ment. The struggle was long and fierce. The pow-
er and interests of the British nobility were arrayed
against a starving community, and the struggle end-
ed by a defeat of the lords, and the adoption of the
principles of free trade.
By the reduction of the tariff, the agricultural
products of other nations were admitted into Eng-
land. The importer was enabled to purchase at .
lower prices, and could therefore sell a larger amount
of food for a smaller sum of money than under
the former prohibitory tariffs, and in this way the
producers in the United States are enabled to find
a foreign market for their surplus produce.
As an excuse for adhering to the protective poli-
23
354 II IS TO KY OF THE
cy, when hard pressed for arguments, the whig party
insist that it had its origin with the establishment of
our Government, and that the fathers of the Re-
public sanctioned it. It is well to examine this po-
sition, because we are inclined to pay respect to the
acts and opinions of those who cemented our liber-
ties with their blood. It is only necessary, to show
the fallacy of the assertion that the earlier Presi-
dents sanctioned high duties, to refer to the tariffs
which were passed between the years 1789 and
181V.*
* Tariff Act of July 4, 1789.
On molasses, per gallon, 2| cents ; on malt, per bushel, 10 cents ; on
brown sugars, per pound, 1 cent ; loaf sugars, per pound, 3 cents ; all
other sugars, per pound, 1^ cents; on coffee, per pound, 2" cents; on
boots, per pair, 50 cents; on all shoes and slippers made of leather, per
pair. 7 cents ; on all steel unwrought, for every 112 pounds, 56 cents; on
all nails and spikes, per pound, 1 cent ; on salt, per bushel, 6 cents ; on
coal, per bushel, 2 cents ; on bohea tea, per pound, 6 cents ; all hyson teas,
per pound, 20 cejits ; on all writing, printing, or wrapping paper, paper-
hangings, and pasteboard, 1\ percent, ad valorem ; on all buttons, saddles,
batts of beaver, wool, or mixture of either, on millinery ready made, cast-
ings of iron, slit and rolled iron, and on clothing ready made, 7| per cent,
ad valorem.
Tariff Act of 1792.
Steel, per hundred weight, 100 cents ; nails, per pound, 2 cents ;
shoes and slippers of silk, 20 cents ; all other shoes and slippers for men
and women, clogs and galoshes, 10 cents; on cables, for every 112
pounds, 180 cents; on tarred cordage, for every 112 pounds, 180 cents;
looking-glass, window, and other glass, 15 per cent, ad valorem ; cast, slit,
and rolled iron, hats, raps, and bonnets, sail-cloth, cabinet wares, and ge-
nerally all manufactures of iron, steel, tin. pewter, copper, brass, &c, not
beinf otherwise particularly enumerated, 10 per cent, ad valorem.
Tariff Act of 1794.
On coffee, per pound, 1 cent ; clayed or lump sugar, per pound, 1
cent ; on boots, per pair, 25 cents ; on shoes and slippers, for men and
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 355
An argument much used by the protectionists
is based upon the fact, that manufactured goods
have fallen in price within the last thirty years.
women, 5 cents ; on coal, per bushel, A cent ; on slit, cast, and rolled iron,
and, generally, on all manufactures of iron, steel, tin, pewter, copper, and
brass, not otherwise enumerated, 5 per cent, ad valorem ; on all manufac-
tures of cotton or linen, or of muslins of cotton or linen, or of which cot-
ton or linen is the material or chief fabric, being printed, stained, or co-
lored, 5 per cent, ad valorem.
Tariff Act of March 3, 1797.
" An Act for raising a further sum of money by additional duties on
certain articles imported, and for other purposes.
" That from and after the 30th day of June next, the following duties,
in addition to those now in force and payable on the several articles herein-
after enumerated, shall be laid and levied and collected upon those articles
respectively, at their importation into the United States from any foreign
port or place.
" On all brown sugars, per pound, | cent ; on all bohea tea, per pound,
2 cents ; on all molasses, per gallon, 1 cent ; and on all velvets and velve-
rets, whether stained, printed, colored, or otherwise, and upon all muslins,
muslinets, and other cotton goods, not printed, stained, or colored. 2\ per
cent, ad valorem."
