The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-01


A new tariff bin is in preparation for
Congress. TO he presented after the recess.
We OF the South having no votes in the
matter, no representation in that Con-
gress, but subject to such taxes as may DC
imposed without our consent, are notwith-
standing deeply interested to watch and
understand tho proceedings Of those who
are our legislators against our will. There
are two interests especially, and very po-
tential ones at the North, which demand
higher protection for their products. These
are the iron masters aud the wool-groweTs.
Some other manufacturing interests are
also expecting large measure of pro'ec-
ton; aud there are the usual intr'gues ana
negotiations on foot 10 induce members OF
Congress TO impose heavier taxes on the
neople for the profit of few individuals.
For il comes TO this exactly: the adai-
tional profit which those manufacturers ez-
pect to gain by discriminating duties which
will keep out the competing products OF
other countries form the precise measure
OF the amount 10 which consumers are to
be muIctcd; and especially those con
sumers inhabiting regions which do not
possess those particular kinds OF industry.
There is no need here to pronounce upon
the general question Of protective tariffs,
nor 10 consider whether there is compcnSa-
ton to the country at large in this artificial
= ~ "a ~
haps there is so within limitcu communities
like those of Rhode Island and MaSSachu-
sets, or even Pennsylvania; but there can
al any rate be no question that F'rg'nlans
will derive no benefit from paying Rhode
Islanders higher price for hosiery or iian-
mel than would be charged for those artl-
cles by English or French makers. We
are told, indeed, by the protcctionlSt or
gans, the Tribune at the head OF them,
that the manufacturing industry of the
country is grievously oppressed, and sink
ing under foreign competition, even with
the high duties now existing. The remedy
which seems just aud natural under the
circumstances TO these protectioniStS Is
that all the rest of the people be com
PEELED TO pay higher taxes on what they
consume, and therefore higher prices.
Thus the Tribune is going to hold Secretary
McCuLLoCH responsible for the utter ruin
of the country if ne will not make the men
who do not work in iron contribute ont OF
their own pockets to support the men who
do.
The details Of the now tariff arc not get
made public, and the rumors as 10 their IA
ture and scope are, Of course, motto bcrcIicd
upon. When We see themwe confess thatwe
shall not consider their provisions with Ill
extended view to how they will affect "the
whole country" but only ask, How will
they work here in Virginia Cut oti FROM
all grand political debate, and bound rs ~
are 10 do the best We can here At home,
with such resources and industry rs NC
have, We can only hope that those law
makers whom we never elected may not
thrust their hands too deeply into our
pockets for the profit OF their own constitu-
ents. We must even make such efforts as
We are graciously permitted to make, in
order to turn to ourselves some share u
the benefit intended for Pennsylvania and
Rhode Island.
The State OF Georgia has set AZ energetic
example in this direction, where the cot
ton manufacture is vigorously thriving
even under revenue laws certainly not
intended for GeOrgia's benefit. If o high
duty should be imposed on the importation
OF foreign wool, why we must try to get
some sheep upon our deso!uted lands and
additional fayorS to the iron masters may
give a stimulus to the manufacturing en-
terprise of our own people. Let the tinan-
cial legislation be as narrow, rs hostile, as
greedy as they lease, so long as its oOliga-
ton is general and not local We can only
endeavor to find our own account in il by
making the best of our bad bargain, and
not troubling ourselves with the great
principles of finance. Such is the small
circle to which the thoughts and speCula-
tions OF southern men must now be di-
rected, although once upon time south
ern craftsmanship guided the legislation
of the continent.