Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-24

manufactures resorted to- as matter OF course -,
will spring up of their own accord. But by Tho -!
position OF protective duties and the suicidal policy ="
refusing 10 purchase foreign manufactures which -.
cheaper than own, We thus retard our pron,ess "
that very point which we SO much desire TO attain
uFree Trade violates the very la VS. of Narp-a >,
order of Providence, because 1t supposes equality a
reciprocity, which cannot be found-it supposss 80
identity of interests among nations, when, IN ,rn,L
their interests are generally in conflict !" This an
ahsurdy less glaring than the obsolete theory or
Hobbies that "war the natural state OF man, ana -
truth it partakes very much Of the character Of ,k,,
ide ntica opinion Let nations be guided in thei, N
tercourse by the maxim, "Do unto others as ,op
would they should do unto you; the only ecien, t
which can preserve society OF individuals and which
if not equally practicable on large scale, would h
an evidence Of inconsistency in the onnpoten, rec,
lator of all things, equality and reciprocity, whmL
are now styled "fgments of the brain, ~ouo soon
he universally recognized the true policy 10 be Dur,
sued by them. Their increased prosperity, improve.
ment in the social and friendly relations, and III.
greater facility with which each could procure the
productions of the Others would soon convince them
of the advantages of Free Trade.
| "An alliance between nations upon Free Trade p,e
! ciples would be very much like compact between
gentleman of fortune and pauper, for the free and
equal enjoyment of each others property The ana'o
ey does not hold a, all. pauper nation could CIV.
nothing in for the surplus products of is WEALTHY
neighbour and, therefore, would at once become
colony TO her Free Trade between them would BE-
as improbable 10 either, as the avor'te protec,ve
TEN of the writer under review-As there could BE- ~
commerce, there would be no need of protective laws
Such is not, however, the relation between the ricA
man and the pauper. The rich man relies upon tie
pauper for that labor which he is himself unwilling
incompetent TO PERFORM whilst the latter receives from
the former an adequate price for his labor, thus derry
ing from him, by far exchange, his daily subsistence,
and the means o! advancing in prosperity. As tie
anaogy, we may presume, IS intended 10 opplr 10
England and America, the trade between them being
the great subject in controversy, it need only lie pre-.
scented to be rejected even by the author himself Is
totally lnapp0site.
Our author cites Russia, when protective imports
were removed by Alexander, an instance in supper,
of his system sIhe whole country, says he, was
Immediately flooded with manufactures from England
and other places; their novelty, variety, and pGhol
cheapness, tempted purchasers in abundance, &c-
Distress and wrrtchecness overspread the land.
Can this, with moments reflection, be deemed
argument against free rude2 Are its opponents
reasonable as 10 expect that that or any other system
which the brain of man could devise, SHOULD be 70
miraculous in lis fleet be adopted upon the sut
den caprice of ruler and applied 10 the complicated
machinery Of society," rs to EXHIBIT lis benei"laI
luence in moment; As well might they expect
single dose of medicine, even the presence Of Ir
physician to restore health and vsor 10 frame
in which disease has for years been slowly and secretly
which the above statement suggests to my mad SIM
py this that Russia, by the hostile position in Which
she had long stood towards Great Britain cut OF from
peaceful communication with that country, and hGs
deprived OF the advantages which would have accrued
from constant intercourse with the most civilized por
ton of the globe was ignorant of the facts first that
she could obtain manufactures from England al much
cheaper rate than she could produce them herself, and
thereby be enabled 10 expend the surplus OF her caps
which was now forced INTO a channel of Investment
for which the country was not prepared, III ag'cr'a.
raj prod uctions which will always command j market
and even if they do not, neycr-faing source ot
health and plenty to their possessos. And, seconciy
that Adam Smith has published an able and useful de-
fence of free trade, 10 which, could the prncip!,s II
was designed 10 elucidate have been impaired 10 bft
rulers before the premature establishment Of The hot
bed system of restrictions, the experience ol Rns:.
would eventually have added "coniirmation strong
As to ''the important proposition OF the author,
that whilst nations like individuals, should practice
Justice, forbearance and generosity towards each
other, yet it is high and solemn obligation imposed
upon them to preserve their own peculiar interest from
injurious rivalry and interference; consider the zee
trade system most admirably adapted to the preserri'
ton of the virtues incucated in the first clause; and
that the last regards England guilty of "niurlcus
rivalry and interference in sending her goods 10 The
best market she find and TO those who most need
them, whist it ascbes TO US the strctest nst'ce aHt
generosity in refusing to purchase them, either IT,
to receive in exchange, because short PERIOD
of war might come in which event we must BE- pre-
pared to furnish supplies from our own internal re.
sources; taxing ourselves in times OF profound peace
for the sake Of slight convenience IN the unce'lan
event OF war. But the whole Of this 'mpor,ant rFO
position" is n mere "petdio priaepu The question
is not, whether nations are bound to preserve t"e'
peculiar interests from injurious rivalry aud nieref
ence." trust that in this enlightened Ss-
needs to be informed Of that fact. The issue Is be-
tween two different plans for preserving their Interest
between the exped,ency Of unrestricted nterchanr
of those productions for which each nation is bert
ada pied, on the hand and the necessity If tie m
reference of Government on the other. And ilHS
it would be liberal ut least in our patriotic author 10
yield To those, who constitute SO large portion, per-
aps majority Of country, credit for as much pa
lrioti.m and dsinterestedness in performing the sa
cred duties Of Government as he claims for hs own
party
"lf there be any truth in this nlf regulating pt'nc'
Pile continues he "why not let men settle Their o"n
disputes and controversies without the Inlervenlon"
courts and jures Why not abolish the laws oga''s'
usury, ganrng, &c" The object of municipal 60
yernment is 10 protect from another; 10 secure
the enjoyment of certain natural rights, peculiar 10
mankind in their individual capacity. Now, where
the justice of the authors comparisons What are the
natural rights, TO the preservation of which lie INNS
the Protective Tariff essential: Surely he has ve!
crude idea Of the Of things, which in the iora
ton of society demands the establishment of Govern
ment anu OF the nature and operation OF that Govern
ment who considers laws against usurv, gaming, &c,
''resirainis upon individual action! Gaming 90.
usury not individual rights; men have no na'a'"
right 10 cheat each other, or to take an undue ad'
tase Of each others misfortunes and it is to ffte'
such breaches of moral dn'y md their injnrous, ~
fects upon society, that such laws are enacted l''
is the reason why the maxim, "Laissf- nous JAZZ,
is not only totally inuppEcabIe to the object o. ~
gal restraint but sinconsistent with the nature 'n'' CIV
Of the social compact But zee no parallel bf'"'s'
this exercise of the legitimate attributes of Go'en
ment conferred upon it By The individuals wlo h''
agreed to abide by its regulations and the interfere"
Of Government in Stacking that intercourse between
individuals and between nations, which is an nhee'
right, and which they never regarded as !as't
b. exercised by TO the detrnent of another ieh'''
say the privilege allowed by the MAXIM, "L'' !"
alone, may in this be justly claimed, whist m '''
other it would be violation Of mans natural rs"i
Therefore, the parallel drawn by author IS ao'O,.
nd again let remind him, contend not Tor fE1'
let the Government, if authorised, impose the fes'N
lion: we deny only the policy
He then proceeds with great pains 10 show rs, ''