There was also a section providing that after the 30th of June an
additional duty of 10 per cent, should be levied on the aforesaid articles
imported in foreign ships.
Tariff' of March 26, 1804, (during the Administration of Jefferson,)
called the Mediterranean Fund.
" An Act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United
States against the Barbary Powers.
" A duty of 2i/ per centum ad valorem in addition to the duties now
imposed by law, [aforesaid act of March 3d, 1797,] shall be laid, levied,
and collected upon all goods, wares, and merchandise, paying a duty ad
valorem, which shall, after the 30th day of June next, be imported into the
United States from any foreign port or place."
The act provided an additional duty of 10 per cent, upon goods,
wares, and merchandise, imported in vessels not of the United States.
The act further provided that a distinct account should be kept of the
fund, and that the additional duty should cease as soon as the difficulties
should be adjusted with the Barbary Powers.
356 m story of the
That assumption is correct, but the error they com-
mit is in not attributing it to the right cause. They
assert that it is the result of the protective system.
It can hardly be assumed that our revenue laws
haw produced a reduction in the price of manufac-
tured goods throughout the world. Prices have
been reduced in England, as well as in this country.
When alluding to the results which are to follow
competition among our own manufacturers, they
forget that there is a competion among foreigners
for our market, which has had the effect of keeping
down prices. Mechanical skill has made wonderful
improvements in the machinery which has been
substituted for hand labor, and the low price of the
raw material, and of food, ;is forests melt away be-
fore the progress of civilization, and broad acres
yield their harvests as the fruits of labor, are by no
means unimportant causes for the fall in the price
of manufactured goods, within the last quarter of a
century. But the great question for the country to
consider is the comparative price of manufactured
Tariff Act of 1816, during Madison's Administration.
On all articles manufactured from brass, copper, iron, steel, pewter,
lead, or tin, cutlery, pins, needles, buttons, cannon, muskets, and fire-arms,
20 per cent, ad valorem ; on woollen manufactures, of all descriptions, or
of which wool is the material of chief value, (excepting blankets, woollen
rugs, and worsted or stuff' goods,) 25 per cent, ad valorem, until June,
1819, and after that day 20 per cent, ad valorem; on all cotton manufac-
tures, of all descriptions, or of which cotton is the material of chief value,
and on cotton twist, yarn, or thread, as follows : for three years next ensu-
ing the 13th day of June, 1816, 25 per cent, ad valorem, and after that
time 20 per cent, ad valorem ; on iron, in bars and bolts, (excepting iron
manufactured by rolling,) por hundred weight, 45 cents; on boots, per
pair. 150 cents.
POLK ADMINISTRATION.
357
articles previous and subsequent to the passage of
the act of 1842, and before and since the act of
1846 went into operation*
* Wholesale price of domestic goods on the first day of August, 1842, and
1844, taken from the sales-books of the selling agents, and
copied into the New- York Morning News.
TABLE I.
Brown cotton flannels, Hamilton, per yard,
Glasgow jeans, per yard, .....
Sheep's gray casinets, per yard,
37-inch brown sheetings, In. Head, per yard,
37-inch brown sheetings, Oella B., per yard,
37-inch brown sheetings, Savage factory, per yard,
37-inch brown sheetings, Stark company, per yard,
37-inch brown sheetings, Thistle factory, per yard,
27-inch brown sheetings, Thistle factory, per yard,
37-inch brown sheetings, Patuxent company, per yard,
44-inch Osnaburgs, grays, Patapsco factory, per yard,
Penitentiary plaids and stripes, per yard,
Salisbury company scarlet flannels, No. 12 to 26 inclusive,
Merrimack blue prints, per yard, ....
Fall River blue prints, per yard, ....
Maverick sattinets, per yard, ....
per yd,
1842.
cts.
10J
17
30
74
7
8
7
64
5
74
104
10
18
114
10
574
1844.
cts.
Hi
19
45
8i
8
6i
8i
12
114
254
H4
10J
75
I now give the price of iron in the New-York market on the 30th
July, in each of the years of 1842 and 1845.
