Year: 1859

"These facts have led some interested il the trade to the conclusion that it would bt sound policy for the Staffordshire iron-masters to reduce the prices next quarter, say two pounds per ton, with view to regain the com mand of the American market, and to get rio of the competitors, who are supplanting Eng fish iron in the United States. Doubtless, il the price of iron could be reduced to that ex tent for some considerable period, it would ruin many of the American manufacturers, and would for time open the way for large de mand for English iron"

 At subsequent date, the same paper says

 |" A considerable improvement has taken place in the demand for iron throughout the country.

 The demand from the United States, however, has not been nearly so great as has been an ticipated for the last six months the orders frors that quarter have been one continual dis appointment. The American merchants con- graduate themselves on the position of the Eng fish market, prices being just high enough to enable their own iroD-masters to supply the market to the full extent of their production. A general reduction in England is absolutely

  of the iron manufacture in the United States. :"

 Here we see what English policy on this subject is, and in commercial view, it is no doubt a wise one. That policy is to break down, to ruin the American manufacturer, by making sales below the cost of production. If they would pursue the same course permanent ly, we ought to be, and would be, satisfied. It happens, however, that when the object is at tained, when the American manufacturer has been ruined, and the market is left te the for eign manufacturer, the price rises to the con- sumer and it does not stop at the cost of pro- duction and fair profit on that it goes up until the foreigner is paid, and paid with inter- est, all that it cost him to ruin the home manu- facturer and drive him out of the market.

 It is not only in regard to the manufacture of railroad iron that our home manufacturers have thus ruinous competition from abroad. The surplus products of cotton and woolen manufact es in England are sent here for sale, and generally sold at or below the cost of pro- duction. This is done rather than sell them at home for that would bring down the price there and the whole home market is secured at profit to the manufacturer It would be for the advantage of the foreign manufacturer to throw the surplus products into the ocean rather than sell them at home All that is ob- tained for these products, above the freight, duty and insurance, may be considered profit. In this way, American manufacturers are brought in competition, as to price, with the prices of the surplus of products of foreign countries. Ought this policy to be successful l must say, for one, I think it will be shame to our legislation if it should am not, how ever, on our tariff policy, but only on this ques- tion Where shall we get the iron to build this road ? My answer is, get it at home. If Congress will say so, we shall get it cheaper, actually cheaper, than we can get it abroad, and at the same time give hope and cheer to the depressed labor of our country.

 do not require to be told that these opin- ions and doctrines are contrary to the policy of what is called the Democratic party. It would be quite unavailing to urge arguments to any q trust there are none such here) who accept the decisions of party as ultimate truths in politics, and as infallible authorities in legisla- tion. l may surely invoke the aid of those who regard the name of Andrew Jackson as an authority. In his letter to Dr. Coleman, in 1924, he says:

 Heaven smiled upon and gave us liberty and independence and national defense If we omit or refuse to use the gifts which he has ex- tended to us, we deserve not the continuation of His blessings. He has filled our mountains and our plains with lead, iron and copper, and given us climate and soil for the growing of hemp and wool. These being the grand mate rial defense, they ought to have extended to them adequate and fair protection, that our manufacturers and laborers may be placed in a fair competition with those of Europe, and that we may have within our country a supply of those leading and important articles so essen tial in war. In short, sir, we have been too long subject to the policy of the British merchants. It is time that we should become little more Ameri- canized and instead of feeding the paupers and laborers of England, feed our own ]; or else, in a short time, by continuing our present policy, we shall all be rendered paupers our selves"

 This was good democracy thirty years ago, though now, suppose, it has ceased to be so. Still, it indicates our best and wisest national policy-a policy to which we shall be con- pelled to return before we shall have perma- nent national prosperity

 MT. President, Senators have spoken of this work as great, Herculean undertaking Such, indeed, it is the very idea of it lifts us almost into the regions of the sublime. Old Rome boasted of her Appian way and France points to the road over the Simplon as one of the monuments of the genius of her Napoleon. The work we contemplate is mightier far than those. Let us enter into it with pride as an American work and let us determine that the material which compose it shall be o1 American origin and American manufacture EDUCATION" IN INDIANA. - SELLING SCHOOLS AT AUCTION !-Ont on the Salt Greek Hills, in Lawrence County, they have an origi nal way of employing teachers. They keeT school there about six months in the year, oI say two quarters When the time about ar