Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1841-12-10
PROTECTIVE DUTIES.

n ledulnB journal Of lne OPpoSlIOu,
undertakes to denounce protective du-
ties because they may operate 10 The
prejudice Of the Iaboring cIassesin for.
eign countries. Thus it objects TO the
twenty per cent, duty on French silks,
and makes an appeal to our feelings Of
humanity in behalf Of the weaVers Of
Lyons, who may suffer from diminish
ed demand for their silk in the United
States in consequence Of The duty. This
position is assumed on the high ground
Of universal philanthropy. .Lrit were
carried out The consequence might in
volve some trouble, For the conclusion
would be that we must buy English,
French, and German manufactures from
the charitable motive Of keeping the la
borers Of those countries from slarVa-
;ion. Our duties both Of revenue and
protection must be aboIished-Ihe very
duty objected to being one Of revenue
because if the duties exist, the quantity
of foreign manufactures imported here,
would be diminished and the European
operatives would suffer for the want Of
the necessaries of life.
The real doctrine here incu Gated is
that we are responsible for the vices
and evils Of foreign governments, and
that out Of an exalted feeling of bene-
Violence we are to shape the Legislation
OF our own country for the particu ar
object OF relieving the miseries which
those evils and vices engender. II tho
monOrchical and aristocratcal institu-
tions Of England and France operate to
build up monstrous sys'ems Of cxclu-
slVeness and oppression-of the subject
classes in those countries, swayed by
the inexorablo necessity Of their condi
ton, are compelled TO labor for bare
subsistence and that q scaDty one, Of
which, poor as IS, they may be depriv
ed by any vicsstudes Of trade which
may lessen the demand for labor-un-
der these circumstances the argument
is that we ought TO regulate our policy
for their benefit; We ought TO feel for
their condition. and endure sacrifices for
! their sake. 1t is truo, we purchase al
ready more foreign goods than we can
conveniently pay for, it is true also that
England and France will not receive
many Of our productions in return for
The commodities with which they gIul
our markets; and it is most unfortunate
Iy that our currency is in very Iamen
table state on account Of The large eX-
portaIiOns Of specie which have gone
md are still going from the United
States 10 pay the balance Of tho foreign
debt against US. Nevertheless the N.
Y, Evening Post Tor it is that organ
Of uIIra'democracy that advocates the
doctrine Of cosmopolitan benevolence on
this subject would have US disregard
the exigencies of our own condition. re
move the few protective restrictions that
yet remain in our commercial system,
and even abolish the revenue duty on
French silks in order that the weavers
Of Lyons may suffer no reduction Of
wages.
Let the French government take care
Of its own subjects. If it complains of
our poor duty or2O per cent. on its silks,
lei it reduce its five hundred per cent.
on our tobacco The advocates Of FREQ
trade had better address their remon-
strances and arguments to the cabinets
abroad, whose whole policy is formed
upon the principle Of restriction which
they carry to an extreme length What
ever measures Of that sort are adopted
here they are measures OF self defence;
nor have we any wish TO urge the policy
OF restriction for our own sake.
We arc told on the other side, that
restrictive duties are measures, that il
we adopt them we do injury to foreign
manufactures, and operatives, and may
reduce them to bankruptcy or starvation:
md that nations evelIng such resric-
tions against one another are in state
Of quasi war. Well, suppose it be so
II We are attacked by restrictions shall
we not defend ourselvesH Let the blame
tall upon those who begin the strife
The matter Of our complaint is that we
have been subject TO such attacks loI
some years without attempting a de-
fence. and the consequences have beer
! most disastrous TO our interests, II
, say that retA)iaIory measures may
cause much distress to the workin,
I classes of other countries is nothing Il
d he purpose--lor all nets Of self protcc-
= ton against hostile attacks are in thei
/ very nature adverse to the assalin
o party. We conId not defend oursove
IS in actual wNr if va were restrained b
e the apprehension of doing hurt to on
opponents. The responsibility belong
TO the party that proVokos the strife.