TABLE II.
ARTICLES.
1842.
1845.
Bar, Russia, P. S. I.,
$102 50 to $105 00
$
102 50 to $105 00
Swedes, ....
80 00
85 00
American rolled, .
65 00 to
70 00
85 00
Sheet iron (Rus.) per lb. .
00 13J, to
00 14
13
Sheet iron (English and Ame-
rican) per lb.
00 05 to
00 054
07 to
074
Hoops (English and Ameri-
can) per cwt.
4 25 to
4 76
5 50 to
6 50
I now give the prices of sugar in the New- York market on the same
day of the month, in the same years.
TABLE III.
ARTICLES.
1842.
1845.
St. Croix, per lb. ....
New Orleans, per lb. .
Havana, white, per lb.
Havana, brown, per lb.
5$ cts. to 8i cts
3i to 44
74 to 9
4|
6$ cts. to 8 cts.
5 to 7|
10 to 10§
74 to 9
358
HISTORY OF TIIE
If the price of manufactured goods increases
under the operation of a protective tariff, surely the
fanner should receive a compensation therefor in the
Lastly, I give the prices of certain other articles in the New-York
market in the month of June of each of the years of 1843 and 1844,
taken from the New-York Evening Post.
TABLE IV.
Dover prints, per yard, .
.Merrimack prints, per yard,
Chickopee 1). brown sheetings, per yard,
Amoskeag, brown, per yard,
Summer pantaloon stuffs, per yard,
Boott-mill cotton, per yard,
Scarlet, white, and yellow flannels, per yard,
Scarlet, white, and yellow flannels, per yard,
Scarlet, white, and yellow flannels, per yard,
Broadcloths, per yard, ....
Broadcloths, per yard, .
1843. 1844.
£0 07*
Hi
O64
Oof
12J
08
18
20
27
2 00
2 374
j$0 Hi
134
084
08$
16
o to
25
27i
35
2 50
3 50
From the July Ni
of Hunt's
Merchants'
Magazine,
1844.
January,
January,
January, January,
January,
ARTICLES.
1840,
1841.
L842. 1843.
1844,
Iron anvils, per lb.
$00 09 i
.$00 09 i
$00 08 i $00 08 i
$00 084
Bars, common English rolled,
per ton,
76 25
71 25
52 50
53 75
53 75
Bars, refined English rolled,
93 75
87 50
76 25
67 50
67 50
Bars, American refined,
90 00
85 00
77 50
65 00
67 50
Blooms, American,
GO 00
52 50
50 00
47 50
52 50
Nails, wrought, per lb.
o in,
o 114
o 104
09
09
Nails, cut, per lb.
05*
o 054
054
03|
04*
Pigs, per ton,
35 25
32 50
31 00
25 00
27 50
Scythes, per dozen,
13 mi
12 50
12 50
9 00
9 00
Shovels, per dozen, .
10 00
9 50
9 00
7 25
7 25
Now, if competition, under the tariff of 1842, is to bring down the
price of the manufactured article, according to their theory, why not carry
it out in practice?
Of the sixteen articles specified in table No. 1 , fourteen have increased
in price from 1842 to 1844 ; two remain at the same cost.
There are six articles contained in table No. 2 ; four have increased in
price from 1842 to 1845; one has not varied, one has slightly fallen.
Of the four articles contained in tahle No. 3, every one rose in value
from 1842 to 1845.
POLK ADMINISTRATION.
359
increased price of his agricultural products. This,
however, is very far from being the case," and while
he is forced to pay more for the goods which he is
Eleven articles are specified in table No. 4 ; every one enhanced in
price from June, 1843, to June, 1844.
" From Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, May No., 1845.
Prices of manufactured articles in the New- York Market at different
periods.
1843.
1844.
ARTICLES.
October.
February.
April 20;
June 8.
Sept. 7.
Cordage, American, per 100
lbs
$12 00
$12 00
$12 00
$12 00
$12 00
Cotton bagging, Ky., per 100
yds. ....
16 00
16 00
16 00
17 00
17 00
Lead, pig, per 100 lbs.
