Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-02-13
From Washington.
Special Correspondents Of the Wing.

WASHINGTON, February 6, 1867.
The action of the Senate upon the Tariff, is, in
the main, encouraging, still 1t should not induce
mission of effort by any friend of the industrial in
terests, with view of bringing the truth promi-
nently before Congress and the people.
Conflicting interests are rapidly being harmon
lied and the hope of British freetraders that they
may accomplish their purposes by placing the rep
resentatives of our varied industries at swords
points approaches the line by several degrees
as each day passes. One trick of these cunning
shopkeepers is the preparation of printed briefs,
of single page or more, composed entirely of dis
torted statistics and outright lies favorable to their
pauper labor industries. These briefs, previous to
an anticipated crisia quietly put into the hands
of doubtful members, and before counteracting
truths can be brought to bear the strategem often
secures victory.
In view of the persistent effort Of the freetradsrs
to misrepresent the Senate Tariff Bill as "prohibi-
tory it is but proper to state here, that many Of
the best friends Of American industries claim, that
Il is not even "prot ective' in its effect. True,
amendments have been made, increasing the duties
on many articles, and giving, perhaps, the best pro-
lection we can secure at present, but they do
not suffice to make the bill really protective re-
CARDS more than one important interest. For in
stance, under the reduced Internal Revenue law Of
last session. American copper ore smelted, pays into
the National Treasury, tax of three dollars and
hfty-fve cents $3.50 per hundred pounds. The
Senate Tariff Bill fixes the duty on imported copper
ore smelted, the product of foreign mines and for
eign capital. at three dollars (S3) per hundred
pounds, and thereby gives the foreign miner no.
only a market advantage, but also accords him q
virtual protection of fty-hve cents per hundred
pounds to the detriment Of the sturdy miner of the
North West Nor is this the only instance in which
American capital employing free, Intelligent and
well paid labor, is overslaughed for the benefit Of
foreign capital employing virtual white slave la
Dor. While the North West teeming with minerals,
well complains Of the utter folly Of policy that
furnishes an American market and protection TO FOR
egn copper the whole country cries out against the
admission of foreign wool st duty entirely made
ouate TO the protection Of American capital and Is
Dor employed in the production Of the domestic ar
ticIe For two years past the average duty upon
foreign woods has been but $40 cents per pound,
while the Internal duties upon domestic wool with
out taking into consideration merchants licenses,
stamp taxes, &C.. &C., has amounted at the lowest
estimsts to 81 cents per pound The present SEN
ate tariff bill fixes the lowest rate upon wool at 10
cents per pound, and seemingly protects over snd
above the internal tax to the enormous amount OF
cent per pound, but, sctually when the increased
cost of the necessaree of life transportation &c,
taken into consideration Iing far short OF any
thing like protection, and calling 70 mind ths old
story Of the wolf in Sleeps clothing.
Two things must come to pass the tariff must Be
further increased, and the internal taxes further d.
minished. Our industries, especially the iron and
steel csal, wool and woolen, lssther and hide in
eres:s, &cs justly demand aid IN their development
by both Of shese steps The tendency at resent as
fsr be judged is to reduce intarnal taxation
but as the government for years to viii require
for its necessities large reveaus il is hardly 50 be
hoped that such reduction WILDE made a. viii pro
tecs industrial products against foreign comPe-
ting manufactures and productions Pass the pre-
seris tarin bin before she Sonata withdraw INTERNAL
trxation as far as possible and American industry
may perchsnee hold ia own sgsnss foreign rivalry
D. d. O.