Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-12-14
PROTECTION.

man is the proper judge in his own case. Protec-
ton says in substance, ifyou want Goat YOU ought
to make it Free Trade says, if you can get it east
er by making something else and exchanging it for
a coat, do so, if you please. Here is really the
whole matter in controversy, though the Protec-
tionists never liked these short statements.
Il - journal Of Commerce.
Yes we do like them. But these g short state
ments should estate" the matter in dispute fairly.
One-third of the community have the products of
other mems labor to sell to- the ether two-thirds
who have only labor to SELL. These that have
property are comparatively Independent; while
those that have only labor, and no property are
comparatively dependent. Now, if the Journal of
Commerce can make it appear that those that
have every advantage Of their neighbors in point Of
properly, "LOve them as themselres," as Gcd has
commanded men, then we admit that Free Trade
would work no wrong to the weak and dependent
party. lfthe conductor of the Journal Of Com
merce can buy coat made in London of English
Proadcloth, cheaper than it is WORTH by reason Of
the facts, that the tailor who made IT, and the OPP
erative who fabricated the cloth, have been rob-
bed of fair compensation for their honest toll,
that is no good reason why all abefing men in the
United States should also be robbed Of what is lust
~ due reproductive industry "A foreign import
ing house in New York may be able to sell goods
stolen from theemaeiated muscle Of British subjects
cheaper than they be made where labor is lust.
ly rewarded. But what Of that !. Does it follow
that because man can sell stolen horse cheap
er than any man can raise one by his own indus
try, that horse tseices only should be patronized
in this Republic
ltis not because wool or cotton can be grown
cheaper IN Great Britain than in the United States
nor is it because they have cheaper provisions, or
cheaper water power, that they can undersell US
IN cotton and wooden goods. No, it is because
British Labor is robbed of its just reward, azd
from no other reason whatever.--Bufalo ConH
The fnroroinQ az E,ra S r. 900, e,
to the delusive article from the Journal Of Com.
merce. But the question after all is, whether You
can get the coat on the modern free trade princi.
pies cheaper than you do under the protective
system. Experience proves that the fact is other
wise. Look at all the articles of American manu.
facture which have enjoyed the largest and NEST
efficient protection are they not cheaper and Of
much better quality than the same foreign articles
are or would have been if nothing had been done
for the cause of domestic industry? Can any one
believe that the workshops of Europe can furnish
cheaper or better article in the line of low priced
cottons, callcoes, woolen goods, nails, &c. than
have been and are supplied by American industry
and skill? With such products we have gone into
the South American and other markets and Under,
sold the British. 1t is certain that the effect Of
protection generally is not to enhance prices Lut
then it will be asked of what use is your protection
If such is the case !? "MUcH EVERY Way" but
especially in this. that it gives to the American
manufacturer the home market, and saves that
market from the ruinous fluctuations occasoned
by the bankruptcies and business revulsons Of Eu-
rope. This IS lie great good echich The protective
system accomplishes for the manufacturer. He
knows what to calculate on, and Though by reason
Of home competition he must produce good and
cheap fabric, yet he can by improvements in ma
chinery and rigid system Of economy, make, ar
engagements to live and even prosper. We say that
possession of the home market with stability ena-
bles our manufacturers to afford cheaper fabrics
than they could otherwise do-certainly cutie as
cheap as if they were selling in free competition
with foreigners, and cheaper than foreigners would
offer if they could (by breaking down American
manufacturers) obtain monopoly of our market
Protection enables our manufacturers to cut down
prices by reason of the increased quantity they can
SELL Ii the capacity of cotton mill, for example,
reaches to 2o.00u,000 yards per annum, ii makes
great difference to the proprietor whether by rea-
son Of having the home market he can readily sell
the whole 2a,0oo,oO0, or whether he is obliged to.
limit his operations to 5,oOO,ooo in consequence of
competition with foreigners in the same market.
In the former case he will do we'll ON a profit per
yard which is almost iatinifesi,aal. Ultimately
ne reduces his prices so low that he finds he can
export his fabrics with success This is the true
secret of the advantage which American manufac.
turers have obtained over the British in the South
American and other markets. And the beauty of
the system consists in the fact that while this
cheapening of goods is going on for the benefit of
the consumer its operation the interests Of the
farmer who has produce to sell, and of the opera
tive who has labor to dispose of, is equally a,,spi-
cious--both can get good remunerating prices
Our doctrine is that it is the duty of an American
Congress SO to legislate as to enable every Amer-
can to buy his coat as cheaply as possible and to
luke care at the same time Of the interest Of the
American farmer whose wool may enter into the
composition of the coat, and whose pork. beef,
wheat corn, rye, sc. may contribute to the suste-
nance of the American artisans who make the
cloth, and the American tailor who cuts it up and
puts it in form to- fit the back of the citizen, recol-
lect it is to be no coat made in Paris Or London y
and of the American operatives whose hands and
heads are their only estate, and whose Skin can
produce fabrics of matchless durability and beauty;
and of the American ship owner who viii be glad
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