3 45
3 55
3 30
3 45
3 47
Molasses, N. 0., per 100 gals.
27 00
32 00
30 00
31 00
32 00
Steel, per 100 lbs. .
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
Sugar, N. 0., per 100 lbs. .
6 87
7 25
7 37
7 25
7 00
From Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, September 1849.
Prices of New Orleans Cotton in New- York for the year.
Ordinary a
Middling a
Middlin
g fair
Fully fair
2. .
Inferior.
good ord'nry.
good mid'ing
a lair.
a good fair.
September
. 5 a5i
5} a 6
64 a 63
7 a
74
73 a 84
"
13..
. 5 a5J
54 a 6
64 a 64
63 a
74
73 a 84
October
1. .
. 5 a5|
5-jj- a 6
64 a 6g
53 a
71
74 a 84
"
14..
. 5 a 54
5ia5I
6 a 6|
64 a
7
74 a 73
November
1..
. 4> a 5
54 a 5|
5| a 6|
64 a
6|
7 a 74
"
14..
. 4} a 4i
5i a 5i
5s a C
64 a
61
63 a 74
December
1. .
. .. a5
54 a 5f
5J a 6|
64 a
65
7 a 74
"
13..
. 5 a5|
5| a 5}
6 a 6f
64 a
7
74 a 8
January
1..
o\ a 54
6 a 63
64 a 6|
7 a
74
73 a 84
"
15..
. . a . .
64 a 6£
63 a 7
7§a
73
8 a 84
February
1. .
. . a . .
6| a 6|
7 a 7|
74 a
8
84 a 8|
"
14..
. . a . .
6| a 6|
7 a 74
74 a
84
84 a 9
March
1. .
. . a . .
6ia6|
7 a 7|
7.W
84
84 a 9
"
14..
. . a . .
6|a7
74 a 7|
74 a
8
84 a 9
April
1..
. . a . .
fr: a 6|
7 a 71
74 a
8
84 a 9
"
18..
. . a . .
64 a 6i
63 a 74
74 a
71
8 a 84
May
1. .
. . a . .
6| a 6§
6| a 74
74 a
8
84 a 8|
"
15..
. . a . .
6i a 61
7 a 74
7f a
84
84 a 9
June
1. .
. . a . .
6f a7|
7| a 73
8 a
84
9 a 94
"
18..
. . a . .
6ji a 7
7f a 73
8 a
84
9 a 94
July
1. .
. . a . .
7 a 74
73 a 84
84 a
84
94 a 10
"
15..
• 7 a 74
7Ja 84
84 a 9
94 a
10
... a . . .
August
1. .
. 74 a 8
8| a 83
94 a 93
10 a
104
103a ...
"
8..
. 8 a8i
83 a 94
94 a 10
104 a
n
11 a ...
360
HISTORY OF THE
compelled to have, lie is obliged to take less for the
productions of his farm. Nor does an increased
consumption appear to follow the passage of a pro-
From Hum's Merchants' Magazine, May No. 1845.
Prices of United States produce in the New- York market, at different
periods.
Cotton, N.O.,feir, p. 100. lbs.
Flour, western, bbl.
Wheat, western, bush.
Rye, bush.
Corn, bush.
Beef, mess, per bbl.
Butter, per ion lbs.
Cheese, per 100 lbs. .
Tobacco, Kentucky,
October.
Feb. 14.
April 20.
June 8.
Sept. 7.
$ 8 75
.$10 75
$ 8 87
$ 8 25
$ 7 50
4 50
4 95
5 06
4 56
4 25
1! «).-,
1 05
1 12
98
92
65
70
71
65
67
52
48
54
47
46
6 75
G 25
6 50
6 50
5 75
14 00
1G 00
18 00
15 00
11 00
5 50
5 50
7 00
5 50
5 50
G 50
6 50
6 50
G 00
6 00
From the New- York Journal of Commerce.
ARTICLES.
1840.
1844.
Beef, mess, per bbl. .......
$14 25
$5 25
Beef, prime, per bbl. ......
10 00
3 25
Pork, mess, per bbl. .......
