St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-08-08


tarifs protective and often prohibisory.
Turning to the commercial aspect Of
the subject. Mr. King says:
European nations. long accustomed to
consider the city of New York as the great
commercial mart Of the United States,
still believe that the prosperity Of the
American Union depend exclusively ss,oa,
tho wealth snd commeseiel prosperity of
the Northern States. Nothing is more
false; and present political circumstances
require from US, not only in the interest
ofthe South. but still more is that of the
great commercial and manufacturing
Powers Of Europe, to clearly point out
the causes which have produced this accu-
mutation Of riches. and to distinctly es-
tnblish the origin of this marvellous
prosperity Of the Northern States. These
causes. plainly indicated, will prove to
European nations how easy it would be
fur them to assume towards the agricultur
nj States of the South the commercial
and financial position of which the Norti,
has been in possession up to the present
time. A soil infertile in its nature, and
an unfavorablc climate, limiting the
agricultural production to the necessities
Vt local consumption. 6rst urged the
Northern States to seek fortune in CON-
merce and industry. They started, in
the very beginning, BY seeking the pro-
lection Of the government Foreign ship
ping. completely excluded from the coast-
ing trade. was saddled with tonnage duties
The development Of the marine of the
Northern States constantly demanded more
sailors. and high premiums Wcre given to
those engaged in the mackercl and cod
fsheries. under tho pretext that it was
necessary to create . reserve for the
coast defence.
Mr.. King then gives an account of the
rise Of manufactures in New England. with
the first tariffs voted by successive Con-
gresscs. down to 1898, the fiscal law of
which year $50 outrageously violated the
principles of taxation fixed by the con-
stitutiOn, and the justice due the Southern
States. and the latter offered a resistance
whose vigor threatened the existence of
the government itsclf This resistance
gave birth TO the tariff Of 1893. SC. we'll
kIsewn under the name Of the Com.
promise tariff" which the Statcs. Of the
S;srth were obliged to concede to tho
S0ulh. to calm the irritation. The com
promise Of 1888 did. indeed. satisfy the
South. but it excited in the Northern
States . resentment which has never
been extinguisbcd. They have always
desired to be revengcd, and have sought
return to the system Of high protective
duties. This question Of economy is at
the bottom of every agitation. 1t has
never ceased to occupy u first position,
and has. ut last, ended in that separation
which it Was ON the point Of causing
thirty years ago. II proof were needed
I" establish tha. the financial question
dominates all others. it would suffice to
point out the precipitation with which the
Morrill, tariff was passed the moment the
cotton States hac left the Union.
''The compromise of 1898 provided that
the custom duties should annually de-
crease until 1910. when they we're to be
reduced to twenty per cent. nj valorem
But in 1912 the protective system was
again restored; the duties Diminished to
thirty per cent. nd vaiorem in 1846, to
descend to twenty -four per cent. in 1857.
From thar time forward the protectionists
sought to ally themselves with all the fac
lions of the country. TO obtain possession
of ths government they offered farms to
the German aud Irish emigrants, and
to give to everybody. The
election of Mr.. Lincoln finally demonstra-
ted TO the South that an understanding
existed between the Northern States to
carry on agxSpst the South war of opin-
ion. soon 10 be followed by oppressive
to be executed. If necessary,
BY force. Under these circumstances,
seeing the uselesmess of the struggle,
the Southern States withdrew frsm the
Union."
Mr.. King next examines the resources
Of the. North and South ut length, draw
ing conclusions favorable to the latter,
and adds:
An attentive examination of the differ
cnt Official census returns proves that the
Northsrn States owe their commercial and
industrial prosperity to the agriculture Of
the South. In 1890. the total exporta-
.ions cf the United States only amounted
to Si0. .666. .1Ol. In 1859 they were
3276 .a92U80. in which cotton. tobacco
and rioe figured for S255. .716.1O0.
7 The secession of the Southern
states destroyed at one blow the COM
lpcrcial and financial relations, as we'll as
.he political connection which bound them
10 The States Of the North. The manufac-
turers Of the North. hitherto protected BY
! high tariff. win. hereafter. il admitted
3 Southern market. be obliged to pay
the saiae duties AZ European goods.
Herspftsr. the North. unprotected BY high
duties. will no longer enjoy the
exclusive monopoly Of the Southern coast
ing trsde. The intercourse Of the South
ern States With Europe, heretofore obliged
10 tak the way Of New York. will be ac-
directly. Commerce win be
BY The vast quantity Of products
of exchange hitherto nonnpolizcd BY the
States ofr-e North. thanks to their protee-