The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-08
The New Tariff Bill.

This important measure has passed both
Houses, and has become law. The Senate
added duty on tea and coffee, but the
House struck it out and the Senate receded.
The warehouse system continues as it is.
Goods can remain three years in bond, in
warehouse in New York or other cities.
The warehouse system has been one of the
chief means of building up New York to
its present colossal commercial greatness,
and it was retained only after persistent
lobbying. Although not familiar with the
provisions of the law, we believe it will
operate very heavily upon the people of the
West, and especially of Minnesota, through
the increased duty placed upon iron, wooden
goods and cottons.
Mr.. DOUGLAS, while admitting the neces.
sity of change in the Tariff, opposed the
law, as highly protective in some respects,
and in others oppressive on many great
interests of the country. He also argued
that the period has arrived when our COM
mercial system should extend to the whole
Notwithstanding not only the United
States, but the Canadas, the British North
western Possessions, Mexico, Cuba, and
the Central American States, after the
manner of the German Zollveren. There
exists in Continental Europe a commercial
union, consisting of twenty-four sovereign,
independent States or countries. combined
into one union for commercial purposes,
with a uniform system of duties applicable
to the whole, and free trade as between
those different countries. 1t was initiated
in 1918, bat not perfected until 1888, since
which time the system has worked satisfac-
torily. We quote from Mr.. DOUGLAS
remarks on this interesting subject:
The system is very simple one. Ali
the custom>houses are upon the frontier.
They collect duties which are to be uniform
upon all the frontiers, and these duties 90
into common fund, and the proceeds, after
defraying expenses, are divided between the
different States composing the commercial
league, in proportion to population. The
basis of the distribution of the receipts is
that of the relative population of the seve-
raj States and countries composing the
league. 1t is true there are one or two ex-
ceptions to that ratio Of distribution
ceptions founded upon local causes, or upon
other causes satisfactory to the parties, and
which have been adopted by unanimous con-
sent.
Now, sir, desire to invite the attention
of the Senate and of the country to the in
quiry whether we may not profitably form
commercial union, to comprise all the
North American continent, on the basis of
the German Zolverein. Our continent is
admirably adapted to sach system. You
would at once abolish all the interior
custom houses All those custom-houses
upon the northern frontier would be
abandoned all upon the dividing line
doned all the internal restrictions
upon trade would be swept away and all
you would require would be custom houses
at the ports on the Atlantic and Pacific.
Why cannot we form the whole American
continent into one commercial union for
commercial purposes, without interfer-
ing in the slightest degree with the politi,
cal institutions or domestic policy of the
different countries within it? They have
overcome all the difficulties growing out of
the practical working of such system in
Germany, where they were thousand fold
greater than they would be in this country;
for in the German alliance they have every
form of government, large states and small
ones some formed on the republican sys-
tenn large Kingdoms, like Prussia, Sano-
ny, and Bavaria, with the small duchies,
like Baden-Baden yet all embraced in
one system. 1t is one country for CONNER
cial purposes. There is free intercourse,
free trade between them ali thus wping
out all the asperities and irritations that
had grown up for hundreds OF years, until
Germany is being gradually moulded and
formed into one people, without interfering
at all with the form of Government, or the
political Institutions, or the domestic poll
cy of any one of the parties to the CONNER
cial union.
The advantages to our own country of
such union of all countries embraced
within North America must be obvious to
every one. 1t would restore and preserve
amity and good faith between the peo-
pie OF all the countries who became parties
to it. 1t would eradicate all the iealousies
and hostilities which have been engendered
by lawless fillibustering expeditions, and put
an eud to all outrages of that kind in the
future. 1t would extend our commerce,
navigation, and carrying trade, while it
would open up new and extensive markets
for our manufactures and agricultural pro-
ducts. 1t would impart stability, perma-
nence, and uniformity to our commercial
system. 1t would afford more efficient, GER
tain, and valuable protection to American
industry than all the protective tariffs that
Congress can devise.
While it would be beneficial to all the
industrial and material interests of the Uni
ted States, it requires no argument to prove
that it would be equally advantageous to