The people's press, and Addison County Democrat. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1838-1841, 1841-05-18

other words, duties on imported goods, col
Iected by government officers at the Gus
tom house, is the best and least expensive
method of raising national revenue
| Whether these duties shall be laid by a uni
form rule, or apportioned so as TO avoid a
hurtiul competition from the surplus capital
and pauper labor of Europe, is the question
to be decided. The compromise act, so
! called, passed in the year 1892. vertually
gives up the principle of discrimination
Distinguished statesmen in the south, who
profess 10 speak the sentiments Of that sec
ton of the Union, (h0w correctly ] cannot
saw assert that discriminating tariff, with
special reference to domestic industry, is
incXpedIent and unconstitutional; that it
will destroy the peculiar rights and inter-
ests of the southern planter, and is contrary
10 the very spirit ofthe constitution. Now
! have sought in vain, for any such limlta-
ton THE benefits of tariff; and ! am
confident that provisions ofthe constitution
are broad enough, and clear enough, 10 sus
tain the advocate of American industry
in regulating commerce, as in exercising
other powers Of the constitution, Cong ress
is obliged to seek after the greatest good,
and surely it ought not TO seek after, or be
satisfied with, the attainment of any thing
less
The advocate of the planting interests
Processes TO believe, that unrestricted trade
with England and France, would increase
the demand for, and enhance the price of,
southern cotton in Europe. He therefore
pleads for the removal of every obstruction
to commence, and for the greatest encour-
agement of importations. He is not salts
fed with free exports, which he now en-
Joys, but insists upon free imports, let them
consist of what they may. 1t is his theory
TO manufacture little, and import much
I am convinced this class of politicians are
combating commercial impedments, which
have no existence but in imagination; and
that their boastcd theory in favor of free
importations, is untrue in its essential prln-
ciples. Neither eXperience nor reason will
establish the fact, that southern cotton will
not sell in Europe if our importatlons are
lesscned, and greatly lessened; nor that the
encouragement of domestic market for
cotton. will not counterbalance the loss
resulting from dminutlon OF foreign COM
merce. 1t is quite certain that hitherto
the amount of cotton exported, and of mer-
chandise imported, has not always CORES
pended in the amount and hence the theo-
ry against which we contend is fallaclous,
and productive of injury. 1t is interest,
interest only, which induces England and
France to purchase our cotton. lslt from
any affection for us-do they not find this
article to be for them, the most profitable
within their reach: and when either of them
can procure better from any other quar-
ter, and especially from their own posses
sions in the east, for which ngland is now
putting forth strenuous and unexampled
efforts, will their ports be any longer open
to our cotton, or will not this trade be
brought within the exclusive policy which
distinguishes all their laws of trade and
manufactures
To me it appears obvious, that every
American, whether he be farmer. planter,
or manufacturer, is interested in extending
the domestic market for cotton-a market
which the American can forever and fully
secure to himself. and which, until of late,
has been regularly and rapidly increasing.
The southern politician is mistaken in the
cardinal principles Of his theory "that duty
on exports" is tax chiefly on con-
sumption; TO some extent on foreign capital
and labor. If indeed ii be true, that duty
on imports is tax on consumption, then
the cosumer is affected by the tariff, and
not the southern planter. The south in
proportion tc IFS population, consumes less,
very much less, than the north, or the
States of free labor, both on account of
climate, and the character of their laboring
people. Besides, is it nothing, to afford
employment TO our countrymen, to render
them comfortable and happy, and provide
the means by which they may educate and
establish their families? Is it nothing TO
secure to labor It's just value, and ready
markets TO agricultural productions, and
save ourselves from the annual drain OF a
foreign debt, the millions paid 10 France
! for her silks. and to England for her nu-
NITROUS manufactures? This country a.
bounds in the raw material used IN fae
manufacture ofmany of the articles impor-
ted and with proper attention, these mate
rials may be vastly augmented. and rem
dered adequate TO the supply Of onr wants.
Why now send them abroad to be wrought?
We have capital enough. wafer power en-
ough, hands waiting to be employed; and
in brief period, might become to great
acknowledgements of Europcanworkshops.
ask again, is it not important TO make the
most of our own resources, to re-animate
once more, our manufacturing villages, and
embelish this glorious land with countless,
/ fourishing and smiling hamlets, where con-
/! tent and plenty shall dwell securely? The
! ,Ix-oa-toI hxro