but far more had but just completed the in Strenuous efforts were made at the long? vestment of all they had and all they could Sessions in 1820 and '22 respectively to remget credit for in mills and factories when der the Tariff more Protective; and in the Peace came to blast their sanguine expecta- House they were rendered successful by the tions. The War duties and the War block great ability and popularity of the Speaker, ades were at an end; the contents of British HENRY CLAY, who, from his first entrance Swarehouses, including the accumulated refuse into Congress, and even before, in the Ken-S of former years, were heaped upon our shores tucky Legislature, had signalized himself as in reckless profusion and sold at any price-a champion of Protection to Home Industry. British fabrics being advertised at Boston to He was ably supported by Messrs. Tod and> be sold 'pound for pound '—that is, $3.33 in Baldwin of Pa. and other advocates of the Boston, duty paid, for what had cost $4.44 in true policy, but the bills failed in the Senate,S England—and our infant manufactories were through a union of the Commercial and PlantSoverwhelmed and crushed at once. It was ing interests, by a very close vote. In 1824, openly avowed by Lord Brougham in the the effort was renewed, and this time with British Parliament that the destruction of our success. A decided accession of National Manufactures was an object of National so-prosperity was soon visible, though interruptlicitude. An appeal to the Congress of 1816 ed in the commercial sections by the insane Selicited much excellent talk in favor of Pro-Cotton speculations which soon followed. In tectien, but no adequate action corresponding 1828, a farther revision of the Tariff was had, thereto. On coarse Cottons (by means of the rendering it still more thoroughly Protective. Įminimum, or principle of estimating all fab-The whole Union, except possibly the exclurics to have cost at least twenty cents the sively Cotton-planting region, felt the benefisquare yard, and charging duties according- cent impulse given to Industry and Business ly) a sufficient duty was levied, and so on a generally by this act, and continued to feel it Sfew other descriptions of coarse manufac-so long as the vitality of the act remained. tares. Generally, however, only low ad va-But South-Carolina attempted to nullify it; a Lorem duties were imposed, which would not civil war appeared imminent; and a Congress sustain existing establishments against a ruin- assembled (1832-3) of which the majority of Sous Foreign competition, much less call into the dominant party were hostile to Protection. Sexistence the new branches imminently need- Mr. Verplanck, from the Committee of Ways (ed by the country. The consequence was a and Means of the House, had reported a bills general prostration of the Manufacturing in-making a most sweeping change in the Tariff terest, followed in natural order by an ex- and destroying its Protective features entirely. treme depression of the prices of nearly all Mr. Clay, then in the Senate, and prominent Agricultural staples, so that the seven years in the councils of the Whig party, saw no (from 1819 to 1825 inclusive exhibited the low-reason for having a desolating civil war on est average prices of those staples ever known account of the Protective principle, which in America. The large class of farmers who was to be utterly abandoned as soon as the Shad purchased lands during the War or other carnage was complete. He proposed a Comperiods of Agricultural prosperity and were promise, by which the existing Tariff was to (still in debt for a good part of them, were be gradually reduced through the ten sucrained inevitably. There were townships if ceeding years, until it should reach the uninot counties in New-England in which every form standard of twenty per cent. ad valorem ;) Sfourth farmer was a bankrupt, and his farm at not as formerly twenty per cent. on the Forthe mercy of the Sheriff. Such was our sec-[eign value of the articles imported, but twenty Sond fair experiment of comparative Free per cent. on their valus in this country, Trade,-that under the Confederacy having which is a very different thing. This propo(been the first. sition was accepted by South-Carolina and hy Şa large majority in each House. By its adop-for good reasons shown. Of course, 'amid tion, a civil war was prevented and the evil such a multiplicity of items it is not presumed Sday for our National Industry postponed. that every one is fixed precisely as it should But that day came at last. The extensive be, but that the Tariff as a whole is a good inflation following a severe compression of one, that its provisions generally are carefully Sour Paper Currency consequent on the arbi- elaborated and wisely adjusted, is proved by (trary Removal of the Deposites from the Uni- the history of its formation, and by the condiSted States Bank and their distribution among tion of the Country. The three years of low some four-score local Banks, combined with duties, as in the two former periods of relathe diminution of the duties on imports to tive Free Trade, had been years of general stimulate enormous importations in 1836, and depression, of numerous bankruptcies, of again in 1838-9. The Business of the Coun-Labor widely destitute of employment, of) Stry was