Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-10-07

pcable 10 human conduct, but IL, moreo YER in s;.
collision with that constitutional equality of reb
which this instrument thus coniessedly =,
secure distinguished jurist of Massachuse,ts-ons
who is advsntsgeously known such 10 The pecple .,
the Union, has said of The system of which We com
plain that il is calculated "to destroy nany Of a.,
great objects for which the Constitution of the Uued
States was originally framed and adopted" Who in
affirm that such system can consist with tho spr Of
The Constitution Its ensctments may be so yeI-d
as 10 eude tie judicial power, and may, therefore BE-
obgat,r ~ upon the other departments Of the Govern
ment-but as between constituent and agent BET ween
the people and their rners the charter will, in such
ccse have been volated-and it will belong to them 10
correct the evil Why should we fear TO enuncate this
prncipe Is because of the danger of those interest,
which have grown up under the SYSTEM a just con-
aide ration of the subject will lead to directly opposite
result II Il be conceded that the system oppres.
sive, unequal, and unjust can those, who profit BY it,
deceive themselves with the expectation oil lis perns.
npncy Is il prudent 10 close their eyes TO the conse
auences, TO which, or later, this conviction
must inevitably lend Distinguished as this system
is, by every characteristic which may define tyranny
The most odlous why should we, who are iis victims
not stand upon chartered rights
AS men and brethren, appeal 10 you then II
unite your efforts with in the correction of Tn,
abuse system, which is unequal in lis operation,
and therefore, is unjrst-which IS oppressive, be-
cause it burthens the many for the benefit of the
few-grossIy, fatally unwise and lnpolIic, since II
is subversiye Of the harmony OF the Enion-w5ch
in violation Of the principles Of free Government and
utterly at variance with the spirit OF justice aud mu
,ual concession in which the Constitution was COT.
ceyed and adopted. Such system, II persevered H.
must ALLEVIATE affections from each other, ensen.
der disconents and anmosites, and lead inevitably,
and with force which human power can resist,
TO the most awful of all caamties We entreat those
who differ from US, seriously TO ponder on this view Of
the subject We entreat them not to nsunders,and
u.s. We cannot be deferred from the discharge OF our
dulles 10 ourselves and our common country by he
menace Of consequences, and We are equally incapable
of using its language 10 others 1t IS as men and bro
thers-n the spirit Of affection, which is still warm
and undiminsheJ, that We would call their attention
to those inevitable results which neither they nor We
will have the power To avert.
Examine the subject for a moment in its connraicn
with the principles OF Heightened political econnny
and it the considerations which are urged 10 sustain
this system are not fallacious and delusve The view
mus, be necessarily brief consisting of hints and
suggestions rather than of an extended argument q
Of minute details but Jet will be ataineo u these
may serve TO awaken spirit OF dsPasslnnate inquiry
we are the advocates Of free trade. The argument
which sustains II rests upon proposition which NAV
not be denied II is the unquestionuble right OF every
;ndv;du. 10 apply his labor and capital the niece
which he may CONCEIVE best calculated to promote hs
own interest II the interest OF the public that h.
should so apply IT, lie understands better than II can
be understood by the Government which VIII confnrs
will If properly protected be disposed to folio" then'n'
terests such application of their industry ard capital
must produce in the result the creates amount OF P0
lie good Let it be remembered, that the question
relates exclusively 10 the application OF CAPITAL 1t
cannot be generated by act Of legislation The pow.
err of the Government is limited to us transfer Rom
one empl OF rnen to another II takes from some less
favored interest, what IL bestows on the one "hchi
processes TO protect 1t is equally untrue, that such
system gives greater employm TO labor lis operation
is confined to the simple change OF us application
Laws which protect by bounty any peculiar speciesd
labor cannot be said 10 encourage .fm1tedn ihous'iy
that is directed 10 various objects These laws iaH
only single class and since the bounty is no: supprt
by the Government but taken from the pocket oil tie
individual the protection which ~ gwen 10 ore specs
of labor is so given at the expense OF every o'h.r-
That course Of legislation, which leaves American caP'
tai and labor to the unetered discretion Of those who
the and apply the other, can alone be demo
minated the "Amercan System.
The interference Of Government, with the right q
the individual to apply his labor ond capital IN such
mode he may think most conducive 10 his own lne
rest thus essay operates 10 diminish the aggregate
amount Of production In other words, the amount Of
the necesfares and nences Of life which are En-
joyed by the community, 10 necessarily Diminished
If all nations them were willing to adopt The system
of free trade for which contend which Is aceordah'
to the spirit Of Christianity, and calculated 10 nnf'
nations in harmony and peacs,t cannot be don5'rG
that the interest Of each would be promoted. Tie
only question which can be raised on this part OF Tie
subject is. whether the adoption of restrictive r"'!
by one naons makes It the interest OF ""is
10 reciprncate Inose restrictions. The answer SEEMS
to he sufficiently Obvious and satisfactory The Pc.
position which asserts the superior advantages Of
4 free trade among all nations, rests upon the 10
lowing principle: The universal freedom Of as:'a
which it allows, tends most thoroughly 10 cr's
lope the moral, physical energies OF each na'"r'
and TO apply them 10 those objects TO winch lhry
are best adapted The proposition must be efro
~ true in relation ench nation, whatever msy lie
the policy adopted Ly others. The nation which n.
sorts 10 restrictive policy, legslates 10 her own cs'G
vantage, by interfering with the natural and most pro
fiube employment Of capital. To the extent whch.s
thus excludes another nation from an accust"n't "
from desirable market she occasions, il is true, IN he;
nation, also displacement OF capital from lis nauf
channels. Blu, can the remedy consist in corcao!
system Of legislation in system Of further resifc
tons imposed by the latter nation " ii be hu,,
that restrictive system is injurious 10 The Eaton ~
posing it, does it cease to be go in regard 10 tie lot
ter nation because Of The wrong done by the former 'r
because i. IS also injurious 10 such nation: Nted
we apply these views 10 the Corn Laws OF b"t'
Brtun, considered with reference 10 their effect uif
NJ, is it not then obvious that system of pretended re-
taluton, which rnfetters the productive energies o. or
own people, whatever may be IFS effects upon that M
tion must necessarily increase the evil ourselves
destined TO sustain
| 1t is strongly urged a motive TO the coninuare
effect reduction Of prices These have, in ac,, 1'n
since lSlG, and our opponents contend that h's he
been he resu!, of dome st'c competition. mcmh''
reflection will demonstrate the fnlacy fths n.s'fa
We present single fact in the outset Tie t'@n1
lion of price has be-, gtnt1ni, as well III u a'nn .
articles, which ere not protected 10y tie tXsi'ns Is'
Of duties, TO those hch are. II cannot thete'e
have arisen from this Let us rcmemhtr n"F
that this dlminuon Of price has occurred every vice
abroad well as at homeland not only III an 'G''
but, as a necessary consequence Of the Tariff, n
greater degree there than here. Among the cs"n
which have produced this result, two promiacn! o;''
are presented to your consideration the diG''Etl'
amount Of the circulating medium of tie worId, 81.
the astonishing Improvements which have lren 30"
duced IN the modes ef production The cost oi r~
duc'ion is less the comparative value Of money b"
| become greater. Can wonder at the resu 1.se
the of cotton goods; there have fallen in pree h'
since the enactment CT Ike tariff Bot The sane lhne
true no, only in equal, but in greater degree 0i'
and The reason is nbyors TIE causes hch haze ff
duced this resultthose which have been before si&h