Jeffersonian Republican

Home Leagues.

We have inserted, in another column, the Constitution, and some of the Resolutions adopted by the Home League of Northampton County, in order to give our readers a more practical idea of those Societies which are working such wonders in favor of the depressed and dispirited operations of the United States. The object of the Home Leagues, as there expressed, is to bring about a proper protection for American Industry, and to secure reciprocal Commerce. This is to be effected by arousing the people to a sense of their present prostrate condition, and thus awakening a spirit throughout the land which will be felt in the Halls of Congress, and induce that body to enact laws to give protection to our manufacturers and laborers, by means of a good and sufficient Tariff.

According to the existing Tariff, our ports are open to the ships of every nation, whilst theirs are closed to us by heavy and onerous duties. The productions of France, and other countries, where the price of labour is but 10 cents per day, are imported here, and our honest and hard-working men undersold, because they cannot afford to labor for the same low wages. This is wrong; and we are called upon by every sense of right, to give full protection to our own industry.

To show how we are affected by foreign labor, for want of a sufficient Tariff, we will state one fact in illustration of our position. It is this. A few days ago a vessel arrived at Boston, from Havre, having on board, among other things, 6000 pair of Boots. These Boots, on account of the low rate of duty, can be sold for $2 less, per pair, than those of the same quality made in this Country. This is but one of many similar importations, and the consequence will be that many hundreds of our Boot and Shoe makers will be thrown out of employment, whilst we are affording a market for French 10 cent a day labor. It is pretty much the same with nearly every other article of American production—the same ruinous policy is pursued in relation to it, and our own industry is left to languish.

On the other hand, those countries, who thus fatten upon our prostration, keep up the duties on articles of our production, so as effectually to exclude them from their ports. England, for instance, although she pays but a nominal duty on all her imports to the United States, charges us $3 for every barrel of flour, and the same price for every barrel of sugar, we export to that country. We owe it to ourselves, and our people, to put a stop to these evils. If other countries will not receive our sugar, flour, rice, iron, coal, &c., in return for their productions, without charging us more duty than we charge them, we should exclude them by such restrictions as will fully protect our own industry. In order to effect this, union is necessary; and therefore these Home Leagues are formed. We are emphatically a laboring community in this County, and therefore have a deep interest in the protection of American Industry. Let us then join together in an association, and lend our aid in securing those beneficial results. Who then, in Stroudsburg, will deserve the thanks of his fellow citizens by moving first in this matter, and organizing a Home League for Monroe county?

HOME LEAGUE
of Northampton county.
CONSTITUTION.

Art. I. This association shall be denominated The Home League of the County of Northampton for the protection of American Industry and the promotion of reciprocal Commerce.

Art. 2. The officers of the League shall be a President, four Vice Presidents, a Corresponding Secretary and a Recording Secretary.

Art. 3. When a Central League for the State of Pennsylvania shall be formed, this League will become auxiliary to it under the regulations such central League shall adopt.

Art. 4. The stated meetings of this League shall be holden in the Borough of Easton on the first Thursday of every month.

Art. 5. A majority of the members of the League shall be competent at any stated meeting to suspend alter or amend any part of this Constitution.

The Committee also submitted the following resolutions:-

Whereas there is in the mining, manufacturing and agricultural operations in Northampton County, a great amount of Capital invested of which an exposition may be made by an enumeration of the following facts, viz: The investments in the coal trade in this county amount to seven millions of dollars.

The investments in sixty flouring mills in the county amount to one million and a half of dollars.

The investments in the manufacture of Iron amount to five hundred thousand dollars.

The investments in tanneries amount to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars besides investments to a large amount in cotton, woollen and other manufactures.

And whereas these products and manufactures are taxed on their importation into England and other European countries, with a duty that operates almost to their entire exclusion, while similar products and manufactures from these foreign countries are admitted into our ports at a duty which affords little more than a nominal protection to our own producers and manufactures.

And whereas the interests of the capitalists and laboring men engaged in the mining, manufacturing and agricultural operations in this county are essentially dependent upon and involved in the proper protection of the staple productions herein before enumerated, therefore

Resolved, That the permanent prosperity of this county requires the imposition of a discriminating Tariff, that will properly protect its vast and valuable iron, coal, woollen, leather, and agricultural interests against foreign competition, which is destructive, because wanting in reciprocity.

Resolved, That the enormous duties, imposed by the British government upon American commerce and American products require the government of the United States in justice to its own citizens, so to adjust the Tariff that in raising Revenue, American manufactures, products and commerce may be protected, and the industry of our laboring citizens be preserved from ruinous competition.

Resolved, That we instruct the member of Congress from this district, and recommend to the other members of Congress from the State of Pennsylvania, to use all proper means to procure the enactment of a law imposing a discriminating and protective Tariff.

Resolved, That we recommend to the Tariff Convention about to meet at Harrisburg to form for the state of Pennsylvania, a central association to be denominated the Home League for the promotion of reciprocal commerce and the protection of American Industry.

Which, on motion, were adopted by the meeting.