Litchfield enquirer., 1842-05-05

Is beautIful Vision, C&ISting or y m the TN.
agination Of philosophers aud theorists, and
practically repudiated by all nations. An
indispensable condition to the adoption OF II,
by any one nation, is its adoption by all
But instead Of regulating their trade, accord
ing to that theory, we every where behold
restrictions, burdens and prohibitions. And
those nations which make the nearest APP
prnXimation to it are in the least prosperous
state. During the last nine years. about one
halt Of our imports have been admitted free
of duty, and as to the other moiety de-
Scending scale of duties has been in pro-
grCss, which is now rapidly bringing them
down, II there were any reality IN the
hoa>'fVl promises Of the partisans OF free
trade, o',r country ought, at this moment, 20
be in tn" enjoyment Of an envlahlc prosperl-
w. But directly the reverse is lis melan-
chOly condition. Never were the products
OF Agriculture selling at more discouraging
prices; and the great Southern staple OF
cotton, which was to have been so highly
benefited by reduction of duties, IS now
sold 1t price less than it has commanded
at any time since the last war with Great
Britain.
Nothing can he more erroneous than TO
suppose the existence Of any real incompatl-
bility between the interests of Agriculture,
Commerce and Manufactures. A conflict
between them would be just as unnatural
and absurd, as between the members of the
human body. Each prospers most when all
of them flourish. Agriculture requires but
little protection, because its position secures
it against much foreign competition; or,
Father, protection to Commerce and Manu-
features is the best form of affordiDg protec-
ton to Agriculture.
Without 1iyorcitv in thn occnDafiOnS OF
society, if all are engaged in one common
pursuit, there can be no subjects produced
for mutual domestic exchanges; and conse-
qucntly no Home market, by far the best,
most steady in war and peace, and most
| valuable of all markets.
We shall not, fear, rise from our present
embarrassed condition until we produce,
| within our own country, more OF the sup
plies necessary to consumption, and depend
less upon Foreign Countries. Until that OBJ
ject is accomplished, we shall be constantly
exposed to qn exhaustng drain of the pre-
cious metals, and to sudden alterations OF
delusive prosperity and real adversely. One
Of the obvious modes of accomplishing that
object is the regulation Of our Foreign trade
by means of properly adjusted Tariff
stimulating production ut home and dlmln-
ishing importations from abroad. And all
experience has shown that, on whatever OBJ
ject our Manufacturing industry has been
successfully employed, its price to the con-
sumner has been almost invariably reduced.
This is the necessary effect of the law Of
competition.
The question is sometimes asked how The
Manufacturer can be benefited by an in
crease of duties, if the effect be to reduce
prices! The answer Is, that he is benefited
by obtaining possession of greater extent
of home market, and by the greater steadl-
ness which prevails in it. Whilst the for
eign producer, in order to share any part OF
that market, is obliged first to submit to re-
ducion in the price Of his commodity equi-
valent to the duty, and his commodity is
finally excluded from the mlrket by the
operation of the principle OF domestic COM
petition.
Fortunately for the harmony of the differ
ent parts of the Union, and without the dam
ger of rcviving topics which formerly agita-
ted and cXasperated parties, the actual wants
of the Treasury now require Tariff which,
while it supplies necessary revenue, may
be SO arranged rs to afford incidental pro-
lection to Manufacturers without any mate
rial departure from the principles Of the
compromise act, The opponents ofthe pro-
tcctive policy have never controvertcd the
right of Government to give such incidental
protection; and the friends Of that policy,
looking to the substance rather than the
name Of things, should think. ought to be
content if their object is attained, whether it
be made in the form of Revenue Tariff or
u Protective Tariff
request your acceptance, gentlemen, OF
my respectful and cordial acknowledge
ments for the friendly sentiments towards
me contained in your communication, and
for your kind wishes for my health and pros
peritv in retirement. And / unite my
prayers with yours to the Great Author of
our being for his blessings upon you, upon
our Country, and upon all.
/ am. with the highest respect faithfully
your friend and ob't servant. H. CLAY.
TO Mcssrs. L. Bradish, Erastus Root, &c.
THE LEc1sLATuRE.-The Legislature will
convene its session on Wednesday next,
and members will soon begin to arrive i'll
the city. The loco tocos have now major
ity of two thirds in both Houses-so that
they have it in their power to remove all the
abuses of which they have for many years
com planned, and to bring about all their
long promised reforms. So that we shall
hencefor;h lear no morescomplaints about
monopolies Or any kind-no more about the
banks, college action, Imprisonment for
debt, down trodden rig hts and privileges OF
working men-no more abuIt sum0Luary or
temperance laws-no more oppressive reg
istry laws-no more voting by professors or
students in colleges, or by the Presbyterian
clergy. The people will watch the pro-
ceedings of the Legislature very closely.
and compare the professions and practices
of those who have all power to fulfil their
promises--and in the end will weigh the
men and the measures in the balances and
N mnrd thu, Enrmer thnir hnSnrtS md this il