Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-19
Prosperity OF Manufactures and the cry
for a high Tariff,


From all quarters at the North cur exchanges
bear witness to the revival of activity in The Nanu-
featuring establishments. Their fabrics meet with
quick sale, their stocks are in good demand their
machinery is ia brisk motion. The Boston Daily
-5dUertiscT, which has all along ranked among the
journals friendly to protection, gives the following
account Of the prospects of the mill-oWneIs in lis
neighbOrhoOd:
"WEDNESDAY MORNIEo, February 9.-Business
during the past week has shown further improve
Dent. The market for domestic cotton goods is
finer, and jobbers find difficulty in increasing
their stocks, except st higher prices. Every branch
of manufacturing il in quick molten Well select
cd goods are in more dtmand and the payments
are readily met.
"The present PAUSE in stocks is rot an uufavora>
BILE feature in the DLTket Prices for most descrp-
tons of securities low, and but few shares Of
any stock could lie had except at higher rates. A
father advance, snd an active market viii soon
coed this state Of quiet and prices fer the best
stocks WILL il all probability, be carried far above
any period within he last two years. Socks
generally in strong hands, and there is no DISPOSE
ton to sell TO any extent, unless at an advance"
In other words, manufacturing stocks are now So
productive that the owners refuse to sell them at
the present market prices They are sure that un
der the tariff of 1857, much maligned, the public
value of these stocks will be greater THANH now is,
and they therefore keep them for the st mora pros
porous days which arc coming.
And yet in the face Of such facts we find polii-
clans, even at the South, joining in the camor for
higher tariff and higher tax Oh the Agricultural
industry Of the South as necessary protection to
the Northern manufacturers. The old Federal no
ton this subject, which time an experience have
90 thoroughly exploded and which ought to have
haao a. -
TeviVing again the suggestion of partial interests
here and there in the country. Something other
wants help, seeks the aid Of the government, ought
te be encouraged, &C. the old story done up iu the
most plausible STYLE is put afOat again in the
newspapers, is rehearsed in the capitol is thrust
upon the attention of The cabinet and protection
becomes the theme Ofyour political economics of
whatsoever hue, for the noneethat is with one for
protection and the other for revenue.
We agree with contemporary that if we are dis
posed to stand by the sterling and substantial Trn
ciples of our system of government, we may easily
overcome the temporary embarrassment of our fnan
cial condition ard lay a sound and enduring basis
for the future. The generous proceeds of the exist
ing tariff, at a time of swimming prosperity, among
other causes, betrayed the government it did the
psnfes of the admins ration were carried to
ormous figure Congress was nothing 18th to venture
appropriations for all sorts of projects, and the
penditures evidently TO keep pace with the m
come no matter how high and unreal it should be-
come nominally, thr ough the initiation which char
scterised the whole business Of the country. Had
the revenue reached one hundred millions, it was
apparent that the ingenuity of men would have
found plausible demand for it, and the ''liberaliy"
of Congress would have voted the supplies. But
does il follow that because the expenses of the govN
eminent under such circumstances can be carried
up with culpablefscility to one hundred millions,
that we are to keep tie expenses at that figure in
Ihe day of our adversely and wholesome experience!
By no means.
Let us then take rather the otherrPmedy which an
Intelligent estimate Of and effect proposes. In
stead of tinkering at the tariff 10 accomplish doubt
full result at the expense Of sound principle Of &c
Iion the most proper thing to do, is to g. to work
siurdy to the reduction of the expenses Of govern
ment within the probable revenue Of the present ta~
riff. All needless expenditures should be put stop
TO, and that with determined hand The practice
which will thus be required must prove of the utmost
benefit to the general administration Of public affairs,
and exert wholesome influence throughout the coun
Try 1t is in fact the process of sound economy;
and the only eectua plan that can be adopted for the
support and maintenance of our system of govern
msnt in manner consistent with the theory which
il is based and the parience of intelligent and prac
teal men ell over the world.