15 00
8 50
Butter, prime, per lb. ......
17
10
Hams, smoked, per lb. ......
10i
05
Flour, per bbl., Genesee,
4 75
4 50
Flour, per blil., Ohio, .......
4 43
4 37*
Corn meal, per bbl. ......
2 87i
2 00
Wheat, per bush. .......
1 00
96
Corn, northern, per bush. .....
56
50
Corn, southern, per bush. ......
52
47
From Hunt's Merchants' Magazine for November, 1845.
Prices of Cotton at Mobile, in the month of October, in the following years.
Years.
1036
1842
1844
1845
Frio- per lb.
16 to 20 cents.
7i to 8£ cents.
6 to 8 cents.
5i to 6^ cents.
POLK ADMINISTRATION.
361
tective tariff,* If the subject of the cotton manufac-
tures is one of surpassing interest to the growers
of cotton and grain,*)* their interests have certainly
not been increased by the passage of the tariff of
1842.
The protection of the American laborer against
the paupers of Europe, is a subject of anxious care
From Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, April No., 18-15.
Prices of Cotton in Liverpool in 1844 and 1845.
Upland, ordinary to middling,
Fair to good fair,
Good to fine, ....
New Orleans, ordinary to middling,
Fair to good fair,
Good,
Choice marks, ....
Alabama, ordinary to middling,
Fair to good fair,
Mobile, ordinary to middling,
Fair to good fair,
Good to fine,
1844.
1.',
to
5
5g
to
54
5|
to
5|
44
to
54
5g
to
5|
5*
to
(1
H
to
7
-H
to
4$
5
to
5}
44
to
5J
• ' 8
to
54
r-, ■
to
6
1845.
cts.
3J to 3|
4i to 4|
44 to 5
3 8 L to 4£
4| to 4J
5 to 54
5£ to 7
3 to 34
3J to 4}
3 to 4
43 to 44
4| to 5j
Fallen In every instance, notwithstanding the tariff of 184
1842.
1843.
1845.
ARTICLES.
Cords of wood per annum,
3,580
3,090
3,270
Pounds of cotton consumed,
28,764,000
22,568,000
24,128,000
Tons anthracite coal per annum,
11.no
12,300
12,500
Gallons of oil per annum,
78,689
80,189
67,842
Consumption of starch, pounds per annum,
800,000
800,000
800,000
Consumption of flour for starch in mills,
print works, and bleaching, barrels per
annum, .....
4,000
4,000
4,000
Consumption of charcoal, bushels per ann.
600,000
6OO.11111)
600,00
* Statistics of Lowell manufactures, compiled from authentic sources
by the manufacturers themselves, January 1842, '43, '45.
f "The subject of the cotton manufactures is one of surpassing in-
terest to the grower of cotton, the grower of grain, and the manufacturer
himself." — National Intelligencer, May 25th, 1846.
362 IIISTOKY OF THE
with those who favor the protective policy. Scarce-
ly is a speech delivered, or an editorial written, but
this matter is referred to, always coupled with the
a— ill ion, that a high tariff enables the manufactu-
rer- to give increased wages to the operatives; and
with more than ordinary complacency have they
dwelt upon this branch of the subject. The Whig
party have made much political capital out of this
a run 11 lent, without being sustained by facts* I
* It will appear by an examination of the statistics made out in Janu-
ary, 1842, that the amount of wages paid a month, was —
In January, 1842 $170,000
In January, 1843 150,000
In January, 1845 138,500
Less in 1843 than in 1842 20,000
Less in 1845 than in 1842 .... 31,500
This is saving quite a liberal sum, especially when we take into consi-
deration the language of Mr. Hudson, that the laborer " must share with
his employer the profits of the business by the increased rate of his icages."
To that operation, so interesting to the laborer, I come now to remark
upon. The average wages of females, clear of board, per week, was —
In 1842 $2 00
In 1843 1 75
In 1845 1 75
Average wages of males, clear of board, per day, was —
In 1842 80 cents.
In 1843 70 cents.
In 1845 70 cents.
