The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-06-28
NO. 45.

1<Oe III.
trament of chance, is it not better, after
a careful and comprehensive inquiry into
the condition of all the industrial pursuits
Of the country, to impose them for their
encouragement and protection, so as to
produce the greatest good to the greatest
number! Our warrant in the Constitution
for the regulation Of commerce, and the
imposition Of duties on foreign imports, is
in general terms, leaving the manner in
which 1t shall be exercised clearly with
in the discretion Of Congress and, to say
nothing of the long line of authorities.
in the declared opinions favorable to pro-
lection, Of nearly all our public characters,
who have enjoyed the confidence and Re
public, we may point with satisfaction to
the purpose, end, and aim, of the first tar
III law on the statute book, enacted by the
men who assisted in the great work of
framing the Constitution, and whose acts
consequently have peculiar Importance,
as they are the best commentaries on the
Constitution itself. The law of 1899 was
enacted for two direct, distinct, and inde-
pendent purposes, one of which was the
payment Of the debts Of the United States,
and the other was-not of secondary i'm
portancc, or Incidental to it, but distinct
ly-tor the protection Of such infant ma
nutactures as the necessities of the ReYol-
utlon had called into life. The men of
that day, sir, were earnest, truthful men,
who spoke what they thought. They did
not leave the principle of protection to
rest on inference, or doubtful construction
| OF their acts, but they wrote it down in
the preamble of the law, as follows:
"Whereasit is necessary for the support
! of the Government, for the discharge of
the debts of the United States and tie en-
couragen,ent and orotection of manufactures,
| that duties should be levied on goods,
wares, and merchandise imported, be it
enacted" &c
Thus, sir, did they leave on record an
example worthy Of imitation on all proper
occasions by those who should follow them
in the noble work of legislating for the
welfare of this great people Such an &C.
casion now presents itself The present
condition of the country invites US to re-
view our existing policy, that we may
| correct the errors into which we havo
| fallen. No man, Of the least observation,
can fail to be impressed with the fact that,
| by the operation of some cause, our appa-
rent prosperity has been checked, and our
! progress IN the development of American
civilization seriously hindered. The la
borer seeks employment often in vain,
and when employed, it is at such prices as
barely enable him to live. When the
employer is able at all to survive the de-
preston to which he has been subjected.
his chief care has been to discharge from
his employment his surplus hands and
in thousands of instances the laborers,
who have toiled at the mines, the flrna-
ces, and mills, for the support of large
and entirely dependent families, find
themselves unexpectedly deprived of their
only source Of support. The great capt.
tai Of the country is its labor, and, unem-
ployed, it seeks investment in vain. I
will venture the statement, that for more
than two years past there has not been a
furnace built; and those that remain in
blast, unless enjoying some special advan-
tages, have reduced their production in a
manner corresponding to the limited de-
mand many, unable to catch n ray of
hope from the gloomy prospects that still
lie before them, have with a wise and eau
tious prudence closed up their establish
ments, and others have been forced to sale
by the sheriff
The gentleman from Vermont TNIr
MORRILLl supposed that furnaces, like
ships, were not now worth more than half
their cost; but | do not suppose there are
many furnaces that would this day bring
one-fourth of their cost The Govern
ment, too, without any cause for e1traor-
dinary embarrassment, is unable to meet
the demands upon the Treasury without
a resort to loans. Now, sir, what enem,
has done this? Has the Creator beer
sparing of his bounties TO us He ha.
, blessed us with a luxuriant soil and .
healthful climate. He has sent us neithe
l war nor pestilence. Neither has he for
g gotten his covenant for seed-time and har
| vest; for the earth, as ever, still yield
her increase. Amongst the richest ore
t Of the world are deposited with us, and il
: convenient proximity lies the fuel where
e with they may be smelted We hav
: thousands of strong and willing work mep
j to dig both fuel and ore, and smelt it int
f the pig, and fashion it into the the bloom
d the bar, the rail, and all the shapes i
n which it can enter into human conSump
: ton and yet, sir, they stand idle, anc
Y stand in each others way for employment
:, whilst these placers Of wealth, far richie
= than the gold of "Ormus or OF Ind" Ii
if undisturbed, as they have lain from tn
h ages of their formation, guarded by som
: hidden power which keeps the way, tha
: no man can enter III.