Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-01-20
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Thc 1pmehburN 2'irGtmtan.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, lsl2.
Rf.IALIATORY DUTIES.

wing do thai they ought 10 be the lssls ni COM
c REAL legislation in all countries. should rejnce
II the policy of otlrr nations with whom hold
intercourse Would 50 modify their systems. which
themselves IN conflict with the theories Of their own
United State might. with proper scIinspcct, and q
Just regard fol the interests Of the people. which il is
bound To protect and defend make practical application
Of them in the discharge Of It's constitutional duty Ito
regulate commerce. But ought our government 10
pursue this policy. either III reference to It's honor.
the real and substantial independence Of the country or
Ia the rights and welfare of its citizens, in the face OF the
restrictive and prohbi,ory Of foreign countres
We that it Is said this side oihc Atlantic.
by those who favor that sort Of free trade which
ss,s IN opening ports to foreigners while they shut
their ports against us, that the duty paid hy the
consumer the impostons of duties resolves itscat last
ntoa tax upon citizens. And they ask with am air
Of triumph, when they have laid down this assumption
'Shall We tax people, because foreign governments
tax theirs Now if the assumption Were true the in
terrogaury would be both pertinent and puzzng. But is
true2 Ii II is, why do the British manufacturers com
plain whenever an additional duty imposed upon their
iabricsl Fit ia, why do the French silk manufacturers
and vine growers murnur so loudly at the imposition of
20 per cent duty upon their gaudy silks and their costly
wn's2 Why do the governments Of those countries, in
all their negotiations with foreign powers. seek to
for the articles they export the lowest rates of duties?
Why do they purchase an exemption from duties upon
their exports altogether, by the concession Of valuable
privileges 10 the party concedng this exemption? Ii the
consumer pays the duty, why need the producer care
how heavily his skill and labor are taxedl No;alihouob
Is true IN part II is not true TO the extent asserted
The duty lad by our government upon English cutlery
and cloth is felt al Sheffield and at Misunderstanding dn
" upon French silks and wines is fell at LYONS and
Marsellcs-,st as the heavy duty imposed by Frarcr
and England upon tobacco and upon bread sus
is fell by the cuyators Of the soil here
We are. then. in favor OF rctalato,y dl,ties-first
because lthe governments of rance and ENGLAND cnnn
ne to draw princey from the products Of our
soil. think it but fair that We in turn shall make
Their skill and industry contribute to our reasury-bu
secondly, and mainly, because we concur in opinion
with that sagacons andabe statesman VIM Cost John
son Of Maryland, that in less than two years after their
enforcement. the fabric Of ancient English and French
legislation would be overhown. We believe. with him
that there is more power in the Congress ofthe United
States To repeal the laws than in the ENGLISH minis
Try itself As Mr. Johnson well remarks, 1--WE receive
her exports, and We have only adopt etaatory
TEN. aud her system is convused to its centre her min
istry could not stand year if we of the grain grow
ing, consuming portion of this Union were true to our
selves, and adopt system of reaatory duties on Fr
land This policy is one. 1t was recommended
by Alr, Jefferson. and first egslated on in 1872 and
doPied 50 far Tonnage duties went in 1873 He read
from the report of the Secretary Of the Treasury
IN $50, in support of this system They had but IL
stand firm on this floor, and adopt this SYSTEM and they
would force England. whether her ministry favor il on
or not at once to open her ports the great productions
of our country
some over acute persons think 1t savors Of nconss
'tncy when one who declares himself disciple of thu
Free Trade school, avows at the time his sup
port OF realiaory or incidental protective duties Blu
the dcluslon is altogether in the optics of the critic II,
looks al the subject through the perverted medium o
preuoices, early imbbed perhaps and long cherished
Ihey who occupy this position are not only consistent
but they alone consistent. The critic is him
inconsistent. who, pretending to 90 Tor free trade
Is nevertheless IN favor of Opening the ports of hi
country 10 all other nations, while all other nations
may If they choose shut their ports agains, ever,
article which he produces that they can produce them
selves, and tax eNorbanty every other of his products
cotton alone excepted If cotton were included in tn,
category the South Carolinans would never have null
,hcd the tariff They. too would clamor for retaliaor,
duties, and would be indignant every moment S delay
That day may yet come The annually increasing a
mount of cotton carried into Liverpool from tn,
British possessions in India and its cultiva alton common
ced i'll the West India Islands, are but the shadows o
coming events-thc precursor of the decree excludn.
cotton. by heavy discriminating duty, from the ports o
Great Britain Where, then, will the cotton plantc
look for a customer, if in the meanwne ne pn,rate
the home market! Let him ponder the question well
No, there is nothing inconsistent in contendng for tn,
imposition OF retaatury duties WHILE in the samebrcath
we proclaim ourselves advocates of free trade is tn,
only mode To make trade free. 1t is the weapon will
which we are 10 beat down the manipulating and sclfsl
system of the Old World and to elevate chr own conn
try to footing OF equality with those ancient aud prol,
empires. II is the only ef1cciual means by which. III,
bonds OF our political yassalage havr been long broken
we shall shake off this commercial thu ald1m hardly les
CALLING 10 our pride and far injurious to our inter
css. II is the declaration otthc man whose thoupb,
are always urncd peace, but who will nevertheless
retalia;e blow 1t is true policy as a nation. t,
cultivate peace with all countries but shall we there
tore suffer them to wrong and insult u.s. without ,c
pelhng the outrage at the cannon's mouth? Shall W,
iod our arms and say fight us gentlemen as long as VI,
peasc-peoce Is o,r doctrine, and VIC Will draw ne
sword IN onr defence. even though you lombard our
ues seize our SHIPS devastate coasts. dcsecratc nn
hearth stones. Polue wives and daughters and carry
our sons INTO capuvlty-we will shed mans blood be