Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-04-09
JOHN FOX Sen
To Gea. Stohicy, Washington City,
Dear ald Hon. SIR,
obliged sci

10 tcH. oto@ify, d5HthSLoH Guy,
Dear nud Hon. SIR,
Having Just returned from Columbus, !
had an opportunity of hearing much, and gaining
some Information relative to Free Trade, | take
the liberty of giving lou some of the leading iea-
lures Of tho conversation. Some OF the gentle
men | had The pleasure OF con"ersing With, were
men Of superior talents, but Wholly unacquaIaicG
uf the procedures, extent, and results OF Free
Trade. Now s,r, 1 90 IN for Free Trade with cv-
cry Nation that will recIprOcate,- my motto Is let
me be- free to all lh> Globe, aud oil the Globe be
free to me- aud If England and France would
reciprocate with America ! would be the last man
to advocate The cause of Protective Tariffs, but
until tins Is the TACT. ! feel bound III duty To my
adopted country, of whom | have the honor q! be-
inc il citizen, 10 come OUT fenrlessly III dc!eLCe OF
protection to h mo industry aud enterprise. In
an argument upon "A well regulated Iariti, one
liuu. and humane Geat!enan asked me IT | was
aware Il the distress and starvation IN England
aud It's m1uuiactnrIng counties, and whether l
would lrfict II sui greater distress by pro
hI5inug English wUVe Silks from coming INTO
this country Informed him that he was ignorant
OF the cause OF the distress IN England and pro~
we'd that Free Trade WAS tic procuring cause OF
most Of the calamity. Here | bad to revert back
10 sotne time about the years of 1873 or %. when
Shitalisld-, London, Reading, Manchester, Stock.
port. MlckcIsfictd, Norwich and many other pla-
ces Ir Six weavinu wore the Irurcls Of uasuI-
he'd industry, the sober industrious SILK or Cotton
weaver could nittntain with the assistance Of The
Junior branches OF the family a cotnpetence ad-
eqnGtc 10 the support Of eight in family aud at
the years end lay by something for unseen events,
thgs i, went on Tranquil aud undis;urhcG until a
bout he years 1910 or 20 when the Hon. Iius-
kinspn ia order to ftcItttate some ministerial pro
Iect, broughi a btil IN the House OF Cofnnons for
French Silks manufactured TO come in free of Du-
", petitions were poured IN against II from al!
quarters by Blukers, Merchants. Tradcsmen Il
Mechanics, but neither the eXpostulatiuns OF Bank
es and Merchants, nor the cries and tntreatIcs Of
100000 Artisans could prevaIl-hessrs Canning
and HuskInson's project was not 10 he oVcrFuIed,
and though the cause Of the poor was most siren
cousiy defended by many noble and honorable
members, gentlemen OF foresight and humanity,
the bill passed with some conte mptble modIhca-
TONS and 10 II months London was stocked with
French Silks, the English manufacturers could not
compete although the JUurnevmcu without resent.
nent were forced 10 endure the greatest PrIva~
tons, still they could nnt compete, 10000 were
out OF employment. ar. Canning told the dele.
gates England was the Work shop Of The world.
they could cotnpctc. Many manufacturers wound
up the business and purchased the French Silks
sent them over to America as Eugllsi wove,, thus
the English Artisans passed several wears in this
distressed state, still hoping something would be
done for their relief. Petition upon petition was
forwarded TO Parliament, but The only redress they
obtained was that II was owing 10 the increase Of
population and other casualties that Government
had no control over. Now sir, In haste, permit
me 10 shew the extent Of this English Free Trade
and we will look at the importntions Of French
wrought Silks in the Custom House returns for
the years 1888, 81, 81. and IS and we shall at
once discover the true uudIsgussed cause Of the
present distress IN England, and particularly n.
fnong the Silk weavers. In the year - we find
imported into the United Kingdom 5l.319 pounds
weight Of wove Siiks-in 36 Silks Of the same
description Is ,iIS-in 81 there was 50, 49, and
IN IS no less than l25.3l0 pounds weight Sa,tins,
selsets, Gros De Naples, Hat Plush, Sarsneis,
tiorentinc. and lowered Silks Of all descriptions
while 10 600 Of once respectable Artisans were
%perIShing for lack Of food, clothing ard fuel. This
has been the Procuring cause of the distress in
England, Free Trade has been the means Of Thou
sands meeting an unumeIv death by starvation,
and IS It possible that Americans can stand and
look on and not take the alarm. The same fatality
awaits Us It not judIciously prevented in time,
France now Is the work shop Of the world. is she
not draining upwards of 30 million of our pre-
cions Specie annusIlv. Look at the French Silks,
Brandy, Wines, Shoes. Hats. Lace. Umbrellas.
caps and other comoditles too numerous 10 name.
While most of these articles could he manufactur-
ed IN America under a protective Tariff; without
ms what will become Of our National enterprise
and industry? look at The vast sum now invested
~ The Silk trade; look e, the Millions of Trees
iaieiv purchased; box at the elegant and extern
sNe Cocoonertes erected and erecting; view the
enterpr'sing little Farmer training IN his chill.
dren 10 feed the worms. raise cocoons or -s.t ,be
S"k' mat otherwise would be runninr id. about
'e heids or streets, contemplate the urea, ex-
psnce. hundreds have been at IN bulldinu Reels.
"indefs, Doublers, Twisting and Tronminr Ma.