The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-12-20

P'V'S"'tttc oOtt' u 70 "te Peypte " "e C"teo
States
Our author now goes on TO notice various
other statements Of the gentleman to whom
he is replying, land concludes with the follow
ing summary of his objections against the
| system "of absolute prohibition, or greatly
enlarged Duties" which must be regarded as
! very strong, and decisive in the case:
THE objections which have arisen in my
mind against the system g of absolute prohi-
bitiOn, or greatly enlarged Duties" which will
| amount to prohibition, may be comprised I'M
der the following heads -
g. lst. The inequality and injustice Of the
measure. We claim to be free, and that no
man is to be taxed without his consent. Tax
es are to be equally laid upon every person,
according to his ability to pay. Here, how
ever, is a tax laid upon one part of the COM
m'Inity, for the benefit Of another part. Here
| is a tax, as to amount, at the mercy of the
manufacturer, and of equal amount upon the
poor as well as the RICH for every man who
purchases his coat of the factoEpays the same
amount of tax, and if the cloth is coarse, the
profits may be raised, and the tax increased
accordingly, and the poor man may be made
to pay more than his rich neighbour.
''snd. The fact, that the present duty al
lows fair profit to the manufacturer. There
cannot be a greater evidence of this, than
, what you have admitted, THAT it is maintai-
ned by some Of the oldest manufacturers. that
no further protection is required in this cOun-
try" In addition to this, we are informed
through the medium Of the public papers, that
large sales Of cloths are made, and at saving
prices: and you can scarcely enter dry
goods store in this city, without meeting with
American cloths, which are bought by the
consumer. in preference to the foreign; we
may add also, that we yankees are not often
found to continue business which we are To-
sing money at. s. we have heard ofno failures
or stoppagrs among the old established fac
tories. and conclude, therefore, that they are
doing well under the present duty.
"Sd. The paralizing effects which large in
corporated establishments have upon the in
dustry of individuals. If the same effects are
to flow from large establishments here, that
have resulted IN the old countries. then will
the individual, who may have established him
self by his industry and perseverance, be pros
trated. He will not he able to stand up a
gainst the overwhelming capital employed IN
these establishments, and means will be used
here, as they have been elsewhere, to break
down the man of small means, in order that
the large establishments may possess the mo-
nopoly to themselves. In these large estab
lishments. toos those who serve regular APP
premiership to the business have no chance
of rising above the grade of journeyman.-
They may be capable, honest, and industri-
Gus; but they have no means of setting up the
business, at least SO as to compete with the
great capital Of the corporation. In England
there are establishments under the control Of
an individual or company, which combine a
great number Of the mechanic arts, such as
blacksmiths, whitesmiths, coppersmiths, brass
founders, silver-platers, silversmiths, and a
number of other branches, which in this coun-
try are carried on successfully by individual
exertion. Now, it would be folly in any
man to attempt, single-handed, to compete
with an establishment such as has been allu-
ded to.in either of the branches dcsignated.al-
though he may be perfect master of the bust
ness, and in all respects competent TO Garry ii
on. 1t is in this way, therefore, that large
manufacturing establishments prevent individ-
ual exertion, and keep the operators in the
arts from rising either 10 character or sub
stance.
~. The bad effects Of these large estab-
lishn,ents upon the moral habits of those en-
ployed in them. This has been fully shown,
in several instances, when upon that part Of
the subject in the body of the work and it
is presumed, therefore, that no further illus
tratiOn IS necessary here.
" 9Th. The encouragement that prohibit
ton of foreign goods will hold out to SNUG
Cling, and theNdemoralizins influence of that
employment. 1t is well known fact, that
the restrictions on the importation of certain
goods in England. have been the cause of the
smuggling of immense quantities of those ar
ticies into the country, nOtw outstanding the
great number of officers employed, with the
assistance of cutters and vessels of war, con-
tinualIy on the alert to detect it. Acts of par
lament have been passed. without number
but without effect; and the, desperate char
acter of those engaged in the business, places
them above the law. and regardless of the
consequences of its violation. Is there no dan
ger, therefore, that the same measures will be
attended with the like results? d.
& ). eth. The nature and essence Of our phlit
ical compact, forbid the measure. The COM
pact entered into by the several states, is ba-
sed upon mutual concession on the part of
each. We live under government differing
essentially from every other government in
existence. The combination of the States is,
..to promote the general welfare, and to Sc
cure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity." 1t is in fact government of
opinion, and ia composed of materials which
can only be kept united by mutual conces-
aions and forhearance. In order to promote
.he general welfare, no act having partial or
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