Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-07-30
BEAUTIES OF FREE TRADE.

nicated to Congress by P. Triplett, Esq. Nc
comments are neres sary "He that hath ears
let him hear"
10 protect American commerce and the pro-
ducts of American industry from foreign pro.
Editions, duties and regulations, by counter
vailing duties, all other means having failed
to accomplish the object, | believe is a duty
now s%enjoincd as well by the interest as the
honor of our country.
Previous to the formation Of The present
Constitution, the inpessibility Of the several
States, while acting each for itself, protecting
their commerce and the products Of their in
dustry, whom shipped to foreign ports. from
the prohibitions. burdenscine duties, and OPP
presslve regulations imposed on them by TO-
reign nations, was felt and acknowledged by
all as one of the greatest evils arising from
The then existing state Of things; and a strong
anxiety 10 have this evil corrected ia KIN ,wn
to have been one Of the str ongest inducements
to the formation Of the present Constitution,
sud beyond all question was one Of the chief
arguments urged for is adoption by the States.
No well informed man will contend that the
Constitution would ever have been acce pied
by the people, if it had not contained the
clause by which the power and The correlative
duty of regulating com nerce with foreign ma
tons was taken from the several States and
bestowed on Congress, as one of The depart
ments Of the Federal Government.
Although the expressions on our commerce
from these prohibitions. duties. and regula-
tions, of nearly every nation in Europe, have
been continued ever since the Constitution
granted the power and imposed the dirty on
Innnreza nf TcntIInti,r r,p N ~ Nth forA,ra
nations, yet, up to this time. that duty re-
mains undischarged and each foreign nation,
without any regard to reciprocity or equality
wholly for its ~avarice, without any regard 10
Justice, until they have ceased to fear that orr
Government will seek redress by the only
means in its power to enforce it.
The result of this abandonment of its duty
by Congress, and leaving to take
care of itself, aided by such assistance as the
Executive department has been able 10 give
it by exercising the eGniYocal power Of regu-
lating our commerce with foreign nations by
treaty stipulations, has been suchas was ma
turally to be expected and We find that these
exactions have increased, until, al this time,
the following facts exist: Fss.
The produce of the labor OF the citizens OF
the United States shipped TO the various ma
tons OF Europe, amounting annually 10 about
S9O,eOO,000, pays an average tax Of over 100
per cent, while the productions Of all Euro
pean nations imported into the United States.
amounting annually TO about 300, 00a.0OO,
pay an average tax or duty Of less than 20 per
cent.
In other words, from the productions Of the
labor ofthe citizens of the United States.
from which those who own the soil and per-
form the labor of producing and transporting
the produce to market receive 800, 100000,
foreign nations, by means of duties levied in
different ways, r~eceievs $9s,C COG. 900.
1t is not TO be wondered that the agricuItur-
ISIS Of the United States have not prospered
in proportion to their industry, when they do
not receive one-half the benefit of their own
labor.
With a genial climate, a rich soil, and in
dnstry and economy on the part Of our PLAN
teFs and farmers, unsurpassed by any in the
world, their aggregate prosperity and wealth
ls far less than that of the owners of the soil
in Great britain, France, Germany, or any
nation in Europe, exercising the same skill
and industry in the cultivation of the earth.
1t ls the duty Of the representatives in Con-
gress TO inquire into the canse from whence
this effect springs, and apply the remedy, if
one can be found within their power.
| have endeavored to fud out this cause.
and sincerely believe it principally, ifrot
wholly, proceeds from the fact that our far
mers and planters are not permitted to trade
with the subjects Of foreign nations on equal
and reciprocal terms but on the contrary,
they or their agents are compelled 10 give
more than one-half of the produce Of their
farms and plantations, or, what is the same
thing TO them, more than one. half Of tie no.
ney it would sell for, to obtain the privilege
of importing and selling the remainder in Eu-
rope, while the citizens of European nations
give less than one-ffth of the produce OF their
labor for the privilege of importing and selling
the remainder in the United States.
In figures, the matter stands thtis
The products of American in
dustry sell in Europe, after
dedhcting freight and charg-.
es; except duties, for I'm round
nun,bers) s204. n.0oG
OF which we receive 81 ,OOO,G
And lose, in paying duties 1~l3,500,00t
The products OF European in
dustry sell in the United
States, after dedue.ing freight
and other charges, except du-
ties, for 100000
OF which The Europeans receiye 73,000.OOt
Ard lose, in paying duties 17,000,ON
Showing the average amount of duties le
We'd by the nations of Europe on our exporta-
tons 70 them to be upwards of six and a hal
tiinss as great as the average amount OF oul
duties levied on their exportatiorsso the Uni
| ted States.
But, great and unjust as this inequality j.
| on the total amount of expectations from thu
United States. it becomes still more startling
in its manifest injustice when examined as TO
particular export, the staple, to a great extent
of several particular States. ~Unnianufacturef
| tobacco pays in Great Britain, since the ISL
of May, 1870, a duty Of - cents per pound
or upwards Of 1850 per cent, valuing thu
pound of tobacco at six cents In Austria
within a fraction of60 cents per pound; or l,00t
per cent; in Prussia. 3Gi cents per pound, o.
upwards OF 500 per cent; and France levies
by the Rgie, or indirect duty, about oae dol
lar per pound, or 1869 per cen
On the amount Of average annual
value of tobacco shipped from
the United States for the year
1889 and 1870 to wit, on Sa IA.
There ls levied by the other Euro
pean nations an annual tax of 32,4G3,5i
Showing the amount for which
American tobacco sells in Eu-
rope. exclusive Of freight and
other charges, except duties, to
be 4tesa.eB
OF which foreign Gorernrasnts retain upward
nf thres-fourths. and the tobacco planters Ia