Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-08
Concerning Tnriffs.

A most extraordinary fact in the history
of this country is that there have been
nineteen new tariffs within the last forty
years-eleven of which have been passed
within the last five Years. These last eleven
have been on steadily rising scale, and, if
the one now before Congress passes, the
duties on all foreign imports will average
seventy (7O) per cent. The papers of the
country, with very few exceptions, are
loudly protesting against the present tariff,
and denouncing the extreme protectionists
who are really an exceedingly small class
for the efforts which they are thus making
to destroy foreign trade, and thus to bring
financial distress upon the people. Massa-
ehusetts is carrying things with high
hand, and the manufacturers of the other
States are in full cry behind her but the
almost universal discomfort of the masses
at the North with this effort to proAibi! for
it amounts to that the foreign trade Of the
country, is strong evidence that they are
getting tired of such legislation, and will
not longer submit to it. The Nation, an
ably conducted journal which does not gen.
orally find matter for unfavorable comment
in the proceedings of Congress, charges
that, since the tariff of 1864, the
controversy before Congress has not been
between free trade and protection, but be-
tween an importunate and INSCRIPTIONS
lobby and the community at large and it
further ominously remarks, and the facil-
ity with which Congressman are maniphla-
ted by the lobby is. in our minds, one of
the signs that the Republican party is for
getting what are the conditions of long re-
tention of power n free country"
It goes on to- say that if the present tariff
is passed it will not last over a year, and
that it will be found intolerable, incom-
prehensible, onerous, incapable of execu-
ton, prcmotive of fraud and smuggling D
&C., &c.
Experience has certainly proved shat the
great body of the people of this country
prefer moderate tariff, which will, al least,
put the native producer on an equality with
the foreign one, either to free trade or ex-
IRENE protection. The free trade men OF
the South, while it was exclusively a pro-
ducing section, will, we suppose, not be
found so intensely welded to that theory
when manufactures begin to be numerous
here, for circumstances do wonderfully al.
ter cases; but the very fact that they will
have experienced both conditions, will be
an advantage to the legislation of the coun.
try on the subject of tarif-that is to say,
provided the Southern States ever have a
voice in the matter.
In contemplating the gradual, but sure
acquisition of power by the manufacturing
interests of the North, one can hardly re-
strain sentiment of respect for the persis.
tent, untiring exertions by which that re-
suit has been accomplished. In it, too, il
to be plainly seen the tremendous inhuen
ces which those interests WELD in coun.
try, and from it is to be deduced one of the
most valuable lessons which the South car
learn. In conversations with leading bust
ness men of the North since the war, the
writer of this has frequently heard the pre-,
diction. that in the course of few years
the relative positions of New England and