The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-17
A. G., FULLER,
Delegate elect from Dakota Territory
COMMUNICATED.
WASHINGTON, February IL, 1855


10 Ae EDITORS Of The Union
VIII you do me the favor to insert in your valuable
paper the enclosed extracts from the able speech of Mr.
Hunter the tariff delivered in the Senate on the l4th
inst. and published in the Globe the following day
alt is said that the free list is too large So far
those articles the free list concerned which enter
into general consumption like tea and Coffee which
made free in order to create necessity for laying higher
duties articles sought to be protected think the OBJ
lection is Just and legitimate But when you to the
other objection that it is improper to include anything
the free list must dissent. believe that where
there article for which the sole demand is made by
the manufacturers, and which would not be imported but
for their demand it is strictly according to revenue prin
cpes bring that article in free Of duty Take the
unless the manufacturer would it, if you laid
duty it you would get nothing but if by making
it free he uses it. you are just where you were ;
you get nothing in either case, except that by ma
king it free you bring into existence great produc
tive interest you diminish the price of production and
diminish the price to the consumer and you diminish
the price to the consumer only by what the American
manufacturer reduces the price of his article but you
bring down the foreign article with which he comes in
competition in the like proportion But that is not the
only view of the Take the of England, who
admits cotton free She manufactures it and exports
in the manufactured state, and her exports not only
sell for enough to pay for the material, but they
bring in, surplus, return cargo of dutiabc goods
that pay her than she would have received
il she had laid the duty the cotton itself As
measure, England does wisely in making raw cotton
free There is yet another view of it, To lay the duty
on the material is to do that which considered
barbarism in finance by all political economists it is to
lay tax on production.
~ say, then, that far that is concerned, in my
opinion it is no objection to the tariff Of 1851 and
to the addition which it made TO the free list although it
seems formidable in its items, yet in point OF value 1T is
very little A table in the report of the Secretary the
Treasury shows that if had received the duties of
1876 what made free by the act of 1857 in the
importations of 1855 the entire loss would only have
been about 81, 800 600
ask this favor for two
LIST The principle of non taxation, the admission free
of duty of material entering into manufactures is
sound one in political economy, and the recognition Of
In legislation important the industrial interests and
prosperity the country 1t is well and strongly put
in the extracts referred to- by Mr. Hunter and consider
ing that his State is interested but indirectly in
lures the avowal is creditabe, at once to his national
spirit and candor.
I'd When in 1853 Mr. Guthrie announced this princi-
pie as part of his tariff policy and which principle
incorporated in the tariff of 1857 lac illibcraly and
unnsy assaed 10y few of the ultra Statc-righs and
freetrade politicians of the South in Congress-
inendng 1r1cioa IN disguise With whom with what
motive this unfair and unoundcd accusation against Mr.
Guthrie and his policy originated, have never heard
but have been astounded to find the deluson continu
ing In the minds OF even fair and intelligent of that
school of politicians almost TO the present day. in oppo
stion to the of the age and to the doc
trne OF every writer political economy from Adam
Smith down will mention two instances which have
occurred since Mr. Guthrie came to be discussed
in connection with the next presidency An honorable
and distinguished gentleman from one of the slave States
remarked TO me- in speaking of Mr.. Guthrie, that he
would vote for him than for any other living
for President notwithstanding that he did agree with
him in his tarid doctrines Another stated another
occasion thas the strict free trade men of his State Look
cd upon these views Of MIR Guthrie the only qualica
ton TO their almost unbonnded admiration Of his admin
istration of the Treasury Department.
Mr. Hunter Is sound political economist, able and
experienced statesman He ia the loader OF the school OF
politicians referred to- It Is to be hoped his high
thorty will serve ample vindication Of Mr.. Guth-
ies policy from the injustice done it.
CIvIs