Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-11-24
standard Of right is the true and the only

Ss""N"'" VI 'S"sI 10 TIC True anu tuc OIllE
system OF intercourse among nations.
1t is doubtless true, that during the last
half century, more enlightened philo-
sophy has been applied to the Affairs of
mankind; that political economy is much
better Understood, its principles more. full
ly developed, aud more judiciously- ap-
Piled. The sense and experience of men
had gone far to correct the erroneous le-
gislation Of former times, and to devclope
and multiply the true sources Of natl onal
wealth. But the modern theory is not
content with the attainment Of practical
benefits merely; it seeks, by an unq,lali-
fed application of certain general princi-
pies, to produce thorough revolution in
the business Of men aud the relations Of
nations, 1t is against these extremes of
visionary good and practical mischief
that we desire all men Of reflection and
sober judgment to make stand. We
ask them to look at the present condition
of our country and to examine the opera
tion OF the present system upon all its
great interests. Above all, we ask them
to look to the practice of all foreign ma
tions, rather than the speculations Of their
writer's. They will then find that those
who have taught us this theory Of free
trade, are too wise to practise it; that
they continue to act and to legislats upon
the system Of protecting their own INDUS
try, though some Of their writer's and or
ators recommend to all other nations to
abandon it.
A reference to our own experience is,
however, the best criterion, by which to
test the correctness of the system which,
we support. 1t is not new; the principle
was applied, as we have already stated,
to our navigation, from the establishment
of the Federal constitution, prohibiting
foreign shipping from the coasting trade
altogether, and imposing high discrim-
mating duty on foreign tonnage. Ifthis
discrimination has been abandoned, in
respect to those nations, who would con-
sent to system of reciprocity, i: involves
no surrender Of the principle. Trade
can only be carried Oh between nations
by mutual agreement; and mutual pro-
lection leads to reciprocity as the only
equitable arrangement. The mechanic
arts have also been tho subject Of protec-
ton from the establishment Ofthe govern
ment; and it cannot be doubted that to
this circumstance they owe, in a great
measure, their success; success, which
has made the mechanics of the United
States one Of the main pillars of our ma
tional strength.-Agriculture has like
wise had full share of the benefit ofthis
protection; and in truth it may be said,
that as our government commenced its
career with the establishment of the
germs of the protective system, SO it has
continued ever since, gradually nurtur-
ing and invigorating them until they have
reached their present growth. Some in
tcrruptions have occurred in the march
of this policy, but these interruptions owe
their origin to accidental circumstances
which dictated the necessity Of relaxing
the system for the benefit Of other inter-
csts that were more Immediately con-
ccrned in availing themselves of the ad-
vantages Of free trade. These, howev-
er, are to be regarded not as proofs Of
The uselessness Of the system, but as ex-
ccPtions growing out of the pressure Of
temporary accidents. The events that
followed the French revolution gave a
new and unexpected direction to the en-
terprise of our citizens. The disturbed
state of the continent Of Europe, and the
prevalence of universal wars throughout
the nations of that quarter of the globe,
placed the United States i'm the position
OF the only neutral amongst many bclig-
erents, and so obviously opposed the way
to commercial wealth to our citizens that
all other interests sank into insignifcance
compared with those which were con-
cerned in pushing foreign commerce
INTO every region where the strife of the
contending parties excluded the compe-
tition Of the belligercnts themselves, and
left to the United States the undisputcd
Of trade. To this fortunate
conjuncture of circumstances is to be as.
cribed the most rapid growth that has ev-
er been traced in the history of any en-
pire. The United States not only be-
came the medium Of the commerce Of
he world, but their peaceful position at
racted the emigration Of all those who
had the means and the wish to escape
rom European troubles.
Amongst the advantages which have
'esulted to us from this state of things we
rave suffered one evil, the effect of
vVch is not obliterated, even at this day.
Accustomed for twelve or fourteen years
o commercial speculations Of unparallcl-
ID activity and success, we were taught
o think that our national prosperity was
connected with the prosecu-
ion Of that kind of trade in which our cit
zens had been engaged, and we were