Here is an illustration, I suppose, of the doctrine of Mr. Hudson, that
the laborer " must share with his employer in the profits of the business
by i'h increased rate of his wages." It was bad enough to lower the wa-
ges of the men 10 cents per day ; but it was truly ungallant for the lords
of tli.' spindle, who are making princely fortunes out of the labor of the
females, to strike down their wages from $2 to $1 75 per week. I call
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 363
have taken the statistics furnished by the manufac-
turers at Lowell for the purpose of illustrating the
absurdity of the argument which has obtaiued so
particular attention to these facts, because it has been denied that the
wages of the females have been reduced since the passage of the tariff of
1842.
But let us see if, while the wages of the females are falling off instead
of increasing, tliey 'perform less labor.
In 1842 the total number of females employed at Lowell was 7,430
In 1843 6,375
More in 1842 than in 1843 1,055
Number of yards manufactured in 1842 . . . 73,853,400
Number of yards manufactured in 1843 . . . 70,275,400
More in 1842 than in 1843 3,578,000
Although there were 1055 more females in 1842 than in 1843, yet
they manufactured only 3,578,000 yards more.
In 1842 there were 1110 more female operatives than in 1845, yet
they manufactured 2,019,800 yards more in 1845 than they did in 1842.
There were 55 more female operatives in 1843 than in 1845, yet they
manufactured 5,597,800 yards more in 1845 than in 1843.
The following extract from a letter to the Hon. Mr. Clemens, of Ala-
bama, from Clementine Averill, published in the New York Tribune, of
March 19, 1850, shows that under low duties the wages of the operatives
have again increased.
Letter from a Factory Girl to Senator Clemens.
Lowell, Mass., Wednesday, March 6, 1850.
Mr. Clemens — Sir : In some of the late papers I have read several
questions which you have asked concerning the New England operatives.
They have been well answered, perhaps, but enough has not yet been
said ; and I deem it proper that the operatives should answer for them-
selves. First, you wish to know what pay we have ? I will speak only
for the girls, and think I am stating very low, when I say that we average
$2 a week, beside our board.
Hundreds of girls in these mills clear from $3 to $6 a week ; but some
who have not been here long, and are not much used to the work, do not
364 HISTORY OF THE
much favor with the whig party. It should not be
forgotten that Lowell, "the Manchester of America, 1 '
i> the largest manufacturing city in the United
States, and therefore no objection can be made to
the facts which are adduced, and the deductions
which necessarily follow.
In every aspect in which the policy of free trade,
as illustrated by the tariff of 1846, can be viewed,
it commends itself to the favorable consideration of
the American people. It is incontestably true that
trade between nations, to be extensive, must be be-
neficial to both. A fair exchange of the produc-
tions of one for the other, can alone produce that
result. A determination upon the part of one Gov-
ernment to obtain specie in exchange for its produc-
tions, will result in diminished resources, and a crip-
pled commerce. Since the establishment of libera]
commercial relations between the United States
and Great Britain, the trade between the two coun-
tries has immeasurably increased. While the sub-
ject- of the English Government are enabled to
purchase a larger quantity of food, the citizens of
our own country can obtain for a certain sum of
money a greater amount of merchandise.*
make quite .$2. If mv wages are ever reduced lower than that I shall
seek employment elsewhere.
* '-The British Empire took from us (not daring the year of famine,
ae it is called, of 1847, but in 1848) our domestic exports, including cot-
ton, rice, tobacco, breadstuff's, and provisions, exclusive of specie, to the
value of S78.741.416. and Greal Britain and Ireland, of the value of
$64,222,268." — Report of the Secretary of the Treasury, December 9,
1848.
■■ It appears that for the year ending June 30, 1848, (not a famine,
but for abundant crops in Europe,) our exports of breadstuffs and provi-
POLK ADMINISTRATION. 365
The tariff of 1846 was passed during the exist-
ence of a foreign war, when all the resources of the
country were required for its vigorous prosecution.
And yet it fully met the expectations and require-
ments of the Government. While the financial re-
vulsions in England in 1.847, almost destroyed the
public credit in that country, the bonds of the Uni-
ted States were sold at a premium. Not only was