deranged, its Industry prostrated, and enormous and harassing commercial indebteven its Revenue at length fell off so as to be edness abroad, and of stagnation or feeble wholly inadequate to the wants of the Gov-progress in improvement and wealth at home. ernment. The receipts from the Customs in The three years' existence of the present) the three years of west Revenue duties-Tariff have been years of reviving energy and $1840, '41 and '42-averaged less than Seven-confidence, of increasing and prosperous In-S (teen Millions per annum, and from all sources dustry, of extensive and varied Improvement) except Loans and the issue of Treasury Notes, by building, establishing new branches of fell short Nineteen Millions. The Government productive labor, &c. and of healthful Trade. was reduced to the necessity of borrowing to The aggregate number of employed and remeet its ordinary expenses, and, like other munerated laborers in this year 1845 must be borrowers, found that the very fact of its need-far greater, and that of unemployed, unwilSing money afforded an excellent reason to lingly idle persons relatively less than in either lenders for declining to trust it. Its loans of the three low-duty years. The Revenue were hawked about the capitals of Europe also has largely increased, reaching nearly without finding a purchaser, and were taken Thirty-two Millions in 1844, and far overbal) Sat all but partially and grudgingly on terms ancing the current expenses of that year. It which must have made fortunes for the takers will be somewhat less in 1845,-say Twentyas soon as confidence in its solvency returned five Millions-but still abundant for all legitiSby the enactment and operation of the Tariff mate and economical wants of the Govern-S ment. The prosperity of the Country under) of 1842. In the formation of this Tariff, the utmost this Tariff has been steadily, palpably procare was used to make it a good one. The gressive and nearly universal. If New-Eng(labers to this end of WALTER FORWARD, land first felt its impulse, owing to her large Secretary of the Treasury, MILLARD FILL-investments in Manufactures, it has by no MORE, Chairman of the House Committee of means been confined to her borders. In every Ways and Means, LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, State of the Union manufacturing establishdo. of Manufactures, and JAMES F. SIMMONS, ments are springing up, giving valu; to Chairman of the Senate Committee on Manu-water-power, timber, stone, brick-clay, &c. factures, in taking immense masses of testi- comparatively worthless before, furnishing) mony from experienced, intelligent and pa-employment for the carpenter, mason, brickStriotic men, weighing conflicting evidence, maker, &c. and giving an additional develop&c. were arduous and unremitted. The ses- ment to the Industry of the vicinity. The sions of the Committees above named were earnings of those permanently employed in protracted and laborious. No article was the factories are mainly so much added to the charged more or less than the general rate of wealth of the community. The farmer's famithirty per cent. on the value (abroad) unlessly of whom one or two choose some manu Sfacturing vocation draw nearly as much from ruthless hands on this great measure of Na their farm as formerly, and find a ready cash tional independence and progress, and des (market for their butter, poultry, fruit, &c. &c. troy its Protective vitality. Whether these at prices which could not be obtained with apprehensions shall be fulfilled or dissipated, our workshops in Europe, and which render a few months must determine. We hope the lighter labors of husbandry far more pro- that the bickerings, cabals and jealousies of) fitable than the growing of grain and other the motley host which succeeded, by the most staples. That this Tariff has not abolished all palpable frauds and deceptions, in rallying evils and inequalities of condition, and sup- Pennsylvania with South-Carolina, New-York plied every man with work at what he may with Arkansas, in support of the election of Sconsider fair wages, is freely conceded. No Polk and Dallas, will defeat every effort to enlightened advocate of Protection, if any, overthrow or essentially alter the Tariff. But Sever represented or claimed that the best pos- in this hope we may be disappointed, and we sible Tariff would produce a Millennium. know that the country can never realize all (No one measure can reach and correct all the legitimate advantages of Protection while Political evils, even; much less the thousand its enemies bear rulé in the land, and their (wrongs which are beyond the reach of Legis-drawn sword is suspended over the head of Slation and Government. But that it has work- the Tariff, and only withheld from descend Red well and proved beneficent, not to one ing by the casualty of their intrigues and Sclass or section merely, but to the American rivalries. But whatever may be their course People, we cannot doubt, for the evidence is or its results, let the friends of Protection and Soverwhelming. a wisely diversified, well compacted Home) The beneficent change insured by this Ta- Industry, stand vigilant, determined and hope(riff is yet in its infancy. It has been checked ful. The day of the Nation's deliverance but not wholly arrested by the fear that the from the hands of their opposers cannot be far (new Congress now about to assemble will lay distant. For that day, let us BE READY. THE POSTAGE REFORM. these rates. ..2 cents. Drop Letters (delivered from the office AT the last Session of Congress a bill was Each additional half ounce or fraction, double framed, amended and passed, in accordance with the earnest demands of the People through several preceding years, essentially reducing the Rates of Letter Postage and making other important reforms in our Post a common cap sheet, and sent unsealed.2 cents. Office system. Instead of our old rates of 6. 