The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-02-28

gfegate OF exports Tor preceding years, TAI
though this may show falling off, does not
present fair view Of the subject, because, in
a country growing so rapidly ss the United
States, every year must naturally increase the
amount of production in ratio proportioned
TO the increase ofpopulation. We can judge
more correctly of the practical effects of our
high duties by a reference to the amount Of
exports to different places. Madeira, while
our duties were moderate, took large quanti-
ties Of our produce, but, comparatively, a very
email quantity has found market there since
our duties, upon her produce, have been SD
high as almost TO amount TO a Prohibition
Other markets might be referred to as illustra-
tions OF their practical effect. Madeira still
wants the same articles, but she obtains them
elsewhere. Ii she would take our produce,
we cannot take her produce, because we
make loss on the sale of it. In trade with
that place the exporter must make profit on
the sale Of his outward cargo sufficient to CON-
pensate the loss to which our exorbitant duty
subjects him on a sale of return cargo. To
do this he must obtain his outward cargo, the
produce Of the farmer and the planter. at
low price. The farmer must, therefore, sell
his produce at low price, while he is oblig-
ed TO pay an extravagsntly high price for eve
~ article of foreign produce or manufacture
in consequence Of high duties. 1t is by this
policy, at least in part, that we lose foreign
markets, and the loss Of them, it is manifest,
has direct tendency to depress and PROSTATE
the agricultural interest.
When our duties were moderate, we made
fair profits on the sale of West-lndie produce;
hut, since our duties have been very high,
great losses have been sustained on return car
goes hence, we take a large proportion OF
returns in specie. This indicates bad state
Of trade. The value of imports from the Brit
ish West-ludies to the United States, in the
year ending Sept 80, 1924, was 2,587,O67
dollars, of which 826, 1879 dollars was iii spe-
Gle. In 1926, the proportion was nearly the
same. If, by our own policy, we prohibit or
diminish the importation OF wooens from En-
gland, we shall find a correspondent diminu-
ton Of demand for our produce in the British
market. Speculation and theory may pre-
sumo that, if England wants produce, she will
take it of us whether we do or do not take her
manufactures; but experience contradlcts
this presumption. The theory OF commerce
or trade between natiunsi is, substantially, bar
ter or exchange and, although the operations
Of commerce are frequently complex, and the
proceeds of sales, in one market, are RENTED
to, and invested in, the produce or mahuiac-
lures of another market; still the result is,
that we pay for our imports by our exports.-
Not only will the prohibition oil British manu-
features diminish the amount OF our exports
direct 20 that market, but it must limit the
sale OF our produce in other markets. Hol-
land, for example, takes large quantities OF
our produce, and large proportion OF the
proceeds is RENTED to England, where it is
wanted to pay for her manufactures. Ii we
cease to import British manufactures, we
shall not have occasion for the funds in En-
gland The consequence will be that the
see of our produce in Holland will DE limited.
ne Exporter has recently obtained from III to
- per eent. premium for his bills on England {;
kehe! are usually sold at a considerable adj
vance y bnt, if the operation be confined to a
s ,S OF oh produce in Hoila nd, and the taxi
vantage; he must there, ne loses TINS ad.
on which he can make no prost, OF in TIN ~. ~
duce or manufactures Of that country, which
in consequence of our duties, must frequently
il not generally be sold at loss. 1t is easy
TO perceive the effect which such state O
things must naturally have upon the produce
Of our farmers aud planters; the exporter
must buy it at low price, or he must aban
don the trade. The loss of this foreign mar
ket will, 10 effect, be an absolute loss 10 The
gr0weT Of home market, for he sells bis pro-
duce to the exporter here, and here he receive:
his pay.
advert to another consideration, not be.
cause it has been particularly referred to by
your correspondent, "U. S. A." but because
much Importance is frequently attached TO it
and that is, that agricultural products arr pro
tected against foreign competition, and there
fore, "equal and exact justice" requires tina
our manufactures should be equally protected
To this il may be answered, that the duty al
ready imposed on manufactured articles, is a
high as the duty on the products of agriculture
But there is obviously more cogent reason
for the protection of farmers and mechanic
with whose labor we cannot dispense than fol
the protection of manufacturers with whose
labor we can dispense. We cannot dispense
with the labor Of the farmer, or of such me
chanics as smiths, carpenters, masons, printers
&c. and they have, therefore, a paramount
claim to protection. II we can obtain thu
fabrics of foreign manufacturers for the use o
these farmers and mechanics at a cheape
rate than they can be manufactured here, BY
doing so we thereby afford the most eficlen
encouragement TO domestic industry.
Again; the duty upon agricultural products
so far as it may be supposed to affect the in
terest Of our farmers and planters, Is really nu
gatory. OF what advantage is prohibitory
duty to the farmer? Can the foreign cultivation
compete with him in our own market, wher
he is able to compete with this same cultiva
tor in foreign markets. This our farmers
could not do, if the foreigner could afford
Withou the payment Of any duty, to undersel
them in our own market. When we send &
shipto England, we give her provisions for the
whole voyage, because they can be obtained
at a less price here than there but the off
Gers and crews buy their coats in England be
cause they can obtain them there at les
price then they can be purchased in the Unit
ed States.
In reply to your structures upon previous
communication, ! observe that, in, the remarks
which made for the. purpose Of exposing the