It was not one of those Superior Councils of Industry (Committee on the Revision of the Tariff), where large manufacturers, who style themselves laborers, influential ship-builders who imagine themselves seamen, and wealthy bondholders who think themselves workmen, meet and legislate in behalf of that philanthropy with whose nature we are so well acquainted.
No, they were workmen "to the manor born," real, practical laborers, such as joiners, carpenters, masons, tailors, shoemakers, blacksmiths, grocers, etc., etc., who had established in my village a Mutual Aid Society. Upon my own private authority I transformed it into an Inferior Council of Labor (People's Committee for Revising the Tariff), and I obtained a report which is as good as any other, although unencumbered by figures, and not distended to the proportions of a quarto volume and printed at the expense of the State.
The subject of my inquiry was the real or supposed influence of the protective system upon these poor people. The President, indeed, informed me that the institution of such an inquiry was somewhat in contravention of the principles of the society. For, in France, the land of liberty, those who desire to form associations must renounce political discussions—that is to say, the discussion of their common interests. However, after much hesitation, he made the question the order of the day.
The assembly was divided into as many sub-committees as there were different trades represented. A blank was handed to each sub-committee, which, after fifteen days' discussion, was to be filled and returned.
On the appointed day the venerable President took the chair (official style, for it was only a stool) and found upon the table (official style, again, for it was a deal plank across a barrel) a dozen reports, which he read in succession.
The first presented was that of the tailors. Here it is, as accurately as if it had been photographed:
RESULTS OF PROTECTION—REPORT OF THE TAILORS.
| Disadvantages. | Advantages. |
| 1. On account of the protective tariff, we pay more for our own bread, meat, sugar, thread,etc., which is equivalent to a considerable diminution of our wages. | None. |
| 2. On account of the protective tariff, our patrons are also obliged to pay more for everything, andhave less to spend for clothes, consequently we have less work and smaller profits. | 1. We have examined the question in every light, and have been unable to perceive a single point in regard to which the protectivesystem is advantangeous our trade. |
| 3. On account of the protective tariff clothes, are expensive, and people make them wear longer,which results in a loss of work, and compels us to offer our services at greatly reduced rates. |
Here is another report:
EFFECTS OF PROTECTION—REPORT OF THE BLACKSMITHS.