2. Newspapers of less than 1900 square inches 10, 123, 184 and 25 cents for each piece of (50 by 38 inches) to be charged as before-1 cent paper of which a letter or letter packet may printed and mailed, or under 100 miles if carried each for any distance within the State where Sbe composed, conveyed less than 30, 80, 150, out of the State; all greater distances 14 cents and 400, and over 400 miles respectively, the each. But if conveyed less than 30 miles from the place where printed, free. Newspapers of over following are the rates established by the act 1900 square inches, to be charged Magazine postof March 3d last: age. 3. Magazines, Pamphlets and other printed works, 2 cents for the first-ounce, 1 cent for each additional ounce or fraction above half an ounce, for any distance whatever. In all cases, any writing on or within a package, other than the necessary direction, subjects it to the Letter paid one half to the informant and prosecu Postage. tor; the balance to the United States. -Such are the Rates of Postage established Mail Contracts shall hereafter be given to by the Postage Reform bill. Among its other the lowest responsible bidder, in all cases. (provisions, it abolishes utterly the Franking Lists of Letters uncalled for must be adPrivilege of Postmasters and all other pervertised in the journal (or journals where two sons except the President, Ex-Presidents, or three are employed) of largest circulation. Widows of Ex-Presidents, Assistant Post- (By a subsequent decision of the Postmaster masters General, Members of Congress, Sec- General, this is explained to mean CirculaSretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House tion within the County wherein the adver of Representatives. tising Post Office is situated. Private Expresses on Mail Routes are pro- No package shall be received for transmishibited carrying letters under a penalty of sion through the Mails which weighs over $150 for each offence, but every publisher three pounds. may transmit his Newspapers, Pamphlets or All suits arising under this act are to be other Printed Matter out of the Mails, if he prosecuted in any of the Courts of the U. States. Schooses. In order to cover any deficiency of Post) Owners of Steamboats, Rail-Cars, Stages, Office Revenue accruing under this act, the (&c. who may carry letters are condemned to sum of $750,000 is specifically appropriated) pay $100 for each offence; the Captain, Con- from the Treasury in aid of this Department, ductors, &c. of do. $50. with a proviso that more may be drawn if Private Persons are not forbidden to carry necessary; but the whole expense of the Letters or other matter on their several routes Mail Service must not exceed $4,500,000 per Sof travel, provided they receive no compen-annum. sation therefor. Railroads of the first class may be paid a Bound Books are not "mailable matter," sum not exceeding that previously prescribed and Bank Notes may be transmitted through by law; Railroads of the second class, not the Mails at Letter Postage or conveyed oth-jover $100 per mile per annum; do. of the Serwise, at pleasure. third class, not over 50 per mile per annum :) Penalties accruing under this act shall be the Postmaster General to classify them. ment. THE NECESSITY FOR PROTECTION. PROTECTION is the fundamental necessity, to him under the social compact; in the unthe primary object, of all rightful govern disturbed and absolute use of the products of To protect each other against the fe- his own labor and skill, and in the right to lonious practices of the swindler, the burglar, employ advantageously all his faculties in the assassin, or the more formidable assaults the acquirement of an adequate subsistof barbarian hordes, of ambitious chieftains, ence. Sof invading armies, the members of a commu- Very few have ever denied to Government) nity unite to bear the burthens and submit to the right and duty of protecting its people the restrictions of natural right incidental to from overt acts of aggression and violence.the existence of government. Each individ- That an invading foe should be resisted, a ual, on his part, incurs the obligations, sub-law-breaking villain arrested and confined, mits to the restrictions, and assumes the bur- or a domineering, encroaching nation checked) then of citizenship, on the implied but palpa- and resisted, are propositions so plain that no ble contract of the government to protect him writer of note on Government has doubted or in the fall enjoyment of those rights reserved demurred to them. THE NECESSITY FOR PROTECTION. Now it cannot be seriously, considerately of suffering, stagnation and pecuniary loss; it denied, that a nation may be injured as cer- is not stable, for the first gleam of prosperity