Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-06
FoR THE WING.
Votes on "A. Smiths W'edith Of .N,ii1ns.

No Ill.
TN n fSrmer number attempted to show that 4
Smiths analogy between the economy of individual Is
and OF nations is utterly uniounded and un eEaoa. -
effect Mr.. Smith propounds MS doctrine tue IlJ
SION OF a6our as equally applicable to nations anu TO
IpdIvfduIiS, Whereas nothing can be more evident
tiIan the absurdIty OF such application As said
BEFORE the economy and wisdom of this division OF
labor IN the Of individuals, is founded upon the
nnte character of the powers and capacities OF the
individual man. His skill and his eXertons are ak
crcuInScrlDed. But Wien apply the principle 10
communities, Introduce 1t into sphere. in which
ITS action IN Is be extremely limited. But for the
sake OF argument let pursue the analogy or ruth
er let us edqurc WAT are the circumstances y,cn
enable Individuals 10 practise the principle Of
division o; Ia5OuTS. Mr. Smith himself will uIve US
the desired Information. H. will inform us that there
must be an adequate demand for the surplus produce
Of each IN ivdUl in his particular art on manufic-
turc, By the sale of which surplus, he will De enabled
20 bay such portions of the produce Of other arts
and manufactures as arc necessary to the supply of
his wants. Unless this state Of things exists, II Is
clear that the individual longer act ,ipon this
principle OF division OF labour; he must Weld 10 cir
c1imstances; he must divert part of his industry TO
procure Il supply of his wants, which according TO
the supposition longer 10 be done by the sale OF
the surplus produce of his particular ar: or cal
hing. Thus 100 We shall fad the principle bauikcd
bV the same circumstances III regard To nations.
After Mr.. Smith or some OF MS living disciples have
rarceied out the various arts OF human industry be-
iYeen the different communities OF the earth lccur-
in tirat branch of industry allotted to il how are l
relative proportions oil ~. produce of each - Dc so
ifcpIy adjusted, that superiluy shall any where
eVist, nor no deficiency OF demand or sup
piv any where be found, but the whole Of this vast
Inachiucry of trade d Commerce, move on m iarnr)
y divine" increasing the aggregate wealth and So
cil enloynents of the whole earth. But in order 10
give Mr.. Smiths principle of division OF labor, any
% lUsijity in its apple alton nations, we must
first establish universal freedom Of trade together
with universal and perpetual peace. No mnn Of
sound judgement can peruse the Wealth Of IA tions,
without being convinced that many 81 m3xinl5 o.
trade aud commerce purely abstract and fiundr ii
Jon state of things which never has existed. and
V .ich never exist until the nature OF man and
~ political societies radically changed. Mr..
$ njflls doctrines when carried INTO operation Nv
the nations OF the world, will prove not the an
rrJach, but the actual existence Of comnerci7i
millennium. Toillustrac tile abstract nature OF Mr..
Smiths theories aud principles u will only De nccCs
sqry point ont the instance by which he attempts
10 show the impolicy Uf protecting duties aud com
urcia restrictions. This instance example Is de-
rived from the commercial policy OF England towards
France.
In chapter Cd, hook Aih. the author regret.
and CONDEMNS The unircndiy, ieuous and unpre-
f.abls POLICY Of England towards France, and
, RVS very satisfactorily, that both nations wOull
rive 2y16fed by a more liberal course Of com.
iu1rclli policy. UG says, that far back about
-. the minimum duties on almost ali Frcnci
vnnis were seveutv-tlvc per cent aud that the who'll
0ftha trade carried between these countries. wa
tr snIgglny; the 1utrs amounting 20 prohibition or
the fair trade lie sbcws, that Euriani from "a sprl
c! national anlnosiy, bought inferior wines oil Portu
ral. Mt a higher price than those Of France wOul,
l,ive cost, bn for the duty French vines and tbl
ipeuuality gud praciicablIty he points ont in man,
,hcr instances whereby the trade Of these two coun
tries with one another, WAS much interrupted AN,
thrown into Jess advantageous channels This view
of the trade between France and England. remind
me of part OF the quotation made from Cobbctt
Register in n previous number. where CObbett say.
that 'the Statesmen Of England were not such moon
hind wrctChCs, Is 60 or INA rlnc tiat they saw
any gain in measures calculated make tho prof, ,
Lerneighbours equal to her own; they coula rot bin
themselves down tu that hncksicr-kc state Of min,
which could contemplate profit uwccOmpauied b
Jayer; and therefore. 10 talk to them about free trade
would hqvc appeared like tic DIR aiming OF idcoJ.
" Mr.. Smith can argue France aud England. or au
other neighbouring powers OF nearly equal strcug
and rcsorrcos but ola spirit OF jealousy and rivar,
how'll efsci moro thon have over any logic ,
my other writer accomplish These rivals,
eNhuee hi d uprnauel and abuuing fronts
~ uc pcuiOls narrow ocean ipts as,1io ~
wUln.vrr be- argued out Ofther Jealous and apprehcr
SION VI one moth r, 6y abstract maxms Of trade a
ia. si1lc theories .. national economy They choos