New-York tribune., 1841-12-08
TIL E TRIBU N Z =.
Free Trade.

Mr Editor Of the Tribune:
trust 10 your candor 20 print few remarks in
answer to your arguments against Free Trade,
contained in Jour paper OF the Sd inst. You have,
presume, nothing 10 lose by free discussion, and
have no motive IN this communication save sin
cere desire to know the truth
Your doctrine is that ought rot to receive
the products OF other nations free of duty ii those
nations tax or prohibit our productions. You think
further that selt-preserva,on' demands the exer-
c.e, on our parts, Of the right to reiaiale, and
ygu also chsllcnge Frec-Tradsrs in the following
bold ansuage:
Here ia the whole question in a nutshell. Dare
the Free Traders ueetit? VIII they maintain that
ought admit the vessels Of other nations the
sane terms with or.n, though they stall impose
on heavy discriminating and thus shut sur
slipping from ;heir ports If they maintain this,
they say virtually that We ought not 10 have snip
engaged in the foreign trade. We have pressed tins
question upon Free Trade merchants IN co!loqual
argument, We, could never obtain answer
caunat Of course expect that you spare
ne much room for my remark, but with all possl
bic Difference think your question Is not only
very simple one. but that your Free Trade ner-
chants have BEEN very poor defenders OF theif
principles. My answer snail be IN the form Of
cenerai principles: ii you wish the argument in
more delaiicd shape, it is at yoGr service.
lst. We ougAl TO receive from any country such
articles reqare.
2d. We cannot receive any ar,sles from for
egners unless we have something to give in ex-
change. This something may be divided into two
great casses-Produce and Coin.
3D. If England should prohlbi, entirely (Which is
the strongest possible CASEY our produce could
only pay in coin.
4th. The exchangeable property of nations is
cqaal in value. Our surplus proiucc is equal in
value ta the surplus produce which England sends
Us and no more or less. That is takng the gene
raj yiew-such Is the .uct. A. particular times, it
inay appear otherwise. But the general truth i,
ih.l u.Je is an exchange of commodities, aad
the temporary balances, though EN- arrassing
enough TO merchants at intervals, do Affect the
general question, the general prosperity
conclude from these principles, that ii England
prohibits our produce, CON Gall that is left
10 pay with) immed,aieiy giSe. 10 the vaiuc Of all
Aqt England can sell as. 10 other words, the
produce with which England furnishe, our mark
cts falls to the level Of ability to pay. The
money prices, 10 her, must therefore be ruinous,
ard sac must discontinue the trade. Again, il
w. have no market for our surplus produce We
,lail produce no surplus, but. without protection
" tariffs, II saoh event, shall turn, naturally
ou Ian 10 such account as the home demand re-
qrus. without beins obliged to resorl to Home
Aeasue, or any other sUPPosititious guards against
foreign cupduy.
as,ert (lt you will pardon such mode of ar
rumcnt, that tins view Of the ; applicable to
our present relations with Earope and that in pro-
portion as foreign nations lax our commodities,
they cripple and disable themselves aud it is n Us
the hight of folly to tax them in return. BY the
latter means we cover up to some extSnt the evil,
while ii were to let them have the sole honor
Of ,arliizng, should compel them, IN five years
to abandon the whole doctrine. Then we should
have reciprocal free trade.
One word more. to the shipping argument.
II England shuts ol our shipping, she compels Us
70 omauufacmc 50 much the more at home, for she
cannot shat off American industry, and the more
se are coslpelied TO manufacture, the less manu-
hctured goods buy OF England. Moreover to
hc extent that they cripple ability to trade
with thcm, do they destroy their own shipping
They would have no use for ships, ii their policy
OF tariffs were carried TO its extreme limit, viz.
prohibition The nation that will not buy cannot
sell, and may break up her shipping to keep of
TIE cold from her starving poPuaton: she has
no other use for it, Ia haste, yours.
FREE TRADE.