Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-07-21


drean,t of"
In subsequent number, and in explanations the
Commercial Advertiser" says-"The object of Gen
Jackson is to rid the country of the Objectionable
features of the tariff, and especially those which
have caused so much dissatisfaction at the SOUTH by
treaty and without the nterposition of the house of
representatives. For this purpose treaty oil perfect
cornmerciel reciprocity, STIMULATING that duties
s.ia be eXacted, In either country upon the produce
or manufactures of the other beyond a low rtven
anount say in no instance to exceed % per ccntunl
al va!orum, has been in agtaton; and it is believed
That the British minister at Washington has Indicated
belief that his government will assent tn such an
nrrangement-evei by modifying their laws in
favor of the United States, 'ipon condition that the
nrts of the latter shall be open tn her manufactures"
And here the runior rests for the present. When
it assumes less questionable shape, we shal be pre-
pared to offer remarks upon it. But, in cur
view OF 1t, the thing is impracticahlc--and that
neither country go into such arrangement
Besides, the idea Of doing away the tarrt.-the
established policy and fao Of he land, without the
interpositon of the House of Representatives, is
preposterous. The president and senate will never
venture upon measure of that lofty bearing.
Here are frets, facts well authenticated, and 50
much in point that they ought to serve to the U.
States, individual experience.
Gut, we caution the Southern Agricuturist against
the double deuson, which the 'srumor" alluded to, is
calculatedto produce. We carlton him against be-
lieving, either that England is going to relax her
duties on wheat and tobacco, in consideration of any
boon, that the U. States offer, that the relax
alton would be of the smallest advantage to kan, if
she we're. That England will not do it, is evident
from many circumstances, and if the Cabinet at
Washington believe any such thing, it proves only by
what quackery. great nation is ruled. She would
not do it, If she could, bit what is ei cogen
reason, sire eoxid not do it, if she would 'Phe
laws Of Euglahd are the prop of her agriculture.
Without the exclusive privilege of feeding the puIjl
non, and thus of always securing market for corn,
that class could NOT stand Under the enormous bur
thens which the necessities of Government aud Of
pauperism anpnse. Great efforts have been made by
the manufacturing interest Tor years past effect
repeal of the laws, but the Indispensable
sty OF these laws in the opinion of the British Ee-
gislature is shown by the fact, that the number OF
the advocates of repeal, has dwindled at each sue
ceeding session of Parliament. The last division in
the II. of Commons on thel9th May, proves that Mr..
IIumc's party is reduced to mere rump. We ex,
tract the debate that occasion.
Mr.. Hume called the attention of the house to the
important subject of the laws; perfectly free
trade in being his object, but the change, nev
ertheless, TO be gradually made That change, he
contended won not injure the landed interest while
IT. would greatly relieve and benefit the people, who
were now suffering under distress. free
trade would give employment to our capital and the
unemployed working classes, which, under the pre-
sent vicious system, could not find it. The situa-
non III which the country was placed arose perhaps
.rom three causestaXation the change in the curren-
Ey, ard the laws. When the trade in com
was free, we were an exporting country; but the
laws raised the price ofprovislons, and made il dis-
ficult for manufactures to compete with others
in the foreign markets. There were million
tpeoplc out OF work, owing to the corn laws. Ii
our system was altered, the price ofcorn the
the cost of transit excepted In1825. the price
o7s Sd. in England, and BIS Cd. in Holland all ow-
lrg to restrictions Our system assassiilated
commercial greatness, anu left the population 10 the
misery OF curtaiied supply 1t caused corn to rot in
Poland, kept our manufactures sinking into depre
citation at home. A fair reciprocity would benefit all
nations. The pgeseat duty Is. in lieu
of which, he proposed fixed one Of IS. with an
annual reduction OF Is, which would az once open
tile ports for the surp!nus produce Of all other cou-
tries, and Great Britain had manufactures enough
God knew to pay for every thing, provided they
could find employment. This plan would prevent
uctuaous in prices, give full vent to our comnod-
ties and put end to those urous gluts that
frequently occurred. Every article of food was
subjected to heavy taxation; but it not the aeri-
culturst alone who produced corn, for every artZan
and mechanic equally produced it by fabricatng an
article which was exchanged for the of other
countries a free trade would make the land flow with
milk end honeyi did Indeed flow for the rich but
hot for the poor. 1t commerce that made safes
great, as witness Carthage, Geneve, Venice, and
the Hansetowns. BY opening coy,u,e,'ciat inter
course NTH foreigners, they could bear a share Of
orr fifty tco millions oFtrres Reciprocity the
hest thing, but if FkaDcc and Russia would refuse
some of our goods still we should take from them
what we could get cheaper than elsewhere, our
goods would find their way those countries, snug
Sied not and really paid for their produce with
OUR own commodities. This the nevita be re-
suit and we should therefore multiply kets
inuclr as possible. There could not be such thing
as over production If free trade existed, and then
would not be of much consequence under SYSTEM Of
free trade, which would put emf TO prvation, the
violation of tie laws and general disfcs After
dwelling on these points at considerable length, MI
IT, concluded by moving that the house do resolve
itself into committee ofthe whole house to cousd
CT the corn laws, with view of substituting fixed
duty on The importation of foreign into the Uni
ted Kingdom, and appointing bounty on thu export
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