Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-07


the upper and The neither mill sone the hard times and
proibitory Tariff, cannot Go cur readers better
service Than 10 present them with Tie following able
letter of hlr Cambrecng on the protective system in
| this country.
The history OF commercial restrictions in the shape
Of duties gwen clearly by Mr. Cambreleng, and in
a small compass. The origin OF TIE system was the
error Of great man. llomltcn- mslcd, doubtless, by
the practice of other Governments and The represen
ations Of interested end intriguing class among
If, however, the ustnent OF tn,ies, which ne planned
and which Congress adopted, had been allowed TO re-
main, there would have been little reason to complain
1t the subsequent eztoF,lons o.. he favored clasScH
under the patronage Of Congress- which have made the
evil in;oerabe.
HUNTINGTON. Dec IL, LAG
} Gentlemen: | owe you apology for not giving an
earlier TO your esteemed letter OF the 9TH INST
requesting 10 deliver lecture before the Free
Frade hssoclaca Of New York | would cheeftaliy
do So, bat arrangements snc as TO prevent
from leaving hoa,e; which | much regret, have
| long taken jealous nieres: in Tie you advo
cate.
The friends Of free trade should not be discouraged
by the uniust and harsh measures adopted ~ the
present Congress. The deceptive and despotc pro.
visions Of our existing Tariff should, the contrary.
stimulate them 10 make greater efforts, and to form
free trade associations Throughout tie Union. With
out unrestricted freedom the management OF our
property and labor, We cannot enjoy free Government
and, if the Federal Government: persists IN measures
which diminish destroy the commerce, internal or
x,ernal, a! any OF Tie States cannot promise
selves permanent Union.
Iiog under popular Government like ours, and
IN voluntary conicderacy of indie pr nds nj States,
avs should have been founded, other than tie
natural, JUS, and wise principle Of admitted freedom in
every branch Of industry, would be matter OF sur
prise had not been taught by universal experience
That, however public questions or forms of Govern
ment may vary, the contest among men for dominion
the same in every country. AT home, as well as
abroad, majority Of those who WELD the moneyed
power struggle 10 rule he mass, by controlling the
laws, and converting the measures of Government INTO
sources OF profit 10 themselves, however destructive
they may be TO the morals, rights, welfare Of The
community. Many circumstances contributed 10
strengthen and consolidate this power at the com.
mencement Of our Government. The most import
an, was an existing public debt lis holders-sene.
rally the Spectators the poverty OF our rsvolu
;ionary officers ana soldieIs-bescged the Treasury
aud Congress until the debt was funded: the public
lands pledged for lis redemption; revenue establish
ed TO pay the interest; and National Bank ncorpora
ted to raise the value Of their funded 6eh; above par
and TO consolidate, politically, the money power o! The
Union.
But one Of the main causes of present system OF
restriction end unequal taxation, was The necessity OF
sustaining two Governmens-Stae ard Federal
The States hsd recourse 10 our internal sources oil
revcnne-the Federal Government adopted The impost
system. u, in the beginning, one rate of duty had
been imposed all lnportaons, without dlscHmina
on, it would have been adapted 10 the varied interests
and productions OF conederacy; more just TO all
branches of industry; ard wise, permanent
law which would have lett capital and labor to their
NATURAL steady, and annual distributions. tariff OF
one section, imposing rate oil duty on all con,no
dties would have lett the different branches Of indus
Try, equally free 10 draw upon Tie annual accumulation
of capital and labor, and uncontrolled by law as
If no post duty whaleV yer had been levied. Under
revenue law mpc form and Just in It's opera
ton, Congress could have patronlzed no favorles; no
branch of industry and no State would have had any
right TO complain; the aggregate wealth OF the county,
unembanassed by ever-changing laws, and directed by
the acknowledged sngacity and enterprise OF Tree
people would have been greater than il Isl and
moderate duty on all imports-probaby never exceed
ing ten per crnLHould have been amply sufficient 10
ms ri oil our Federal wants, our commerce would
have kept pace with tie growth Of the nation and our
Government expenditures.
We unfortunately, however, adopted the British
Government model TIE distinguished states
nan then at the head of the Treasury was firm be.
lever in Parliamentary wisdom, and in the dsiner
esied patriotism Of tie capitalists who beseged Con
ccssas their have done a;ter'y, pari'cu
arly every session preceding Preside n,ia election
/ - Ills policy founded on the presumption that
Congress, being wiser than the Ea.ion, could instruct
millions how 10 manage their own proPerty and that
law was paramount TO nature in distributing capital
aad regulating labor. Adopting the evidence and sug
gestions of the very parties interested, he recommended
bull framed the basis Of discriminating
aSes in Iavor Of particular branches Of industry lis
rates were very moderate, however averaging only
about I've aud and heii cent. nd valorei"
Eui, moderate iley we're, he found II necessary 10
deferd thtse light taxes by On elaborate and argunen
aiivc report, iuli of ingenious specula''ons on The
possible benefits which might result Incidentally even
from taxation. That report has, for than hail
century, formed text book for large majority OF nuT
members of the bar-the trainers Of laws and an
admirable they lave made Of IL. The result ls, as
might have been ante Paed-that no country IN the
term beast OF 20 many crrde unjust, COM
nj
Tariff laws-so many practical evidences 0! Congrss-
scnc wisdom!
1t hn just, however, In that eloquent and talented
statesman, 10 say that his disciples have far onstrpped
m and that but !nr the example end the author y o.
his name, his s,er u,atiuIs would have been harm
less tie rates OF duty lie recommended were, cum
PARA yelv, ms r.fcant. The moderate duties pr.
rcsed " him. did not restrict iGcr1np: any branch
of trade; aud for many years We practically enjoyed ri!
The advantages Of ha, commercial freedom, obvious
" contemplated by the trainers Of the Constitution
One Of the primary Objects Of Ger second confederation
was to secure to the States commercial union-in
other words 10 enlarge the circle Of free trade. The
former league was merely political. Under that, Tue
cid thirteen States, adherng 10 the British restrictive
policy, and mutually and voluntarily fettered BY
,arir own laws were struggling on, trying To mono
pnljze trade, and zsaously ondeavoring TO do each
other much harm as possible. The Constitution
of 1.c7 brushed svcv th5se restrictions and es'a-
'ishod universal freedom q: tfate anon. The States
instance in the history Of nations o! such rapid
growth in every branch of Industry, as occurred
IN tins country in the twenty years from 1877
20 iSU7, notwithstanding the Intervention OF our
Guasi var with the French republic. Agriculture was
spreading in every part of the Onion we had become
the carriers Of The world and The rapid sccumuatlons
of commerce were flowing into, and steadily enlargng,
I our manufacturing branch ct industry Ihis prosper
Gus career of commercial freedom was suddenly ar
re sted by GU. own restrictions in 1907, TO which we
we're driven in defence Of maritime rights, followed
bg our war with Great Britain. During the suspension
OF our foreign commerce. from lo07 10 the termination
Of hat war in 1915, large amount Of capital was pre-
.natrrey forced into manufactures; aud, when peace
returned. there was desire TO moderate the SHOCK
which this branch Of industry would sustain by sudden
mportaons from abroad. The double war duties were
continued for time and high rates still longer; but IN
vain Our old and experienced manufacturers resisted
the flood: but our young adventures, unsustaned by
equal skill and economy, were swept BY The board