The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-11
TrRox OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


WASHINGTON, April 0.
The long discussion which has taken place
in the House on the tariff bill, not only on the
general merits Of the question, but on the details
OF the measure, show that the party OF Protec-
uonists who have carried their peculiar theories
with such high hand for the past seven years
might as we'll yield the e.d for the future, and al
low themselves to be swallowed up IN the new
crystallization OF parties that Is now going ou.
The great agricultural interests Of the South nnd
West have proved TOO strong at last Tor the man.
ufacturinc interests OF New England and the
iron and coal interests OF Pennsylvania. While
the naked question OF freetrade has found many
advocates in the House, it Is, at the same time,
confessed that it would not be we'll TO engrait It's
principles into legislation just SO long as the
country is burdened with the present system oil
Internal taxation. Therefore, the prevailing
plan OF the majority of the House is
a tariff based on revenue standard, with
incidental protection here and there, IN cases
where heavy internal tax Is eXacted OF certain
manufacturing interests. Beyond this nothing
will be conceded, but, that platform, both par
ties from the West are reunited, and are already
carving their views into effect in the pending
bill. For the first time since the Republicans OBJ
tanned control of the House, Pennsylvania Is
alarmed on this tariff issue. The ingenious
classification OF iron whicn they inserted into the
bill, and which really raised the duties. while on
its face it assumed to reduce them, they are will
ing to abandon-havng been detected In the
rraud-and now only clamor that the duties on
steel may stand. The steel manufacturers OF this
country have monopoly OF the manufacture OF
steel rails, under an Improvement Oh the beS-
: semer patents, and, therefore, hope 70 exact
pfsclous royalty from every railroad company
that feels itself compelled TO use them. The de'
cline in gold, which the pig iron interest ae-
clares has virtually reduced the duty on
that article SIS SO per ton, and the fact that the
Eessemer patents for the manufacture OF steel
rails are about to expire in England, thereey
rendering the imported article much cheaper
furnish the facts for this tremendous pressure
for Igore protection. There has not been more
formidable lobby here .or many years, and II IS
even represented on the moor OF the House IN the
person Of member who owns the Cambria Iron
Works, which are about the largest In the United
States. The New England and Pennsylvania
interests in their struggle to save special FEATURES
OF the bill and to impose upon the country class
legislation, have, among other bargains, deter
mined to catch al the carpet-bag vote Tor the
tariff by agreeing to admit cotton machinery
free of duty; while q trade has been made by
the New England and Northwestern interests to
save the duties on woollens. The bill Is justly
regarded as it stands Zone OF aoomina;ioas;''
but the West say they will take it because in the
cud = reduces taxation between fifteen and
twenty millions of dollars.
It is quite lanentab!e in o debate Of so vide
and Important i range as that on the tariff, COW
ering every agricultural, and indeed every other
interest Of the South. to see such pauc!ty OF tai
eut among the men who are here representing
the South. With the exception OF Sheldon, OF
Louisiana, who merely had wi, enough to move
to increase the duty on sugar, not single South
ern member has opened his mouth on the tariH
question. They are of course not to blame TOT
th!s for the questions involved are entirely ABOVE
the level of their understanding. Fancy Bowen
or Hoge or Cobb or Hamilton rising on the aoor
10 talk about the tariff.
The West End Of the town is rather dull this
week. The President and half OF the Cabinet
have gone TO Troy TO attend the funeral OF Cen
eral Thomas. Grant is glad o. any OCCASION TO
get away, and has served notice on many mem
hers that he shall leave for the seaside rs soon as
the hot weather commences. He is confined at
the White House great deal more Of the time
than he cares to be, and has lately become quite
pnpopular among the various delegations who
called to bore him, but who arc dismissed with
snub.
The President informed Senator Johnson, Of
Virginia, the other day, that he Was in favor ol
universal amnesty as fitting close to the work
of reconstruction, and had prepared and would
send to Congress special message recommend
ino,t rs soon as Georgia was admitted. The
nnb,ica,ion OF the fact though the senator's name
WINS not used) at once brought before the Prcsi-
dem, Iolra a dozen how.rg Radicals, who have