Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-26

FREE TRADE ONCE MORE.
Friends and Fello,o Citizens:


In Il former number stated lew of the rcstric-
tons and prombtory duties TO which some nf o,,v
most important staples subject il. Great Britain.
winch, by the. wuv, ere not very different from
those that prevail iiS rance and other countries in
Europe, and which would not only warrant but
appear to require, in justice TO ourselves retaliation
OF equal restriction and prohibory duties
This wSald be perfectly consistent with the doc
trine of Adam Smith. He says, the shoemaker
ought not to make hats, the halter toj make
shoes, but to purchase from each other with tho
produce of their respective manufactures But If
the halter viii not purchase shoes from the shoe
maker, nor the latter purchase hats from the 70 r
mer, then the halter is justified in making hats Ez
Pennsylvania, New ork New Jersey, Delaware
part OF the eastern States, and large portions of
Virginia, Maryland, and of the western States, en-
gagged in the culture of grain &c. may be regarded
as the matters, and Great Britain and the other ma
tons OF Europe as the shoemakcrs. Our wheat
Hour, lumber, fish, oils &c. our hats; and the
wooilcns, cottOns, linens, iron mongery, So, of
Great Britain and the brandos silks, biiouterie &c
of France, their shoes respectively: and as thew
eIher exclude altogether, impose duties in many
cases equivalent to prohibition, hats, we
would, repeat, be perfectly warranted in measur
ing out to them the lee LGLionis, as regards their
shoes.
Let me quote two authorities on this subject OF
the highest Standing Jefferson and Hamilton
D"t wish. no more Importance attached to their
dicta than as they arc consonant with, and sup
ported by, good sound sense.
when nation imposes high duties on our pro-
!
proper Ter us to do the by theirs; first burden
ing or excluding those productions which they
Dfihg mere In competition with our ef the
KIND selecting next, such manufactures as we take
from tbcm IN greatest quantity and which, at tho
same time, could the soonest furnish ourselves
or obtain from other countries, imposing on them
duties Light at first but heavier and heavier after
wards, other channels of supply open.
"Such duties having the effect of Indirect en-
enlargement to domestic manufactures of tho
same KIND, may induce the manufacturer to como
himself into these States, where cheaper subsis-
terce, equal laws, and vent for his wares free Of
duty may insure him the highest profits from his
Skill and industry. The oppression of our agrf.
ntu!e III foreign ports would thus be made the
occasion OF relieving it from dependence on the
conduct and councils of others, and of promoting
arts, manufactures, and population at home.
'Should any nation, contrary to our wishes
suppose may better find its advantage by cOntin-
uing It's system OF prohibitions duties, and regula-
lions, 1t bchOves us 10 protect citizens, their
commerce and navigation, by counter prohibitions
duties and regulations, also Free commerce and
navigation are MOI to BE- given in exchanrc for
restrictions pad yeSations; nor they likely 10
procure a 'c!aXat;on of thcm"-Jeierson's Report
on the privileges and restrictions of the commerce
of nc United states in foreign countries.
'Ihe restrictive regulations which, in foreign
markets. abridgc tbs vent for The increasing surplus
OF our agricultural products to beget de-
sure that more extensive demand for that surplus
be created at home.
"To secure such market there is no other cx-
pcdicnt than to promote man ufacturing establish
ments. Manufacturers, who constitute the most
numerous class, aftcE the cultivators Of tho land,
arc for that reason the principal of tile
surplus of their labor
''If Europe will not tSkc from us the product,
Of our soil, terms consistent with our interest
the natural remedy IS, TO contract as fast as posi-
bic wants of hcr."-Hamilton's Rcpert on
Manufactures.
trust that these maxIms viii be admitted 10 be as
sound and rational they arc profound and irrcf.
table.
But Mr.. M'DuiTio takes row ground, diamctri-
caliy opposite to both Mr. jefferson and Mr. Ham
ton. lie says
"Thc rcstriclinrsuzzaz sgn nations impcso
upon any pursuing thei, cs-
tabl<I slightest ground,
o. ICY, for imposing
- llLads.etions OF