Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-30
n IPO T.


IL consists Of details of opinions and statements o
facts IN relation TO the Import Duties levied by the
government Of Great Britain, their influence on he
commerce and manufactures, particularly those o.
the cotton, wooen. iron, and silk trade, ard the
l.tion Of many Of their manuf ictutes To similar man
ufaeturcs on the continent, and, to limited extent
those Of tho United Sates also extended remarks
the course OF trade with various countries and the
effect OF the duties the products of those eoun-
tres together with various statistical tables on the
same subject and proposal for a modification OF
the tariff OF Great Britain.
The persons examined appear TO have been,
generally, OF intelligence, holding stations in
society emitting them TO consideration, VIZ:
JouS M'GREsoR, Esq.
Secretary TO the Board OF Trade.
Ds BowRiSc,
Commercial Agent Of the Government.
JoHS Il. SMIrH, ESQ.
President OF the Manchester Chambss oil Com
merce.
GEoReE RIcH,RDsoS Porter, Esq.
Head OF the Statistical Department OF the
Board OF Trade.
Merchants and manufacturers from different parts
of the kingdom engaged IN general commerce, and
particulariy IN the manufactures mentioned above,
were also examined.
The opinions generally expressed by the persons
examined arc that the policy OF Great BriaiR is re-
Sirietiye excluding from her ports, except on the
p,vmept Of excessive duties, the products and man
uretures of all other countries which interfere with
her own or those OF her colonies VI the whole
amount OF revenue for tho year 1859, from imported
articles VIZ f22, y62 6iO, Only Ii02, SIS was de-
rived from, manufactures OF all kinds, duty OF
from 20 to l20 per cent, thus demonstrating that
all manufactures are especially excluded, as well as
all the staple agricultural products Of climates STINT
lar TO her own.
France is sill more exclusive in her policy than
England; acting as she does upon the principle OF
selling as unrcn and bUgiag as little rs possible,
and that livc merely the raw material for her man
ufacturers. DE-. Bowring remarks, The principal
object ofIhc French tariff is TO protect the French
manufacturer, and to exclude every tang which
compc,cs with him in the home market. In al. the
Investigations that have been carried on IN France
for modifying the tariff, previous TO the very late
discussions with our commissioners the object avow-
eli and declared was, that the purpose OF the tarit
was 10 exclude every ioTe'sn article whIch couiu DC
procured AZ home"
This policy, in the opinion Of the persons exam.
ined before the committee, is decidedly injurious TO
the interests at both nations. England Is reprcSen-
ted as suffering in her manufacturing population Tor
want Of food, the price Of which is double that OF
the continent. Germany, unable TO exchange her
agricultural products for Eng,ish manufactures, IS
gradually improving her own, and, 10 some extent,
interfering with those OF England IN the markets oi
the world, 50 rs TO create alarm among tue English
for their commercial supremacy; whilst France Is
represented 40 diminishing her comforts and her
revenue by cndrayo1rng TO manufacture what she
could more readily obtain by eNchanse-lostering
unconEcnial pu suits, to the injury OF those which
sources
The Abandonment Of The restrictive course is urged
rs the policy or, IN other, words, the persons
examined are uniformly the friends Of Free Trade,
while they admit tnat the course Of both England
and France are IN direct opposition TO It.
But these are the opinions of manufacturers and
merchants, and not OF statesmen; and tits TO be re-
GREETED that not O single witness of opposite senti-
mcnIs was before the committee OF inquiry, whose
views might have afforded as the general reasons
for practice in opposition TO professions, and have
enabled us form better judgment of the correct
ness oithose opinions, and tic length OF Time Eng
land will continue TO profess one thing and practise
another.
Many important items of information are scatter.
cd through the work; and multitude Of usofu. facts
in relation TO the tariff and the statistics OF Eng
lish commerce, are brought together, which will b,
highly useful to the members o; the institute who
may desire information on theseisublGc.s.
