Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-03-31
EnRIana nna America.

A writer in the National Intelligence, over
the signature Of Commerce" makes some
very sensible and well-tinsd remarks on the
subject Of the tariff. which we commend 70
the consideration Of our readers. So strongly
Is Il presented in his article, that we opins
It will be difficult TO reconcile the reasons Of
the ''reqaesf" alluded to with the free trade
dogma Of the democratic party. He says
that "agreeably to resolution Of the House
of Representatives our Minister lt the Court
Of st. James may be required 20 call on the
Earl Of Nalnesbury to solicit reduction Of
duty on United States tobacco. OF course
It will be done in graceful manner by the
venerable gentleman who gave the casting
vote sgainst the tariff of 1916 But may
not hard question be put to the applicant
BY the Earl7 The Earl will no doubt say
that the subject shall be considered by the
British Government; bat he will be apt to ask
the reasons which induced the request. Oh
course our Minister will answer that the high
tariff on tobacco Is the cause of the low pri-
ces in England, and that If the tariff or duty
on it be reduced prices will advance in the
same ratio. That is obviously the meaning
of the request, and therefore our Minister
cannot take other ground. The Earl, who
no doubt reads newspapers, will probably
ask Mr.. Dallas if tariffs do not have SINH
lar effect in this country, or whether high du-
ties in the United States render prices Of the
imported article loweri
Strange and inconsistent doctrine indeed
that high duties in England should render
prices lower, whilst high duties on this side
of the Atlantic should render prices higher.
But Congress should know what it is about,
and not render us the people, ridiculous in
Europe. 1t is, however, fair to say, that the
duty on tobacco in England, three Shillings,
is quite toe high, and ought to be lower, but
she may plead in excuse, the law prohibiting
its cultivation on the SOIL Besides, she just
Low Is like ourselves, In want Of funds, and
cannot well get along without the twenty
million dollars per annum duties levied chief
~ on an article grown in about one-fourth
of the States Of the Union. This fact is a
commentary on late free-trade speeches in
Congress. Free trade would be goo2 thing
for this country if the residue Of the world
he free trade too but. as 1t is, free trade is a
delusion.
No one wants high tariff; that is now an
obsolete idea but we wait business tariff
mot q political, President-making one
which will meet the current expenditures of
the Government, affording at the same time
incidental, moderate protection to great
and useful interest Of the country, in which
the writer has not dollar invested, nor has
he any intercourse whatever with the manu-
facturers, his business being commercial.
The foreign manufacturers, knowing full
we'll that if the present Congress increase the
rate of duties the tax will fall on them, are
now preparing largo shipments to arrive be-
fore q new bill will be in operation. These
imports will temporarily relieve the Treasury
but without additional duties the removal of
the Treasury notes will be inadequate to
meet the wants of the Government.
It is high time that we should lcgislate for
our own pr ople, and not the manufacturers
of Europe. All we want is moderately
protective permanent tariff, which would not
only put an end to borrowing money, but
reanimate all branches of business, let loose
the many ships now moorsd in our docks,
and again render the country prosperous and
happy"