m® 
Protection of Coarse Wool* 
say, there is a practical working in matters 
pertaining to the imposts levied on articles 
imported into this country from abroad, 
whether coming into competition with home 
productions or not, that frequently disap¬ 
points popular expectation, and differs in toto 
from the theoretical notions and cherished 
principles of the political economist. The 
opinions, therefore, of a practical man, who 
is thoroughly conversant with the effect of 
certain rates of duty, on any article, are par¬ 
ticularly desirable. 
When the present tariff was under discus¬ 
sion in the House, there was an intelligent 
and influential delegation of wool growers, 
whose information and opinions were fully 
considered, and to a great extent, incorpo¬ 
rated into the bill. This tariff has been in 
operation only four months, and its effects, 
as yet, cannot be determined. Our farmers 
do not expect even a crop of wheat within 
so short a time, much less a fruit-bearing 
orchard. 
We all know how easy a thing it is to de¬ 
stroy property, credit, currency, trade, and 
prosperity; and we know equally well, the 
difficulty and delay in restoring it. Confi¬ 
dence, it is justly said, is a plant of slow 
growth, and those who have unfortunately 
lost it, must not only diligently use the 
means, but patiently abide the time of its 
restoration. Prices have fallen, ruinously 
fallen, and every farmer and artisan in the 
United States is suffering from the general 
derangement and depreciation. The tariff, 
if maintained in its general scope with such 
modifications as may be found expedient, 
will unquestionably restore things to their 
wonted condition; especially if Congress 
adds to it, a safe, sound National Currency. 
But its progress without this other powerful 
aid, will be slow though sure. Time, how¬ 
ever, is requisite to give it full effect. The 
manufacturers of our country have been so 
often misled by a vascillating policy on the 
part of our Government, that they have be¬ 
come wary of embarking capital, when the 
uncertainties of protection are so great. But 
let it once be understood, that protection to 
American industry, at least for revenue, is 
the settled policy of this Union, and the hum 
of the spindle will be heard from Maine to 
Louisiana, and from the Atlantic to the Upper 
Mississippi, and the planter and the farmer 
may then rely on a steady demand for all 
their products, and at remunerating prices. 
On the subject of wool, especially coarse 
wool, we shall take the opinion of the Hon. 
Horace Everett, of Vermont, now a member 
of Congress, and a sound headed, practical, 
intelligent man, who has given much atten- 
tion to this subject. He says : 
6 ‘ None' but coarse wool, costing 7 cents and under, 
is admitted under the 5 per cent. duty. The term 
coarse will exclude Merino Wool of all grades, and the 
best of the staples of the native Wool: it was intended, 
particularly, to meet the mixed grades imported from 
Buenos Ayres. Another amendment provided that if 
wool of different kinds was imported in different bales, 
but in the same invoice and at the same price, the ad- 
valorem duty should be levied on the whole according 
to the value of the best bale. It had been practiced to 
Import five kinds of wool in separate bales, but at the 
same price, viz. the average price of the whole. This 
enabled the importer to enter the whole at a price un¬ 
der 8 cents. But under these two amendments, all 
lelting wool will be excluded from admission under the 
5 per cent. duty. 
The coarse long wool, used principally for blankets 
and carpets, does not very materially compete with any 
portion of our wool. The short felting wools, though 
coarse , do in some degree compete with a portion of 
ours. They are used in the manufacture of satinet's 
and negro cloths. There are, however, two considera¬ 
tions to oppose to this competition. The first is, that 
if coarse long wool was excluded, the manufacturers 5 
articles would come in, in their place; and the second 
is, that it is necessary to yield something to other in¬ 
terests to strengthen our own. 
We were alarmed at the great importation of felting 
wool in 1841, from Buenos Ayres, under 8 cents, and 
free of duty. The average prices before referred to, 
and the low prices there, occasioned by a long block¬ 
ade, alone enabled the importers thus to import it, and 
I assert my belief that, hereafter, no wool that our ma¬ 
nufacturers will use for making felted cloths, can be 
imported from that place as low as 7 cents :—nor even 
under 10 cents. 
By another amendment a specific duty of 3 cents per 
pound was added to the ad valorem duty. 
The effect of all these amendments will he to raise 
the duties on the low priced fine wools, and including 
most if not all the'felting wools from Buenos Ayres, as 
follows : 
On wool costing 4 cents per lb. 121 per cent duty. 
5 
6 « 
7 « 
8 « 
9 « 
10 « 
103 
90 
82 
78 
71 
67 
The duties in addition to the protection afforded by 
the charges of importation will, in my opinion, be an 
ample protection against the low priced wools from 
Buenos Ayres, or from any other quarter. The ques¬ 
tion is, to what point can this foreign competition re¬ 
duce the price of our wool—at what price per pound 
can wool of a staple equal to ours be imported ? 
The items which compose the cost of importation, are 
1. The price per pound, j 0 n these the ad 
2. 3 per cent, commission, f valorem duties 
3. 2 cents per pound for freight, t are assessed . 
and other charges on the freight, ) 
4. 1 per cent, insurance. 
5. 3 per cent, for six months interest on cost, from the 
the time of the order of purchase to the time of sale. 
6. 10 per cent, profit on cost, charges and duties. 
These are stated as the average rates. 
Another very important fact is, that the Buenos 
Ayres wool is imported in so foul a state that it takes 