An examination of these documents, with r6hec.
tons on the present condition OF the industrial in
tsresls o! the United States, and our commercial
relations with Europe, now that our tariff Is es-
pected soon TO be re-modClIei, has induced your
committee - give the whole subject some conside.
ration the result Of which they beg leave TO offer
for the deliJeraIion ofthe Institute.
The truth Of the abstract proposition Of Free
Trade,-ts advantages in promoting the interests OF
mankind. Irrespective OF circumstances resulting
from the evils which attach to humanIty-such as
war and the prevalence of the selfish principles
which actuate nations as well as indivduals-was
long since demonstrated by that profound ph:loso.
pher Dr. franklin. suppose say he, "a country,
", with three manufactures, as cloth, silk and
IRON supplying three other countries, A, B.. c., but
is DESTROYS oncrcasing the vent and raising the price
ofcloth in favour of its own clothers. Ia order to
do this she iorblds the importation Of foreign cloths
from A. A., in return iorbids silk from y then the
silk workers complain OF a decay Of trade, and x.
10 content them, for5ds silk from g. b, in return
lorbis iron-ware from X; then the iron workers
complain Of decay, and Y. forbids the importation
oiiron from and c., in return, lorUids cloth from
Y. WHATS got by these prOhiOtIons2 Answer
Hl four find their common stock Of the convcnences
and eniDymenis Of life diminished"
This is plain eXcmpIhcaton Of the case, without
regard 10 the circumstance of war, &c. referred
above; and II tic world would adopt the system OF
free trade, and constantly act upon i, the results
might be universally beneficial. unfortunately,
hitherto mankind have been subjected 10 the mis-
fortunate Of war and It is notassumed by the advo.
of the free system, that war is not Eontin.
gency for which !; rs prudent and wise 10 prepare.
In such an event IN agricultural people, depend
Ing upon other nations for their CLOTH SC, might
find themselves IN depiOrable predicament Was
one country in possession Of advantages which its
rival could never obtain whilst free trade was per.
Inttcd skill or capital, SHOULD any Of tic
community Of nations refuse 10 be governed by the
rules Of free trade It would obviously be for the IN
tCrest Of the others, 10y cOunieryaiIng action, to
prevent as for practicable, the evils which might
result TO them from their position While England and
France, the leading Cpmuercl1l nations Of Europe,
continue as they now DO 10 act upon the restrictive
principle, no argument drawn from the abstract pro.
position, merely, be OF the least force in deerml.
ming the course Of other nations.
The great business Of society is the production OF
those commodities which minister to the wants and
pleasures Of man. To this end tho energies Of the
millions are applied in different climates to the v4ri.
Gus soils, and the multiplied products Of the soil by
other millions are, with the aid OF invention, art
and science fabricated and fashioned to subserve the
necessities and iuxures Of society. Tha supply OF
food, clothing and habltntions, suited 10 the dvcrsl.
fed tastes, fashions, habits and wants that prevail
among mankind are leading objects with ms all. No
one country possesses oil these supplies. One c0un.
Try, viz A., produces a surplus Of ono kind Of aui.
cles while her soil ard her habits forbid her from
producing others. Another country, r., produces
more Of the articles In which Il. is deficient than
her wants require, but Is herself deficient in the ar
tC.Cs Of which "A. has surplus. The exchange of
those surplusCs, for the mutual accommodation of
each, IS what IS called commerce. II one refuses 10
exchange will the O.hCr 10 rs clear that commerce as
respects those countries, must cease. /, IS also OBJ.
y.0us tUai these exchanges must be reciprocal; fhc
one party must be wI.IIOg TO receive such c0mmU
ccs us tIC other ctn part with, In order 10 induce
an exchange. While The exchanges are confined to
their elements, or barter, such viii necessarily DC
the Jesuit; and none but reciprocal commerce can
cH.H. The exchanges Of the world continued 10 10,
On ID great degree OF this character during the sim.
pre- ages, and whilst the only money boz use wa
the precious metals these being the products n hu.
man industry, which could only be gradually in.
creased, their value, measured by the other pro,
ducts Of industry, could also be increased or dmln.
ishcl by avery gradual process only, and then de-
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