The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1843-04-21
% W.
Weybriise, 4lh March, 1913.
AN ANSWER.

A correspondent Of the Palladium asks what is
the "free trade" that we and others are in favor
OF. We cannot answer for Others bni as for our
selves, we are for trade that has no other duties
on imports than such as may be necessary 10 an
economical administration Of the Government. -
We would not put prohibi,ory duties on the ncces-
essares of life such as salt, sugar. and molasscs
which foreigners are anxious 10 give us in exchange
for our farmers com, meal, potatoes, provisions.
and live stock. Nor would we compel our vessels
to come home in ballast. MS they do, instead Of
bringing freight paying cargoes, rs they would u
only fair revenue duties we'" '"r"S."' f,'se
L.iI,.s.'. .a,yocs pay no duties and if the whole
trade Of the country had been treated as bad by
that last cogress as has tina, with the West Indies
there would be no duties worth naming collected,
and we should be forced into direct taxation, for
the support of the government. We believe that
average duties Of thirty, or ,hrly.fve per cent
would be high enough for revenue purposes, and
would at the same time, with the subreasury re-
established, give reasonable and s,cadv protection
to the manufacturers Of the country. Our me.
chonics that have ,hrivcd rs class beyond any
other, aud have driven away all foreign conpeii.
ton have never had higher duties than fioI ,wen-
ly-fve 10 thirty cents. and if that range has been
high enough for them, the other branches, in cot
ton wooens, and the like, ought certainly to be
satisfied with from thirty TO ihirty.fve. But says
the advocate Of prohlbi,ion-allhough we send our
farmers stuff to the West Indies, yr, the Europe
an trade is carried on principally by exporting
southern cotton, and we, in New England have no
concern in that. IL that was really so il would not
justify prohibory dulies--for with our extensive
country, aud variety Of climate, The productions
of different sections are adapted 10 The diversified
wants of different parts Of the g'obe;- let each
therefore dispose Of wha, il has to spare wherever
purchasers are 10 be found without exciting the
Ill will Of others ltwould be very selfish in the
south, 10 wish 10 put prohibory duties on the
on in the products Of New Engnnd--und not less
so, in New England, 10 put prohblory duties on
the European trade, because southern collon is
used so exens lively in carrying !, IIu, in truth
this same southern Gotten which is sen, to Europe
does very much concern New England, and all the
horlhen sailors, they carry the greater part Of il
TO the foreign markets. II is bought NY norlhen
men of the southern planters, and paid for by the
ls,cabnei ware, carriages, boots and shoes, sad.
dlery. tin ware, clocks, buttons, implements of
husbandry. and other articles that arc made in
shops OF the northern mechanics. Strike ut that
trade and you strike at every mechanics shop IN
New England for every cargo Of cotton thus
purchased, and exported, is the same as If we ex.
ported the shoes, saddlery, carriages clocks, but
tons, and the like, which the cotton when shipped
represents. But besiies this, the compromise
acts of Mr.. Clay pledged The faith OF the nation,
that prohbory duties should not he pr. on We
would therefore have the duteis at fair revenue
Standard and that we believe. would give every
reasonable protection 10 manufactures, and pre-
serve the public faith inviolaie.-.N Haren Reg