Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-07
From The n. Y. E,.nin. Post,

Legislation.
The new tariff bill has passed both Houses of
Congress, and only requires the signature Of the
President to become law. 1t effects q ossplete
revolution in our commercial sytem, returning, by
one huge step backward, TO the old doctrine prior
TO 1912 and from which the country was relieved
By Mr. Clay, in spile Of his prejudices in favor of
what was miscslled American industry. Under the
more liberal policy Of intercourse with the other
commercial nations Of the world, which was then
insugurated, cur country moved rapidly on ard
in its career OF active industry and prosperity,
checked Occasionally by its tendency to over-trsd
ing and The periodical mutations Of paper money
system. ..,, :.
The experiment is To be tried of a resort to The
Chinese and Japanese method. The ruling idea is
to be the production aRdeonsamption Of everything
within our limits; the exclusion of foreigners and
other outside hsrbariaps, and the curtailEent of
our commerce with the rest Of the world
Many important questions as to the meaning of
several provisions Of the Morrill, bill. as it has
passed Congress, have already risen. What is to
be its effect on goods in warehouse and goods al
ready IN transit? There are two sections of the
law applicable to such goods which seem to be con-
Trajectory in terms. By article %, all goods,
wares and merchandise which Easy be in the public
stores on the day and year sforesaid-to wit. the
first Of April, 1S6l-shall be subject to no other
duty upsn the entry thereof than il the same we're
imported respectively after that day By article
warehouse or public store on the first Of April,
1861, shall be subject to pay such duties as are
provided by law before and at the time Of the pas
sage Of this act,
This seeming Discrepancy is explained in this
way; Goods in bond which have been entered, or
which mag be entered. at the Custom House prior
to the list Of April next, come in, OF eourse nm
der the existing tariff. If they remain in ware
house without entry, having, for instance, been
sent to the public store under general order they
will then be subject to the higher rates of duty i'm
posed by The new tariff Where the duties are d.
minished by the rev tariff, they will be entitled
to that dminution Of duty. The effect Of this wi
be to cenpel the entry Of the greater part Of the
goods nov in warehouse, and the payment of duties
upon Them during the present month.
Another method has been suggested by which
the importer may postpone the payment Of duties,
which would Re onerous TO him at the present time
when the market for many articles is SO much de-
pressed. Il is said that he may reship his goods
from the public store under an expert entry TO
soma neighbOring foreign port, there land them,
and at some future time re-enter tkem here for
consumption, Of course then paying the duties le-
We'd by the new tariff. But this is by no means |
certain. The bond given on an export entry re-
quires oath or affirmation to the statement that |
such goods are not intended to be relanded in the
United States. The honest trader will, therefore
be deprived of any privilege of this kind
This is but one of the hardshiDs and vexatons to
which the merchants will be exposed By the sudden
change in the fundamental law governing the move
nent of imported goods. For all cargoes of mer-
,handise which may be caught out of the port, by |
accident or unfavorable winds, beyond the first Of
April there is no redress. Although ordered here |
under duty of twelve per cent, they may be charg
q IN some instances with tax of fifty or one hun
ired per ceHk Sneb is the effect of inconsistent
legislation under a theory of protection.
In the meantime it is gratifying to find that our
so far from being discouraged at this
letarlous attempt to make New York tributary to
'ennsylVania, without any descent regard to their
lights in the matter, are preparing to adapt them
elves as well as possible to the state of things to
ome. They derive some consolation from the hope
# better prices fer their goods on hand in the SD
ence of competition from fresh lmportations
broad or manufactured articles at home; for a bill
0 uncouth and impracticable as the Morrill, Tariff
known to be destined to very short life The
yhole subject viii require revision and alteration
8 soon as Congress again scembleg. There will be
Investment of capital under its operation at pres
mt, for the establishment of new manufactures or
xtension of those already in operation.