Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-01-05

subject to duties among all nations, and in
some countries they are almost if not en-
tirey prohibited.
Statistical facts show conclusiveIy what
are the results of trade, on the score of
our relations with England, end what the
probable consequences would be, were all
restrictions on our part entirely thrown off.
These are the best possible evidence in the
case, and from these it is easy to draw
correct conclusions.-During the space Of
eight years previous TO 1889, the export Of
bread stufls from the United States 10 Eng
land, was about So, 900, 900: while the inn
ported manufactured articles from Great
Britain in single one of those years, a
mounted TO $50, 900, 900; and it is estima-
ted thatthe average amount of imports du
ring the last eight years, has been 5000
100000 annually in the city of New York
alone. Now by what rule Of commercial
arithmetic, It can be shown that the trade
of the nothern states with England, is ina
healthlul and prosperous condition, while
this disparity exists between our imports
and exports, We are at loss to conjecture.
a merchant whose books exhibited the re-
suits OF trade, after the manner OF our COM
mereialaccounts with England, would GER
tainly be supposed to be fast vorging to-
wards bankruptcy, unless his capital was
inexhaustbIe. And how is this state of
things TO be remedied! Are our present
commercial relations with Great Britain,
likely TO produce m ore favourable results
hereafter? By the ''compromise act,"the
duties on foreign Corporations have not
yet arrived at their lowest rates, nor will
they until the year 1912, at which time
the tariff on no article will exceed % per
cent So then by the operation Of this act'
our future trade with England may be ex-
pectcd, to exhibit still greater disparity
between imports and exports.
Such is the operation Of the corn laws
of England, that no grain or flour is ad-
mitted from foreign countries, unless the
failure Of the harvest thome threatens a
general famine among the people. Thus,
last year owing TO the extensive failure Of
the crops in Great Britain, American flour
was admitted for short time at a small
duty; but the present year, the harvests
having turned out fayourably as usual,
American flour is subject to duty Of 81,
so per barrel, which amounts to a prohi-
blton, and shuts out our wheat and -four
from Great Britain, until the failure ofano-
Their harvest shall happen. And notwith-
standing such for many years has been the
unequivocal policy of England, no counter
valing protection has been adopted by the
United States: so far from it, the compro-
mise'act is every year lessenng the duties
on imported British manufactures.
With respect to the theory Of free trade
it is variousy construed, and therefore La
bic to be Inexperienced. All trade which
is conducted upon principles of equality is
free; but when one party is restricted and
tee other not; or when one party is obliged
to pay bonus to the other for the privle-
ges of trade, it ceases to be free and equal.
If England would receive the bread stufls
Of the United States, on The payment ofthe
same duties which we pay on her manufac-
lures; then there could be no just cause for
complaint. But such is not the policy of
England, nor is it probable it ever will be-
And since this is the case, what alterna.
tive have we, but to create home marker
for our agricultural productions: and how
is this TO be accomplished, but by placing
such restrictions upon foreign manulac-
lures as willencourage every branch of do
mestc industry at home.
Its shown by statistical tables officially
published, that there have been silk goods
to the amount of So, 600, 900, imported free
Of duty in the United States in a single year
while in the year 1888 the total amount Of
agricultural productions Of all descriptions,
exported to every part of the world, amount
ed TO only S6,048,065. 1t appears then
that the amount of silks alone, imported in
a single year, exceeded the value of our
agricultural productions, exported to every
part of the globe-by nearly two millions of
dollars! Now if free trade in its unlimited |
acceptation, can remedy this state ofthings |
it must possess virtues and powers which
have as yet not been developed. The av-