The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-12-23


: trust, is only equalled by the zesl with
which he meets the obligations Of his
duty.
FREE TRADE OR A TARIFF, OR
BOTH.
Our readers may remember that some
months ago, we inquired what could be
, the object of those who published so
much about Free Trade. Articles were
. copied from southern publications head
Cd ''Free Trade" and we inquired what
was the meaning.
Upon this our friend of the Concord
Freeman took lis to do, and pretty plain
: ly gave US HINT that it was none of Our
business-that we might possibly write
some tolerable articles on farming, but as
to tariff (or indirect taxation it was
wholly out Of our line, and that we had
nothing to do with il.
We then quite modestly requested the
Freeman to give us poor ignorant farmers
little light from his great lamp aud to
know whether we could get along with
out any species of taxation to support the
national government Whether, if the
Tariff should be reduced, we poor fellows
who have little land that we cannot
hide from the Assessor, should not be
likely to come in for very large share Of
The burthen ofholding up Uncle Sam2
Since that time we have not heard wor d
from tie freeman till las, Satul day,
when we found column in that paper
tina. laid all the fault of low prices to the
operation of the present unjust tariff, all
the present troubles of the farmer to the
improving condition of the mechanic.
He now says he sis not an advocate e
Free Trade,o but he insists that the pres
mt Tariff is wrong, unjust, sc. But he
tells us moi how it may be amended, he
leaves US altogether in the dark on that
point, and we cannot but think it rather
hard that he will neither enllghten the
public himself nor suffer others to write
on the subject.
We are pleased however to learn from
him that the manufacturers are prosperous
that they are'growing rich, for we farmers
like better to sell to those who can pay
than to those who have not the means. -
But he more than in,imates-he express
ly declares that the manufacturers are
growing rich at our expense. Now if he
will support this assertion by single
particle of evidence we will join him a,
once and turn that spoke Of the wheel
down little, provided that motion will
bring ours up to level. But SD far as
we, from our owly position, can look in
to such matters, our spoke is on The same
side of tie mhec1; and if you lower the
syoke of the manufacturer you at the
same turn of the wheel lower down our
own.
The interests of the mechanic and Of
the farmer a:e SO intimately connected
that you cannot injure the one wilhou,
wronging the other. Look 10 facts. The
farming interest has been depressed. Has
the Tariff done il2 Was not produce
lower and money more scarce las: year
than ,his2 We say generally, prices
are much afflicted by abundance. Hay is
low for that reason, but leading article,
pork, is higher than it was last season.
the vegetable and fruit market are also
better. And none will be so absurd as to
assert tina, money has been more scarce
since the present Tariff was established
than it was before.
Neither fact nor theory will support
the position that the present Tariff is ope-
rating to the injury of the country. The
theory that we cannot expect TO sell much
unless we buy freely from foreign coun-
tries may be true, but how will it apply?
Neither Britain nor France will take much
of our farm produce. They have tariff
that discourages the traflic.-lf they are
willing to slipulale by treaty to take our
grain and our meat, duty free, it will then
be worth considering whether we will
change our policy and buy as much Of
them as they will Of US.
All parties in this country agree fully
that we have been buying too largely
from Europe-that we have too long run
in debt for goods of foreign manufacture.
Now, how shall this evil be remedied 7?
Shall we beg our importing merchants
not to purchase so much2 Shall we hum
bly petition them to lorbear and save the
country from temptation by refusal to
import the gew gaws, the wines, The laces,
and the jewelry of Europe2 Or shall we
with manly promptimde, make it their in
terest to import less, by laying reasonable
i'm post duties on foreign goods2
| We have no idea that The present Tariff
is perfect We think it may be amended.
But we see no propriely in declaring :
gainst measure, which seemed absolute
ly for revenue, unless better system
, shall be proposed as substitute
Our own member from Mddlesex, Mr..
Parmenlier, gave his vote for this same
lTnriH nnn nincieen members more Oh The