The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-12-23
WHAT is MEANT BY FREE
TRADEi

1t will be seen by the following extract, which
we copy from the Onandaga Siondard relating
to this paper, that the subject of iec-lrade is not
everywhere perfectly understood
| GLOW lar the present tariff may be wrong, we
are unable 10 say; but we will tell the Mornn.
fosl that The dochine OF opening our ports and
admitting all foreign goods free Of duty. however
well 1t may suit The interests of the city, will not
90 down IN the interior. The people here believe
that II Is vastly better 10 meet the expenses Of gov-
eminent by revenue irum duties than by direct
taxation. That we have got 10 pursue one or tho
other OF these courses is very plain.
Tn no question Is public opinion clearer in this
county llah on the tariff, Our candidate for Com
gress, Mr. Wheaton, openly uyowed himself in ia
vor of n revenue sufficient for an economical ad-
mnislraliOn Of the government, to be derived from
tariff laid upon forcing articles that come il COM
petition with those manufactured in this country:
and he who opposes this position will, if we mis-
lake not, soon carry himself into minority, from
which he may find it difficult TO Iise."
Now the writer OF this greatly misconceyes the
purport Of what we have said in indicating the
doctrines of free trade. 1t has never been propos-
cd by us TO open our ports and adm, foreign goods
free Of duty. In all our controversies we have
never uttered word in favor of direct taxation.
Whatever may be the private opinions oflbe edit
or Of hi; paper, us The member of n party, rs a
friend Of the friends of free trade, he has alwavs
urged the adoption Of Il tariff Blu, then It has been
a strict revenue tarltl-a tariff not laid for the pur-
poses OF discrimination, on articles coming in COM
petition with domestic manufactures, but laid SOLE
~ with view TO raising revenue.
The doctrine Of protection, whether urged BY
the why or democratic party, is objec,orabe.-
We believe the right of Il man to trade where he
peuscs with whom he pcases just us much ma
tiOnal and inaenuLIe right as the right to vote 1t
is Il right derived iIom the very constitution of his
nNlnre aud Of society, guaranteed by the organic
law at the land, and intimately connected with his
Improvement and happiness. No government
can interfere with the exercise CT it,wllhout COM
hitting gross wrong. When it does so it invades
Il SACRED nyiolnbc trast; usu'ps despoic pow
er; il makes Itself an engine Of violence and OPP
preston. When the mornarclios of Europe enact
laws by which one class Of men are taxed to sup.
port another, they only act in character They
carry out into practice the dols pilncip'es Of inc
quality on which they ale founded, the deles,ablo
spirit of tyranny from which they proceed. But
when the government of the United States copies
their examples, 1t makes war upon itself, it abro-
gates its fundamental principles, it commits the
Two fold evil Of hypocracy and robbery 1t pro-
icsscs to be honest all the while it is putinp
''o eCI'o''y VuChtlo VI
strip them of their earnings. 1t comes TO US with
loud professions of freedom, while its agents arc
binding rs with chains II wears the face of friend
ship and Iihcraily, though it cherlsles in lis heart,
the worst naSims Of despo,s and dispoilers
Now, we cnGnot consent that the United States
should be made 10 assume such m aspect. We
have no DESIRE that government which we have
been taught To regard rs the fccst on earth should
be identified with The grinding Gespotism Of the old
world. But if we admit the principle of pro,ec-
ton, wherein DO they diilrr' If the government
'nay prescribc what employment the people shall
engage in when is its diclUtlOn to stop May it
not prescribe or opinions, rs well as our pursuits,
If it ovcroohs the Constitutions, OF purpose TO aid
may it not create an establishment
to encourage priests What abuse, what outrage,
what hcliish tyranny exists in any nation of Europe
that is not and canno, be justified by the same rca-
soning which is used to juslilya protective tariff?
Who can say that this protection is TO be limited
to mere material Interest, and why not extend it
TO moral and spiritual concerns' If the govern
mcnt has tight TO say where we shall buy our
shirts, 1t may say with equal justice, where VIC
shall save our souls-.E Y. Nor. Posi-.