tainly and vitally by the policy of a rival as in our land-if such gleam could be under by its arms. An Order in Council, an act of that policy-would draw hither cargo after legislation, may cripple the Commerce and cargo of British goods, and ensure a repetiblight the Industry of a distant Nation, when tion of our disasters. Now the true and open hostility would have been wholly una-manifest policy of our Government, as it apvailing. The Navigation Act of Great Brit- pears most obvious to us, is to meet the again did more to destroy the commercial im-gressive policy of our rival at the outset-to portance of Holland than all the fleets that countervail duty by duty, restriction by reSever issued from Portsmouth and Plymouth. striction-to protect and foster our ManufacHistory is full of examples of the decline and tures as. fast and far as Britain at our exdestruction of nations from causes which they pense shall favor her Agriculture-and thus) failed clearly to recognize, but which later to preserve our People from the bottomless and clear-sighted observers have readily abyss of foreign debt and bankruptcy, exdetected in the grasping policy and deep- tend the sphere of their industry, and lay laid plans of a subtle and determined deep and enduring the bases of a substantial rival. National Independence of all foreign policy We hold it self-evident that it is as clearly whatever. (and fully the duty of a Government to guard Let us endeavor, by an illustration, to its citizens against the insidious influences of place this important truth in a yet clearer hostile foreign policy, as against the more di- light, and establish at the same time the wisrect and manly assaults of foreign armies.-dom and necessity of genuine Protection.And they insist that a wise and paternal We will take the case of Great Britain, a) Government will as carefully guard, as un-country of boundless wealth, experience and sleepingly watch against the machinations of skill in mechanical processes and arts, great foreign cabinets as the shock of hostile fleets and established facilities for all branches of and battalions. manufactures, and abundance of cheap labor; To illustrate this position, let us adduce a on the other hand we will set our own States case such as has substantially happened at of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois-States as least once in the history of our own country. yet mainly agricultural, imperfectly subdued Let us suppose that the great mass of our and tilled, with labor scarce and in demand, People are satisfactorily engaged in Agricul- and a soil yielding abundantly all the fruits tural pursuits, and that they obtain their of the earth. If Britain were wise enough manufactured goods by an exchange of their to take freely of these States their grain in) surplus Wheat for the fabrics and wares of exchange for her cloths and wares, it would) Great Britain. No duty, or a very moderate seem at first blush their manifest interest to one, for revenue merely, is charged on either procure of her their supplies of Manufactures. (side. At length, however, Great Britain re- Beyond doubt they might thus obtain their solves to produce all her own grain, and to goods for fewer dollars than by encouraging this end imposes a heavy, a prohibitory duty, their production on their own soil. But exSon its importation from abroad. By this act perience abundantly demonstrates that, in or Sour farmers are left without a market for der to buy their cloths of England at the their produce, its price depreciates, and it cheaper money prices at which they, being remains a drug on their hands. British fab- of trifling bulk, could undoubtedly be transrics are still pouring into our ports, are sold ported and sold, our Western farmers must for fewer dollars than it would cost to pro- sell their grain at such prices as would adduce them here, and thus fill all the channels mit of its transportation to England and sale of trade. What is the duty thereby imposed there in competition with the grain of all (on our Government? Free Trade affirms other countries. Estimating the average (that it should do nothing, but simply wait un- price of Wheat throughout the world at one (til the inevitable bankruptcy of our business dollar a bushel, it could hardly, under a sysclasses, the continued decline in price of our tem of Free Trade, command more than a great staples, the withdrawal of our specie dollar and a quarter in England; and, in and the degradation or destruction of our cir-view of the close proximity of the great culating medium, shall have reduced the grain-growing regions of Germany and Poprice of American Labor, and with it all re-land, with their cheap labor, we may well salts of Labor, so low that the Manufactures doubt that it would be so high. The effect of we need can be produced here at as low a absolute Free Trade would, therefore, be to money price as in England. This is what is supply the farmers of the West with British implied by leaving trade to 'regulate itself. Cloths at prices little above those of Leeds But we insist that it is neither a wise nor a and Birmingham, but to reduce the value of stable adjustment of the difficulty. It is not their own products far below that of the corwise, for it involves our People in an infinky responding products of Germany and Po |