Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-20
FREE TRADE.

nailed vishjoy a. furnishing a symptom Of grow
log disposition in Great Britain for relaxing her re
'ne'ive system. We do not regard il in this ligh,
vel knew nothing of the character Of MIR Hume
we might he led so to consider it, But that gen
'leman isa fro,hy demagogue, without weight o.
character, either personal or political. and his aLvo
caey Is prejudicial to any cause to which he may
accord IT, In this respect he resembles some Of the
o'us'ef'ng, noisy demsgoeues in our own country
who are chiefly ambitious OF notoriety, and whose
support OF any measure is much more to be deprc.
Gated than their hostility. MIR Hume is one Of a
little Knot Of Radicals, and no Doubt utters the
wishes and views OF his cque-but he and they
stink IN the nostrils Of the British people, and we
apPrehend the general odum attached to them is
| impaired to every thing they support. We there.
lore give no consequence TO his assurance that such
modification Of the Corn laws, as will admit 70.
reign bread stus free OF duty, is seriously eontem-
plated by any respectable portion Of the English
nation The great landed MISUNDERSTANDING all
the Arislocracy-whg and Tory-and ali the
small iarmers-the controlling power Of the En-
p're-are, tom the strongest OF all mo,ives-direct
persona! interest, opposed to any such change
We regret that such is the fict-for, although il
is impossible to foresee all the effects OF universal
free trade, yet We incline to the opinion that they
would be rather salutary thar otherwise. The ad.
vantages and blessings Of a universal free trade.
have We do not doubt, been greatly exaggerated
but we have that confidence that the good would
predominant over the evil, that we should rejoice 10
see the experiment made.
The Lynchburg yirginisn introduces MIR IIume's
letter with these remarks:
From the LySehburg Virginian.
FREE TRADE.
The opponents OF all protective or retalatory du
ties IN this country, under any and a circumstan-
ces, are IN the habit OF misrepresentation If they do
not misunderstsnd, the sentiments of at least soma
OF those who deem II proper, in certain contingencies
to resort to this weapon OF national protection and
defence. We, for one, charged it'll being friends
OF what Is familiarity termed ''the Protective poli.
cy-ln the abstract this is not Iue-nor is IL true
TO any extent beyond what we conceive the true
interests and the honor OF the country demand. So
far from being in favor Of restrictions upon trade of
any Sort we are IN favor of free and uhtrammelled
commerce, IN the most import Of that term
We would o-mouow, II our commercial relations
with foreign powers would Justify such a STEP be
glad tosee every cent OF duty upon imports beyond
the amomnt required W the most economical ad
minstraon OF the government, taken off, Nay, we
might even go step further than this: and rons
as IS our aversion to a Direct Tar consent 10 see
foreign commerce left free as the air we breathe
oS tue cnuIe aOoHtlon OF the cuStOm-houSc system,
and the revenue necessary for the support of 90.
vernment drawn directly from the pockets of the
people,-i other nations would unite with us IN
such compact. We are only Tariff men To
the extent that we are forced To be by the policy
OF the nations with which we trade II they tax the
products OF our soil and industry, we 90 for a tax
upon theIrs-noi exclusively IN spirit o
but as a necessary measure OF self defence. Let g.
Britain modify her Corn Laws, by which our wheat
and -four are excluded from her ports until the cries
har taV, alt..t .I,N.a..
even of Majesty ITSELF and make il remble for the
stability OF the throne-let her reduce her eNorbi-
tant tax upon our tobacco-let France and the Con-
tnent"l States abolish their discriminating duties
and monopolie', and throw open their ports fair
and liberal compettlon-and we would not only
cordially meet them, but most ioyfully hail such al
event as the haTbnger of better era 10 the whole
civilized world. Deemlng governmental interference
with The operations OF trade at all times Injurious
we should rejoice TO see commence perfectly untram.
meled, and left 10 the operation OF those natural
laws which so often violated by legislative en-.
actments, and which never can be so violated with
out producing commissions and disasters not dissn,-
liar IN their effects at least those which occur in
the physical world, when the laws Of Nature meet
with some violent obstruction. But that is not free
trade which closes the door on the other side of the
Atlantic TO the products OF thus while on this side
the doors thrown wide open to the fabrics of that
IL Is free enough To them-but we are completely
shacklsd. A the frogs IN the fable said TO the bows
Ill
death TO u.s." Hence, are IN favor of protective
and eounlervailing duties, TO certain extent-that
Is, we are IN favor ofsuCh duties as while they will
not raise too much revenue, wIlIfill principally up.
on those countries which tax our products most
heavily; and that these duties shall where II is not
maniestly unjust TO other interests be imposed up
on such articles OF foreign importation will give
the most etectull protection TO our own manufac.
lures 10 this extent We are tariff men; no farhe
We doubt, after this exposition indeed whether he
IL he Anti
ter all are less jealous advocates for free trade -l
by which we mean free trade ethan ourselves
But our principal object when we took I'D the
pen was TO direct public attention TO the subioined
letter ton Joseph Hume, Esq. disIing uishei men,
Der OF the British Parliament, TO Daniel Jenfer
Esq. not less distinguished member Of the Amer
can Congress, from Maryland-Mr. Hume being
induced TO select Mr.. J. as his correspondent we
presume, in consequence OF the activity and zeal
displayed by the latter gentleman in reference 10 the
eKorbAni tax imposed by European governments
upon American tobacco. Mr. Hume's letter affords
another signal and MOTTO be mistaken indication of
the spread OF the Fqe principles Of free trade in the
old world:
LONDON, March az, ISli,
Sir | have the honor herewith to enclose a conv
OF resolution agreed to at a meeting Of members
OF the British Parliament, and sanctioned by IN
wards Of one hundred and twenty of that body.
The subject Of FRS ira ic and tue extension OF our
commercial relations with the rest Of the world bv
U a
tons, by such an example, to co operate with ms
tor the a!tnInment OF important and so desirable
an OBJECT, has lately engaged much Of the public
attention m this country: ond the general feeling
manifested m favor OF such changes will, we conf
DENLY hope, soon induce the Government and =
gsature tn take tho proper steps for clrrying out
extensive measures Of commercial reform,
The Report OF Select Committee of the Hons.
OF Commons, with the sBidshce given before II an
the subject OF import duties in the last session of
Parliament, has been chiefly instrumental IN produ.
clng state OF public opinion favorable 10 a more
liberal commercial policy, ny oleiry proving that
the RESTRICTIONS and prOhb tons of the present
mercaI code OF the BRUSH empire, are in the bigb
est degree. preiudcii to the best interests of m.
nation. Allow the, therefore, as the late chairman
OF that committee IN forward to you a COPY of tbnt
TcpoH and evidence, and 20 request the favor oF
your most saSBnst consideration for IT,
The liberal course recommended by the commit.
tee Will be iound applicable 10 the wants of all
c9gnireJ and, ~ a matter so deeply interesting to
the peace % tho world and to the PROSPERITY of ma
tons venture 10 hope for your jealous support
IN the conviction that the enlightened risnds of free
trade nay he appealed 10 with peculiar proprety n
the present mOment and that vigorous and stimuli
taneOus movement m the different paris of the en,n
merclaI and civilized world einnot ia 10 he attended
with most important and beneficial re,uIts
send you also copy Of the last report Of the
Menebesler Chamber OF Commerce in which the
OPINIONS q the merchants and manufacturers or
lhlt great Commercial community are strongly ana
idyoraoy expressed.
Fn0ic meetings q the merchants and ,nhnLitnnt.