Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-12

drspery Of poetry and fancy. "Fres trade" ha'
been painted IN all her beauties and aursetions
The gentleman from South Carolina Mr. Pekeosl
hss declared that discriminating duties aud Iesirie
tons are Incompatible with the sge Ia which We
i've and only suited TO the Of the Chinese walls
tie has described the march OF Improvement In 20
ltical science, and the progress OF free opnions ia
eloquent strains. lie regards that great modern in
venton, the steam engine, es destined 10 bring d.,
tant empires and kingdoms in jUxtaposi,ion with
each other. aud TO unite all kindred and tongues,
spread over the face Of the broad earth
into one brotherhood, bound together by frsiernal
cords. He imagines that he hears, in the whistle
of the steam. pipe the clarion notes which announce
the coming OF a political millennium. lie dreams
Of all things frees" but, sir, It IS only dream.
] wish this were fact instead OF fancy. am apt
to believe that the world is likely witness and
enjoy this political millennium, until II shall have been
preceded by that great moral and religious mile
mum foretod by prophets OF old, and destined TO
exhibit mankind for a thousand years upon earth,
cleansed OF their impurities, and walking in the
light of their renovated nature.
So long as man is what man always hitherto has
been, a selfish, covetous being, intent what he
estecms 10 be his own interest, fear We shall have
no such displays Of his lberality and cosmopolite
benevolence as has been described to w.
There is nothing in the history OF civilized and
associated man, upon which We can base any such
anticipation. We have seen that there u nothing In
the present commercial condition OF the world TO
titude Of Great Britain, and TO the movements OF
Sir Robert Peel as furnishing indications Of change
of policy in that country favorable to free trade
see such Indications. We oil know that self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, has marked the com,nercial, diplo
matte, and colonial history Of that country, from
the earliest period. And when have We. in this
country, ever been on the of any general revi-
sion of our tariff laws, that have failed to hear
on this side OF the water, the same Promises Of
what Great Britain was about to do, and 10 have
her amDles and nOinted n the tanp
to guide us1 Sir she gives us these periodical lee
lures, but we are yet TO sec her example. IL is
quite obvious that England has deep interest in
the duties we may impose. We are her best GUS
toner. She looks now, as she always has looked.
with Jealousy upon our rival establishments. She
desires that her own work shops should furnish us,
rather than We provide them al home.
The present movement in Parliament is one rather
Of necessity than merit. There are some duties
which they forced TO diminish, in order to get
any revenue at ali from them. OF course there is
scarcely any manufactured article from which they
can derive customs; the perfection OF their o,Sn
works prevents this.
| II appears by MIR Hume's report in May, 1870
that for the preceding year there was received from
import duties G22 1862 Clio sterling-that this sum
was derived from duties eight hundred and sixty
two nrtices-and that cal ,7p0,630 of il was pro
duced from IL of the articles OF eight hundred
and sixty -two-beins 9il per cent. Among these
IL articles tobacco, timber, corn, ncludng grain
Of all kinds and rce,l and provisions, including ba
con, butter, sc. Now the chief reductions propos
cd are on the residue OF the eight hundred and
the customs. There are articles, for the most part
from which they will derive more revenue by a ANAL
tax than they do from the present.
Revenue for the support Of Government is the
great ain with them. The expenses OF the British GO
vernment annually about go so 900 900. To raise
this enormous sum, every thiHg almost is taxed. In
addition TO the income from customs and excuses
they have a tax on lands, stamps, windows, SC.
and near one million OF dollars is raised by tax or
dogs alone
Suppose, Mr. Chairman, without waiting further
for the action Of other Governments, we ourselves
set the example Of free trade as are urged TO dc
by some gentlemen. We become missionaries &C
enforce the new doctrine upon the acceptance o.
others We exchange revenue from customs, eithe
in whole or IN part, for direct taxation. Our manu-
features are put down, destroyed. For the suppo
sition that they could maintain themselves ngans
the capital, experience, skill, and low wages o
Great Britain and continental Europe, is Idle
| Whatever market these manufactures afforded
would Of course be lost, and those engaged in then
would be restored 10 the class OF producers nstea
! of consumers. Well, what would we receive il
exchange for this loss Of home market and tho mean
Of home supply7 Should we obtain free trade will
other naiionsl There is no evidence that should
and no TO believe that we, by our preaching
free trade, could induce them TO abandon a lon.
settled policy. But suppose we could succeed il
bringing about general adoption or the system. i
might do, during periods OF peace. But, sir, wha
would be our condition in war, with commerce. ono
| intercourse broken up, aud resources to rely or
at home The Individual, who in the manag men
OF his own affairs does not look forward 10 the day
| of cloud and storm, which shall interrupt the SUI
light of his prosperity, Is not accounted wise in hi
generation. A nation which 50 acts, is still les
wise. Her life time is long one, and should b.
counted 10y centuries. Let her policy rest on foun
dations, broad and deep, and be adjusted with re
ference TO all the vicisstudes Of national existence
We live on this side OF the great waters; we are
world Of ourselves; separated from the connections
| OF Europe, we should have policy OF our own
We can produce. within our own borders, every
| thing necessary to human comfort and happiness
| Our destiny is high one, if we will pursue il
To us, branch of the Anglo Saxon stock, ha
been allotted the aifest portion OF this green earth
What may we not make it, il wise and mode
rate counsels shall guide ns7 We too OTTER
told Of The various interests existing in this country
The interests Of the North and tie South, the Eas
and the West. The poe, hath it,
Gan dscord is harmony, no, understood"
1t is so. Mr. Chairman, for | npprehend that the
dversites Of soil climate, products, and population
which characterize these States, and apparently
mark them with opposing interests, when rightly
understood, the true elements OF their strength
and perpetual union. Make the North interested in
he labor Of the South, and the South in the pro-
ductons OF the North, and we shall hear more oil
an adverse conflicting policy 10 separate and es-
TRANCE them from one another.
Let us not feel that we robbers on the high.
way, or pirates on the ocean, each eager to grasp
what he can, but that We are citizens OF the same
republic, sheltered and defended by the same glo-
rous Consttution-that members and bre
thren ofths same great family OF eagued and con-
federated States, bound together by the sacred
collections the past by ali the nnmating hopes
which gid the future.