The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-07-29
Protective DntiCs.

In one OF The late numbers of the .Ntp Eng.
,a"a f"fmer' We saw an article probably written
ny the EDITOR on this subject, written with some
p!ausbllliy and more than usual share of sophs.
/ iry' We must give the writer credit for the med
ley of 'rusms and sophis,ries. lie begins with
the general proposition that with few eyccp-
tions the interests of all large classes in the com
mnnlly, rise and fall together" Now this iruism
holdS good when they are left to themselves, TO
be governed by the laws of trade. Bu; when the
government steps in and protects one class, and
"eglccts another, OF imposes Il greater burden of
taxes or tariffs on one than on another, then this
natural relation of classes is broken up, and if car
rled far enough, would result in King and subjects
lords and commons.
The government may be regarded as the parent
the classes as ITS children, and while the parent is
impartial in lis lavors, (Other things being equa)
the children will rise and fall together, but let the
father put at interest for the oldest son, one cent
per day from his infancy Ill, he is twenty one, thus
to remain I'LL his son shall become 60 years old,
while he leaves the other sons TO their cwn unaid-
ed efforts, who does not see at Il glance that this
trlng parlalily in the father is equivalent to giv-
ing fortune TO The family of his oldest sun. Thus
it is with human laws--a trllling departure liom
strict justice and equality, in the course Of time,
results in kings ind subjects poor classes and rich
classes, men of millions and men of nothing.
Alter captivating the mind Of The inexperienced
by this rulsm, the editor attempts to prove that
agriculture needs no protection, and that the more
protection you give 10 commerce, manufactures,
and the mechanic arts, the betie, for the Turner,
and that crcn on oc0ol, the farmer should have no
protection, for, says this stalesmanke editor, the
more mouths our farmers have TO feed, the better
and consequently the greater will be the demand
for their products aud the profit of their labor
Now, if we should suppose this argument was in
tended to mslead the nneltered farmer, and to lul
him into dangerous and false security with re-
gard to his true interests, we might, perchance DO
injustice to the motives of the writer, and on the
other hand, should we contend that he meant re-
ally what he has said, our readers must infer that
he is more ignorant than he or we are willing to
admit.
Now it is evident, to the slightest observation,
that the writer has not taken II comprehensive
view of the subject, that he assumes in the frs, in
stance, that the United States are the whole com
merclal world, that demand and supply high prices
and low, are wholly independent of the laws of
trade, and the state Of the markets of the world,
and Thy dint of protection he can drive three quar-
tiers OF our population ont of forming into other
pursuits. they who remain at the plough will have
a greater chance to grow rich by farnins-jus, as
ricadcd on all sides, that no one could get in
or out instead OF great commercial nation, con-
nccted by her commerce with all the nations of
the earlh,-just MS if when the home value Of our
products, were above the market prize, in the
market world, we sho, Id not be flooded with i'm
porta,lons OF foreign products until the price should
fall To that standard yalne which must ever be fix
ed, ms a general principle, by the laws of trade,
not on the demand and supply of single nation, |
but of the commercial world. This is proved BY !
the great mporalons Of bread s,utIs in 1886, Eek
cecdng in value seven millions of doars,) and The
course Of trade since. If from any Sudden shock,
high prices prevail for day. n reaction is certain
10 follow rs every farmer knows who buys and |
sells at the present day.
Will the editor of the .NfW Engiapd Farmer |
in the plentitude of his wisdom contend that, be-
cause my ncighbor abandoni the ploagh and en-
cages in commerce in the city Of Boston, therefore
he must buy his potatoes of me- when Nova Sco- |
TIA potatoes are sometimes imported into Boston,
rt the rate of Is, 600 bushels per week, and hnv-
ing paid the duty Of 10 cents It bushe (Which is |!
10 be taken off on the theory Of the cdor) are Of
Iored in the open marke, as cheap as miGc, and
may be transported thiIhcr at as little expense -
If not he mus abandon his ground, or declare tina,
he was subly opposing the interest Of the armcr
in order TO conciIiate the more wellihy classes in
society
Had moi the article referred to appeared as edit,
oral in IN agricultural paper we should have sup
'osed tina, its author was some shrewd importer |
md manulalurer of daiy free wool, because the
lrt of his argument is TO show TIM, this great ag-
cultura staple should have no protection, for he
'rl'uIy coaceais The fact, that all cloths are man
yaciuIei ont Of this rely rool, anil hare been
protected from foreign competition by a duty Of
ify per ccm dd roi0rcm.
We should no, have noticed this article, had |
rot we seen it quoted in some papers pledged to
he manufacturing as we are TO the agricultural
interest We are aware we incur the hostility of
opposing interests, yet we shall DO our duty. Bos-
on CHiiir1iOr.