Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-10-03
From the N. Y.kErc. Post.

THE CORN LAW CONTROVERSY.
A friend has placed in our hands num-
bers Of the tracts which the corn law re-
formers Of England circulate among the
people. They are about the size in length
Of the religious tracts Of this country. and
are put up in an envelope, which is stamp
ed with neat and appropriate devices
These little publications comprise essays
on all the topics involved in the corn law
controversy, sometimes iE the form OF
dialogues, sometimes of tales, and some
times of extracts from famous books and
speeches. The arguments are arranged
so as to DO easily comprehended by the
meanest capacities.
The friend to whom we are indebted
for these, is well Informed on the subject,
and SAYS that more advanced state Of
opinion prevails among the people of Eng
land, in relation TO the operation OF tariffs
than in this nation generally so much more
enlightened. 1t is a singular spectacle
which is thus presented 10 the eyes Of the
civilized world. While the tendency of
opinion, under an aristocratic monarchy,
| is towards the loosening Of the restraints
under which the labor of the people has
long suffered, a large and powerful party
ia a nation, whose theory Of government
is nearly century in advance Of the world.
is clamoring for their continuance and
confirmation. Monarchcal England is
struggling TO break the chains that an UNI
wise legislation has forged for the limbs
of its trade; but democratic America is
urged to put on the letters which older but
less liberal nations are throwing off. The
nations Of Europe are seeking to extend
their commercial relations, to expand the
spere Of their mutual intercourse, to rivet
the market for the various products OF their
soil and skill, while the model republic
Of the new world is urged to stick to the
silly and odious policy OF a semi-barbarous
age.
We look upon the attempt which is max
ing in Great Britain, to procure revision
of the tariff laws, as one Of the most I'M
portam political movements Of the age
1t is reform that contemplates benefits,
whose effects would not be confined to any
single nation, or any period of time
Should it be successful, it would be the
beginning of a grand and universal scheme
OF commercial emancipation. Let Eng
land--that nation SO extensive in her rela-
tons, and so powerful in her Influences
let England adopt a more liberal policy;
and it would remove the only obstacles now
in the way, of a complete freedom of in
dustry throughout the globe. 1t is the APP
parent unwillingness Of! nations to recipro-
cate the advantages of mutual trade, that
has kept back this desirable reform so long.
The standing argument of the friends OF
MISREPRESENTATION defence under all as
saults, their shelter in every emergency
has been that one nation cannot pursue
free system until all others do, or, ia other
words, that restriction is TO be met by res
friction. 1t is fmsy pretence, but such
as it is, has answered the purposes ofthose
who have used, it, for many centuries.
The practice OF combining trade by the
invisible, but potent chains Of law, has
been a curse wherever it has Prevailed
In England, more dependent than OTHER
nations on the extent of its commercial IN
tercourse, it may be said to have operated
as scourge. The most terrible infections
Of natural evil, storms, famine, and pesti-
lence, have not produced an equal amount
of suffering. Indeed, it has combined the
characteristics Of the worst Of these evils.
1t has devastated, like the storm, the busy
hives Of industry; it has exhausted, like
famine, the life and vital principle Of trade;
and, like the pestilence, it has "walked in
the darkness and wasted at noon day.
When we read of thousands Of miserable
wretches in all the cities and towns of a
great nation, huddled together like so many
swine in pen; in rags, squalor, and want;
without work, bread, or hope; dragging out
from day to day, by begging, orthe pretty
articles Of theft, an existence which is
worthless and burden; and when, at the