The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-06-15

amount 10 a prohibition, except IN sea
sons ofthe greatest scarcity. Our cor
and meal, Of which we have such Al
abundance, is so highly taxed, that
impossible for Us to compete with d.
native producers. The duty upoi
wheat is so regulated, that the price o
il is always kept up to two dollars sns
a quater per bushel. Except 10 avoid
the immediate danger Of famine, ever
one must perceive that such a dutJ
win always prevent the importation O
this article. Timber, spirits, menu.
factursd goods, rice and nearly every
article which we might send to excha0-
&c for their goods are excluded with
equal care BY the imposition Of duties
varying from one hundred 10 tpenty
seUeR hundred per cent.
Tobacco and Cotton are the only
articles which have borne the duty i'm
posed upon them without arresting
their export. Unmanulactured iobac-
co bears a tax o + one thousand and
manufactured tobacco Of lOeirs hun
dyed percent. Every hogshead Of to-
bacco imported into England, pays a.
bout one thousand dollars tax to the
government, but even this does not pre-
vent lis introduction, as is proven by
the fact, that this article alone pays in
to the English treasury over twenty
millions Of dollars perannum, more
than the whole amount derived by our
Government from duties upon imports
of every article affected by our tariff.
And in the face Of these facts we are
asked to adopt a system Of free trade!
How can we carry on any trade without
loss to ourselves, with nations which
exclude by prohibitory duties, nearly
all our articles Of EXPORT The duty
upon cotton alone, is nominal, five
per cent, but what is this article com.
pared to the vast aggregate Of industry
products made in the United Slates2
How far short would the entire crop Of
cotton fell, Of enabling US to pay the
European debt that would be cOntrac-
ted under system Of ireetrade? Our
import, together with the interest up
on our public debt, amount 10 one
hundred and twelve millions Of dollars
annually, under our present system,
and il our home manufactures were
to be destroyed by the adoption Of this
suicidal policy, il would rot be an ex-
travagant CT lculation 10 set down our
foreign debt at two hundred millions.
Fifty millions is the probable value
ofthe cotton crop, and as almost every |
other product Of the country is exclu-
ded by European tariffs, how is the
remaining one hundred aud fifty mill
lions annual balance against us to be
seulod5 The precious metals would |
soon all be drawn froIa the country
for this purpose, but we have not gold
and silver enough TO support this une-
quail trade for five years and the mines
Of the whole continent would not en-
able US TO continue il. 1t is, however
a waste ofwords to demonstrate, that
trade must be reciprocal or ruin ensue
aud that it is impossible for US to prac-
lice the Utopian system OF free trade,
other nations also adopt it.
What folly il is then, TO talk Of a re-
sort TO this as a remedy for the want
Of 4 market, without we could first in
duce the nations Of Europe 10 abandon
he policy in which they have adhered
for ages, and under which many Of
them have arisen to greatness and
power. Whatever may be written by
British emissaries like Goblet, or
spec ulative absuactionists OF the
school ofAdam Smith, to gull as into
he adoption ofa measure which would
destroy our manufactures, and reduce
Is to the condition to which we we're
driven by English policy prior to the
revolution, when members Of Parlia-
nent boosted that the Colonies should
rot be allowed to make so much as a
hob nail; there is no probability that
keg will ever resort to il. Ratified by
be wisdom and experience Of success
i've generations, the restrictive system
IF Europe may be regarded as perma-
lent as the existence Of The Govern
nents where it is in operation. Until
he nature Of man is changed, the in
itinct Of self preservation will perpet-
nate it. We may never hope, there
-ore, 10 avail ourselves Of a foreign
market for our surplus commodities.
We must create one at home which
will be steady and permanent, and uD-
influenced BY the fluctuations Of To-
-e;gn policy.
We must abandon our subserviency
o the interests Of other nations, and
support system ofour own, one which
S purely, thoroughly american, toun-
led by no states lines or sectional d.
but which is as broad as the