The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-02-12 00:00:00

fg: 117.'9 niti

• .p.

PRICE 7u.

ON THE EFFECT OF OUR COMMARCIAL
RESTRICTIONS.
It runt be sufficiently obvious to all writers on poli-
tical economy, that restrictions on trade injuriously em-
harass our commercial relations with the Continent.—
Impedetrue to a considerable extent is absolutely ne-
cessary to our prosperity as a great exporting country.
We make large exports, fur instance, of manufactures to
America, the West Indies, ludia, am. Returns come,
either in raw materials, such as cotton, to he tuansfac-
tared in this country, or in coffee, sugar, and various
other articles, some of which, not being the groith of
the British plantations, are nut permitted to be eon.
snmed at biome, and must therefore find a market abroad.
Now, for ftscrehanoliae sent to a foreign market, the only
return, frequeotleL which can be obtained. it tles
dice of the country where the sales are effected ; and
this is peculiarly the case in the present state of Rurope.
But our prohibitory laws have shut our ports against
such articles as our continental neighbours could have
given iu exchange for our exports, and better a stagna-
tion has necessarily taken place to the discouragement
of almost every branch of one commercial Sfstem.
There is another restriction on our commerce with the
Continent, viz., the transit duty un foreign linens. By
this legislative measure, an impost of fifty per cent. is
laid on all linens manufactured in fine*n parts, which
paw through this country to a foreign mart. The effect
of this regulation way easily be explained. A merchant
in Cuba, fin example, wishes to transmit his goods for
sale to Britain, as a convenient and profitable market :
but Ise must take into account the nature of the returns
lie is to receive. He find., perhaps, in his own island,
a great demand for linens of routinental manufacture.
hut he cannot obtain these in this country except by
paving a tax amounting to one half of the original value.
111. at then will lie do ? The answer is obvious. Unless,
on his calculation of profits, he finds that the advantage
of trading with Britain is so great as to compensate the
dirollvantage of losing a profitable article of sale, he
will avoid our ports iu which surto an illiberal policy
prevails, and go direct to the Continent, where, in Bre.
men, liatoburgh, St. Petersburgh, or the marts of Hol-
land, be will procure the gnats hr reotires,fere 19. all
impost. If our Legislators bad set themselves down
with the iutentioti of contriving in what manner they
could brit drive commerce from unr doors, how could
they have fallen on a inure effectual expedient? The
renew for this restriction is a tenderness fur oar Irish
linen manufaeturers; or, as the President of the Board
of Trade has himself explained it, the duty is confirmed
" to satisfy the pre:jollier," of that class of subjects.—
There is not, however, a truth iu the whole circle of r- •
litical economy more capable of strict demonstration
than that a mantsfactnre, which requires to be bolstered
up by the exclusion of fair competition, is hurtful to
the country which encourages it, and ought, on every
consideration of sound policy, to be left to its fate.--
It dors seem strings, that in an enlightenodeonsire
like Britain—a country, tote depending, almost fur
existence, on the wisilinu of its mercantile police—
such a concession sl Id be made to the prejudices
of any body of men, after the principle on which
it is 'founded has been rundetioneil. But this is one
of the disadvantages of a free government. It is a tax
which we have to pay for our liberties: and therefore
must nut lw too severely reprobated, however steeply
it may be regretted. In an arbitrary government one
dash of the autocrat's pen may Abolish a whole system
of impolitic regulations ; and the trembling slaves who
suffer by the change nuts' sink to ruin without a min-
now. hut in Britain the case is altogether different.
The rights and the claims of all branches of the coalmine
pity must, in this land of freed ttttt , be carefully can•
vassed and minutely examined ; exclusive privileges
must not be abolished without remuneration; even the
prejsilires of the people must be consulted; and thin,
at every turn, the administration finds its operations
cramped and itopedeol by contending a icws and opposing
ic
interests. Heine the difficulty of effecting chap es in
the policy of this country, even after the inex iency r
and folly of the system in actual operation as been
proved, to the couviction of every rational mind ; and
hence the extraordinary fact which has tilled foreigners
with astonishment and disgust, that the native country
of Adam Smith should be among the last to adopt' that
liberal and sound policy which he was among the first
to develop* and rntorce. But the progress of improve-
ment in a nation of freemen, though sometimes impeded
by circumstances' is certain and irresistible. As the
imblic sentiment becomes more and mare ealighsanete
the claims of the few must yield to the rights and the
interests of the many. Commercial restrictions and mo-
nopolies must fall one by one; and the good sense and
enlarged views of the nation most rouse at last to be telt
in every department on our political economy.
The restrictive nature of our navigaCon act is lumber
subject to which the consideration of government ought
to be seriously directed. That act provides against tie
importatiou of foreign roods except in British vessel'.
or 111 such foreign vessels as belting to the subjects vl
the couutry where these goods have been produced or
manufactured. The object of this law is to preserve to,
our own merchantmen the ttttt noply of the carrying
trade. But observe the consequence of this narrow Fa-
hey. The American government, whine wise principb.
is the general freed of trade, r bitted with counter.
veiling restrictions against all nation, whirls adept the
restrictive system. bay,' inrne:l the tables on us, lov pass-
ing au art exactly the counterpart of ours; declaring,
however, at the same time, that " this regulation
shall not extend to the vessels of any foreign uatiooi
which has not adopted. and which shall not adept, :o
similar regulation.- The effect of this law is, this s•o
long as our navigation act is in force, no Baltic, French,
or other foreign produce. ran be shipped to the I•lairec.
States in a British vessel, either from the countries of
their production, or from Herat Britain, sailboat loth.
jecsing the goods and vessel to contiscatiou: The au-
vantage of the navigation act must he great indeed, if
it counterbalances this most grievous restraint ou our
commercial enterprise.
Another branch of our restrictive policy, as it efferte
the United States, relates to our colonies. We have
prectu.led all direct intercourse between vessels belongi rug •
to that country and our West India possessions, the per
of Bermuda alone excepted; and, in retatiatien. Congress.
hare enacted, " that the ports of the United States -.11411
be and remain closed against ewer vessei owned by if
subject or subjects of hisßritannic Majesty, which is, or
shall be, by the ordivary laws of navigation ur trade,
closed against Times of the United States," Inc. IN-.--.
The same act obligee the consignee or agent 41 British
vessels departing front the 'American States, to give bond '.,
that the article shipped belinskj in some port whint be,
not closed against vessels belonging to the l'oriuto.
Thus the direct trade between the United States and the,
British colonies in the Wee: holies is closed to the yes-
eels of &At amosirias. By the late speech of the Am.
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