The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-07-17
Newport July 9TH, 1882.

4 "PoAs Su'y Nsus iOu~
Hon. JAMES D'WoLF,
Dear Sir A"
| Your letter Of the 24th ult. has. been
received and contents noted, Lid not
know you intended it for the public, un-
til l saw it in print and as you have
given it publicity to show your views of
the Tariff System, l think am in some
measure bound to answer it, and in an
swering your Letter I shall not confine
myselfto all it's details, but only remark
on some ofits leading points. Ithecomes
now less necessary as see by late vote
in the House. Of Represensafises on
the new Tariff, that the people begin 10
see the system in it's proper light. ia my
remarks an thar subject TO you and 9TH
protective policy ofthc country, I stated
that the whole system was ruinous to the
best interest Of the country, destructive
Ito CONNIE rec, to the agriculturist, OPP
pressive to the Minor Manufactures and
partial in its operation. You say that COM
nerce was one Of the first principles Of
industry that wns protected by Govern
ment If SO, what crime has she commit
ted, that the protection should be taken
from her, and her merit abandoned Z? I
will ask you Sir what protection sconl-
merce has /? You will say the coasting
trade is protected; suppose it was not.
what Nation could come here and COM
pete with our coasters? You might as
well say that England ought to pass a
law that their ships should not carry Goal
from London to New Castle; you will
say we have Navy, Fortifications and
Light Houses; nre all these exclusively
for the protection Of commerce1 Sir is
not Navy to country one ofthe strbng-
est Pillars obedience in time Of War, and
one Of the principal links in the great
chain Of National defence, and National
strength /? l will ask you Sir if our Tor
tlfications and Navy are not a. necessary
for the protection ofyour immense Fac
tory Establishments and sea port towns.
and the country bordering on the tea
board as they are to commerce ? And
you would try to make me believe that
the Navy and Forti6cations were exdu-
sively for the protection of commerce
liz Government would lot the Merchant
alone and let him manage his affairsin
his own way he would be able to protect
himself. We are willing to bear oure-
quail proportion Of all the burthens and
expenses Of our Government, but we do
not want to-be made beasts of burtfsu
aud to be taxed in our business to build
up system ruinous to commerce and
the country; you ask me why we ought
not to import all our cloths from England
instead Of making them ourselves ri
say we ought. unless We can make them
a. cheap az they can be imported, why
should we undertake to foster Manufac-
lures unnaturalIy by the protection of
Government why not let them grow with
the growth of our country, Why force
them like plant under glass When
exposed il will die or wither. Suppose Il
takes 20 days labor to smelt a ton Of
iron in Sweden and 20 days in this couu-
try, in Sweden the labor Of each man is
20 cents per day, the ton Of iron would
cost the Swecd % per ton, and in this
country each man must have his dollar
per day which would make the ton of
iron cost e20, now I will ask il this A
merican laboror would not be better en-
ployed in any other labor, and take ~
Of his $40 and purchase the Sweeds ton
Of iron and have Sl6 left in his hands
s' the end Of the 20 days labor For ifl
no goes in competition with the Sweed,
ne eau make no moro than the Swced
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