Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-12-22
From the United States Gazette.
Take care of Ourselves.

NGG Caa1C va
Mr.. EDIToR:--
Itis with feelings of great satisfaction that
large part of this community observe the SET
tied influence that the above remark is having
upon the conductors of the press. 1t IS 10 be
hoped that this subject will be pressed upon
the attention of our rulers. We may complain
interminably, and shall have no redress until
you come in as auxliaries; when we find you
at the head Of The column, then we may hope
10 have some beneficial results. The fact Is,
the country is groaning under our system oil
free trade, which works for the advantage OF
foreign countries, but, for want of reciprocity,
ruinous TO u.s. This free trade is free for all
but u.s. 1t gives to the countries with which
we trade, market for their iron, cloths, hemp,
manufactures, and wares of all klnds--but what
do those countries take from us in return, be.
sides cotton and tobacco, which they can pro-
cure in no other way? Literally nothing; and
in the place of the produce Of their industry
and ingenuity, they kindly receive from us the
balance in good solid gold and silver. This is
we'll for them, but ruinous 10 us, and we are
now only in slight degree beginning TO feel
its influence. We have, so far, had money
and means enough 10 pay our debts; but what
O'-~-
have on hand is exhausted? Within the las
four months, upwards of Sc 100000 have beer
drained from us. The stream steadily run:
outwards, and we have no means of stopping
it, but by looking at home for our supplies
Our supply of the precious metals must soon
be used up, if we persist in this ruinous policy
of buying annually more than we sell, and that
in such enormous sums.
Would it not be better 10 make what we
consume; 10 dig the iron ore out of our hills and
convert it into railroad iron, and manufacture
it for other purposes? and if it should cost the
consumer something more than the foreign ar
iicle, would it not be better for the country in
the end! Contemplate for moment the numbeI
of people that would thence receive employ
ment and profit. If the iron, wool, cloth, &c
that is consumed annually in this country was
grown and manufactured here, could any man
imagine the immense wealth that would be
created in this country thereby, in the course
! of ten years? The steady employ which ouI
people would receive in those branches, would
divert large part of our population from ag
rcutural pursuits, and turn them into consum
/ ers, which would secure an increased demand
for the produce of the farmers; and the farmers
! would be the customers OF the manufacturers In
their turn If this policy was adopted, the ben
eficial results would soon be felt, both at home
and abroad With our sales of cotton and TO-
bacco. we would annually he able to pay of
the interest and part of the principal OF our en-
ormous State debts, and with an adequate pro-
lection given to our manufacturers, we would
soon see this interest steadily advance in oul
country. At first, our goods would probably
! L han the liz q nf fOra or
! fabric. and there might, and there probably
would be, impositions praciced; but there woult
soon be reaction, by reason of the compet
tion and we would finally, and that at no dis
tan day, be supplied by our people al prices
much lower than those we now pay: Such has
been the result with cotton fabrics, glass, anc
many other articles now extensively nanulac
tured here; and such results would undoubtedly
prevail in all articles, as soon as their manufac
Iure was firmly established. We could wei
afford TO pay the additional price that woul'
thus be exaced of US, when we reflect that tins
sacrifice would give profitable employment Il
vast numbers of our people, who are now com
para,ively without employment. 1t would es
abIsh the prosperity of our country, on 6rn
and solid basis Ii would render us, as q ia
ton. Independent OF all other nations Il wou
ensure sound circulating medium, because th
stream. of specie would run inwards, and b
steadily accumula,ing. 1t would, finally, en-
sure US an immense export trade, because
would not be long before We would be able Il
export the manufactured cotton fabric instead
of the raw article. Il would also be the mean
Of building up for ourselves solid prosperli.
and wealth, instead of exhausting our resources
In ensnre The nrosnaritv nf ENGLAND. France
and other countries, who, in their turn, do no
thing to reciprocate the advantages which the,
derive from our trade. We have for years
been giving steady employment TO their people