Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-07-13
Confessional.
MR.. MORRILL, ON THE TARIFF.

p
rates now levied on foreign wools. This is
question which has vexed Congress for forty
years. The evils endured by wool-growers
somehow never disappear, let the laws take
what shape they may. The locks Of sheep
IN South America. 10 Australia, at the Cape.
ami elsewhere, have become so large, so much
improved by mixed breeds. that they threaten
10 force the American wool-growers 70 aban-
don chosen and most attractive pursuit --
Formerly the woods obtained from Buneos
Ayres was coarse and fall Of burs but by
crossing with the merino breeds 10 has become
entirely changed in character, md now wools
equal in grade To- the average american growth
can be bought in South America for fifteen
cents per pound. IL is not washed, and burs
still accompany IL, but no American hus-
bandman, not even those who are located iu
proximity to unfsnced prairies where the sum.
mer feed can be appropriated without let or
hinderanee, can compete with such prices
They must, unless at once take care Of, sue
cumb. For the past four years, notwithstand-
ing the nomnally high prices for wool, the
amount received when reduced 70 a gold stan
daId shows that the business of wOol-grOw-
ing has not been remunerative not afOrding
one half the profits of any other kind of far
ming, and many owners Of sheep have been
preparing to quit the business for something
more hopeful. Unless Congress shall do
something TO revive the courage Of these men
the stock of sheep that will be offered for
slaughter the coming fall will exceed anything
the country has heretofore witnessed. The
comp amt is loud, universal, and real not
simulated Never since l have had the hon
or to be a member Of this House have so large
a number Of petitions been received, or with
so many respectable and genuine signatures,
upon any subject The committee of WAYS
and Means have been flooded with these docu-
ments from the East to the fsrthest West.
The tariff Of 1857, against which l voted,
allowed wool under eighteen cents to come in
free and reduced the dd Ualorem tariff on
woods costing more than that. The tariff OF
1861 placed a small al Uaiorem duty on wool
under eighteen Genus and a specific duty on
all wool above that rate, besides providing
many provisions against fraud. This was
considerably improved by the tariff of 1864,
but the value Of wool abroad being less tina n
represented CT believed to be, importers still
got competing woods through the custom
house at rates never above six cents per pound
and sometimes at even less. Last fall and
winter the wool-growers, through their var-
Gus agricultural societies and other State and
national organizations, got together for the
first time and discussed toe subject Of WOOL
growing in its relation to rival foreign inter-
ests. The wool manufacturers also met with
them Ia Joint convention. After months Of
patient toll and critical examination they pre-
sented to US in April last the fruits of their
joint labor so far as it relates to the duties
upon wool. The proposition as it relates to
woolens came along considerably later. A
mutual agreement was arrived az and upon a
basis fair and equitable OF parties that never
agreed before. / think their work does hon.
or to those who conceived aud who have so
far successfully matured these several propo-
sitons. These propose much higher rates
upon wool because OF the perfection of the
Classification, which is so framed as to catch
all woods that cau by any possibility compete
with American wool. There is no loop-hole
through which any wool can escape the duty
intended TO be placed upon it.
Il is fixed and certain. The custom house
officer though fool, cannot err therein.
know the wool-growers will be satisfied with
their own proposition, as they should be, for
it amounts to more on mestiza wool than
would duty Of seventy-fve per cent. ad Ualo-
rem, and hope we shall not attempt to offer
anything less or ia other shape, tor whatever
is not in the form Of specific duty would be
as in most other cases valueless. The great
est protection the American wool-growers
could have would be the disclosure of the fact,
at every sale of wooden cloths, whether the
same were made OF American wool or not, as
cloths really made Of sound American wool
are really worth, for actual service, for hard
wear and tear. far more than those made OF
the tender and brittle foreign wools.
are very carefully adjusted so as to cover the
duties which the msnuhet urers pay first on
wool and dye-stuff., the internal taxes on their
sales, and in addition twenty five per cent.
da uIlorem. The compound duties in the
bill, though following the principle first adop-
ted in the tariff of 1861, may not be UNDER
stood az glance, but when carefully studied
they will be found 10 nave the extent | have
indicated and no more. II this bill becomes
a law, as | trust il will, the wooden manuiac-
turer will not find his condition any better
than now-not whit. Foreign goods, !
fear, will crowd our marts in nearly the same
imposing proc ssion that they have done hero .
tofore, or at the rate Of over a million dollars
for every day in the year.
Last year (lS65) our imports amounted to
1924, ,756447 but this year they will reach
not less than S4O9, All 5l3. This is drain
that we are in no condition to bear, Every
spare dollar in the country is needed 10 fund
our rapidly maturing national obligations.
For the past year we have received from
California but little over $50 900 900, and
yet our exports Of gold and silver at New
York alone, from May p to June IS, amoun-
ted to S36, ,402.
When can we resume specie payments If
this stream Of merchandise inward and flow
of gold outward is allowed to continue
Clearly it is the duty of the Government to
moderate if it cannot control this reckless
course Of trade before bankruptcy ensues aud
the business Of the country receives a check
from which it may take years to recover.
CONCLUSION.
The present bill is not likely to suit every
body, and | regard it only as temporary
measure fit to be introduced because of the
imperous necessities Of our present condition
Many will think it inadequate TO the exigen-
cies Of the country and that much more ough
TO have been conceded to our imperiled in
dustries. The statements made by the gen
tlemen Of the revenue commission, who hav,
long studied the subject, as well as by thost
whose special interests are touched, in aimos
every instance, would have justified the Com
mittee of Ways and Means in proposing high
or rates than will be found in the bill. BuI