Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-22
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. MONDAY.
NETo OF THE COPPER TARIFF BILL The
following message from the President was re.
ceived in the House OF Representatives this


-
following message from the President was re.
ceived in the House OF Representatives this
morning:
To the House Of Representdtircs The accompa.
nying bill, entitled IAN act regulating the du
ties on imported copper and copper Ores" is
ior the following reasons returned, without nay
approval, TO the House OF Representatives, in
which branch of Congress IL originated.
It's immediate effect will be to diminish the
public receipts, for the object Of the bill can
not be &c ccomplshed without affecting the i'm.
portation OF copper and copper ores, from
which a considerable revenue IS at present
derived While thus lmpalrIng the resources
OF The Government, II imposes an additional
tax upon an already oyerburdened people who
should not be further impoverished that mo-
nopolies may De fostered and corporations IL
rIcLed.
Ii is represented. and the declaration seems
TO be sustained by evidence, that the duties TOR
which this bill provides are nearly or quite
snftclent TO prohibit the Importation OF certain
foreign ores OF copper. Its enactment, there
fore, will prove detrimental to the shipping
Interests of the nation. ana at the same time
destroy the business for many years success
fully established-of smelling home ores in
connection with q smaller amount Of the i'm
ported articles. This business. Ii is credibly
asserted, has heretofore yielded the larger share
OF the copper production of the country, aud
thus the industry which this legislation is de-
signed TO encourage is actually less than that
which will be destroyed by the ssage OF the
bill.
Ii seems also to be evident that the effect of
this measure Will be TO enhance, by seventy
per cent, the cost of blue yitriol-an article -x-
tensively used in dyeing and in the manufic-
ture OF printed and cOored cloths. Toproduce
such an augmentation in the price OF this
commodity will be TO discriminate against
other great branches of domestic industry
and by increasing their cost, to expose
them most unfairly 10 the effects OF for
elgn competition. Legislation can neither
be wise nor just which seeks the welfare of a
single interest at the expense aud 10 the
injury of many, and varied interests at least
equally important and equally deserving the
consideration Of Congress. Indeed II is diff
cult TO find any reason which will Justify the
Inter ifereEce OF Government with any legIti-
mate industry. except so far as may BE- rendered
necessary bN the req uiTements of the revenue.
As has already been stated, however, the iegis-
lative intervention proposed IN the present iu-
stance will diminish, not increase the public
receipts.
The enactment of such a law is urged as
necessary for the relief of certain mining in.
terests upon Lake Superior, W which, 1t Is alleged
are in greatly distressed condition, and can
only be sustained by an enhancement of the
price OF copper If this result should follow
the passage Of the BILL a tax for the exclusive
benefit OF a single class would be imposed upon
the consumers of copper throughout the entire
country not warranted by any need of the Gov
eminent, and the avails of Which would not
in any degree fiEd heir way into the Treasury
of the nation. If the miners OF Lake Superior
are IN condition of want, II cannot be- justly
affirmed that the Government should extend
charity TO them in preference TO those of is
citizens who, in other portions of the country,
suffer IN like manner from destitutIon. Least
of all should the endea vor to aid them be based
upon p method so uncertain and indirect a
that contemplated by the bill, and which.
moreover, proposes TO continue the exercise of
ITS benefaclion through an indefinite period o:
years. 1t Is, besides, reasonable to hope that
positive suffering from want, If 1t really exists,
Will prove but temporary in a region where
agricultural labor is so much IN demand ana
so well compensated.
A careful examination Of the subject appears
10 show that the present low price OF copper.
which alone has induced any depression the
mining interests of Lake Superior NAV have
recently experie need, Is due to causes which II
Is wholly ImpOlitic, If not timpTacticable, to con-
tTavene by legislation. These causes are, i'm the
main, an increase IN the general supply of cop
per, owing TO the discovery and working Of re-
markedly productive mines. and 10 4 coincli-Ef
restriction i'll the con sumpti IN and use OF cop
per, by the su bstItuton OF other and cheaper me-
tails tor industrial purposes. Its now sought 10
resist, by artificial means, the action OF natural
laws toplace the people of the United States.
III respect TO the DJoyment and of an ps-
sentIal mmodlty. upon a different basis from
other nations, and especially TO compensata
certain private and sectional interests for the
changes and losses which are always incident
10 Industrial progress.
Although providing for an increase OF duties
the proposed law does not even come within
tn" range OF protection III the fair acceptarlDn
of tie term. Ii does not look To the fostering
OF a young and feeble interest, with A view 10
the ultimate attainment of strength and the
capacity OF self-support. Ii appears 10 assume
that the present inability tor successful produc-
ton is inherent and perm anent. and IS more
likely TO increase than TO be gradually over
come yet, III spite OF this, II proposes, by the
exercise OF the law-making power, to sustain
that interest aud TO impose il i'll hopeless per-
p"tuity, as tax upon the competent and oenef-
IceIt industries of the &C untry.
Tie true method for the mining interests of
Lake Superior TO obtain relief, If relief is need
I'd, is TO make their great natural resources
fully available by reducing the cost OF prOduC-
u0n. Special or class legislation cannot rem
rdy the evils which this bill is designed TO
meet They can only be overcome by laws
which Will effect wise, honest, and econom-
zeal administration Of the Government, a
establishment OF the specIe standard of value.
anu an early adjustment of our system OF STATE,
municipal and national taxation especially the
latter upon the fundamental principle that all
taxes, whether collected under the Internal
revenue, or under a tariff, shall interfere as
little ss possible with the productive energies
OF the people
The hill is therefore returned. IN the belief
that the true interests OF the Government and
OF the people require that il should not become
a law. ANDREW JOHNSON
Washington, ID. G, February y, 1859