giant
in the iron mask"
1t is to such miserable parasites and place hunters
that the iron men now appeal for the unreasonable
protection which they demand They come clothed
in the nsoence of power to exact from the servility
Of Congress- what they cannot expect from its JUS
ic party in Pennsylvania and the triumph of
Black Republication, accomplished in great part
by their agency, and they demand from the cres-
lures Of their corruption the price of their selfish
support. They point to the pure and patriotic
statesmen who have fallen by their power, who have
been discarded for fidelity to principle and 10 the
interests Ofthe Masses and they require from their
successors absolute subserViency to their will
We shall see who boldly base enough to tax
the people TO put money in the pockets Of these
purse. proud manufacturers of Pennsylvania The
products of the furnace and the forge receive am
pie protection under the present tariff. Iron is
placed in the second highest class in the schedule
Ne other article Of general is taxed so high.
Every dollars worth of iron imported pays a
duty of tWenty-fOur cents into the treasury, in
creAsing by so much, the price of the foreign and
domestic article to the consumer This twenty ~four
cents increase of the price is taken from the pock-
cts Of the farmers and mechanics, to add to the
wealth Of the iron manufacturer. Bgt this is not
enough. They are still demanding more. We learn
that they are now making very handsome profits,
and that they can underse the foreign msnufaetur.
srs. We know that most of the Railroad Iron is
manufactured in this country, and that the quantity
Of pigs and blooms imported has diminished since
the diminuiion of duties in 1857. What necessity
then of excluding foreign competition, when the do
mestic manufactures are hOurishDg in spite of such
competition What necessity of putting up the price
ofron when they doing well at the present price?
The manufacturing capitalists of the North have
already been enriched by taxing the producing
classes of the South. They have been resting for
seventy years on the Of the government until
they have become almost powerful as the govern
nsnt itself The agricultural interests on the other
hand have received very little protection while they
pay three-fourths of the taxes. Win Congress dare
impose additional burdens upon them? Will they
dare to make the farmers of the country pay double
price for their plOWs. their rakss their hoes, and
their hsrrOWs that the irOnrmOngers may grow rich
the fasteri
We have said that iron is peculiarly favored under
the present tariff. This will appear by a simple
comparison of the duties on iron with those of other
metals. Iron in bars and pigs is protected by
duty Of "a per centum. Copper, now found in con-
siderable quantities in EasG Tennessee and in the
Northwestern States, is not protected at sill. 1t
comes in free Of duty. The lead of Missouri is
protected BY duty of only Is per ceutum. Zinc
by duty of u per cenutm while brass is imported
free No interest theD is so largely protected as the
iron interest," and nine is so clamorous for an in
crease of protection. We hope that Congress will
have the Independence and justice reject their ap
plicatiOn. As contemporary justly says, the agri-
culturist Of the West wish success to and feel a
warm interest in the welfare of ell those branches of
industry that are clsmOring for government bOun-
ties, but they not in justice to themselves, sub
NIT to be taxed for their benefit They ought not
to expect special legislative favors that are purchase
ed ct the expense Of other business interests that
are struggling equally hard for existence. Wheth,
or they expect it not, hope they will never get
It, We trust another tariff for the sake of pro-
lection" that being the word used to disguise the
operation by which the few made exact tribute
from the many, will not be enaoedi in day. Con-
Sress is only authorized to levy duties for reUenus
ysrpOss and when it goes beyond it transconds its
Constitutional functions.
The New York Tribune says: The Hon Emerson
Ethriige former member) is expected be the Ops
position candidate for Congressman in the lAth Dis
Irict Of Tennessee He opposed the Nebraska |
Kansas bill.
The Tribune is the recognised organ Of Mr.. Eth |