Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-06-30

Hoe Cheap.

decd Whch DO not seem 10 Do tFUei hnu
to bear on their face, the appearance o.
strict Justice. 1t is this reason (which
blinds so many totheir fallacy, d which
makes it so hard TO meet or answerthe
arguments Of it's friends.
One OF the cardinal principles of this
theory is, that We should be permitted
to buy, and sell, whatever We may want
or pros oduce, at the best rates. And why
not? n bis principle sounds fair enough;
it is, Hne is ready to eXcaim, just
throUgS0ut And yet it might bo de
monsts d that lis adoption 10 the past,
or noISWoud inevitably prove ruinous
TO home interests, and make US, 10 es-
seniaI lallers, really dependent upon
foreign capital. Has it not been so,
whenever we have departed from the
principle OF proteclionH Was it not the
case within the last four years as we
approached nearestthe free trade stand
ard?
The che0pness Of an article is not al
ways, nor often, tho beat sign Of general
prosperity. The history Of Eng land,
and OF our own country establishes the
fsct, that, whenever produce has been at
tho lowest point, the quantity sold, and
thc amount consumed, have been seri-
ousIy diminished What is moro i'm
porlant- what gives vaIue to produce
ani property, and secures the ability to
purchase, is a steady, stirring activity,
in oil branches Of business. Take Flour
as an example. II wages are fair, and
employment regular il the capital Of
the country is invested, whether the
crops be short or not, or the price high
or low, is consumption is surely and
rapidly increased. 1t is only amid en-
barrassmont that We do not obtain for
this article its real value. And the rea'
son why this is so 10 natural enough
When men are cramped in meana, or
O. feel that hero is danger Of their wages
being lowered, thoy are compelled to
stint themselves, and their families, to
1.-Two upon short allowance. Hence We
find, in looking at tho statistics of Eng
land, where ,ho returns on this subject
are complete, that, when large portion
Of operatives are thrown out olwork or
their wOgeo lowered, be tho Prico Of
Flour ever so low, that the quantity
consumed 10 greatly diminished.
The nominal price Of an article is not
tho first or most important matter to be
regarded, That's high or not, accord
ing 10 The ability Of the consumer. What
concerns us more is, The condition Of
trnde--its Octivty--lhe inducemsnt for
capitalists TO invest, and the facility
with which labor can find employment
at good wages, Suppose, for instance,
Qbai The commercial world was engaged
in a thriving and prosperous business
who doubts that The consumption of our
bread stufI's would be doubled and ire
bledR Many persons argue that the
adjustment OF tho Corn Laws in Eng
land would not benefit us, because we
could not, even il this were done, sell
-four in England, owing TO the immense
supplies which Northern Europe could
throw into that country, Grant tho
fact Still il that adjustment brought
with it commercial prosporily-if it
started Nlresh The capital and The labor
Of Great Britain, and by natural causes,
gave greater life and vigor 10 our indus
lry,it would double tho consumption o
our flour, though mol barrel of it was
shipped TO that country, Mr. 0. II
Smih'put this point strongly;
"But it is said that the British manu-.
facIufed articles may be bought cheaper
!han tho sumo article can bo nude for
here; and hence it is argued that the
tariff should bo reduced. We have al.
ready stated how this matter stands, but
lot ua illustrate il again Whether an
article is cheap or dear depends upon
circumstances the price may be lOw. ana
yet The medium Of payment rcadsr il dear
al the present time the farmer can afford
10 pOy higher nominal price for an
article in the produce Of his farm than
ho could got the sAmo article for in mo
tho ono no has 10 SpNro the other
ho hNa not, A lormer and haltor Join
lands, the farmer needa halo for his usO
and tho HITTER neOds corn, boriNndpork
for his family; il suits these porsons to
exchange articles. Now il is not very
material what price onhcr puts on his
article it la but an exchange at last; but
suppose Mt tho moment that these indus
1tlous men woro making The exchange,
y pedIor should drive up wIlh n Io0d Of
English hats, and offer to soil one to tho
farmer for Gfty cenla less than tho hat
!ot asked Tor his, but required cash in
stead Of produce in payment; would ibo
farmer by taking tho cash from his
drawer and paying for tho hat, whilo
his produce lay upon his hands without
market get tho article any cheaper
lhan II he had bought it from his noiRh.
bort but suppose ho had in fact bought