Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-08-12

that as it may, the friends Of free trade
have nothing to do with it; all they wish
is the absence of protection. In the alb
sence of that we proclaim it free trade.
whether the revenue is raised by duties on
imports, or by direct taxation.
If those mysterious words at the head
of this article, are still uninteliigible TO
our caviling friends, we abandon them in
despair. We ask the pardon Of those who
may think we were attempting TO explain,
what was too obvious for explanation. We
have some misgiyings of having been cul-
pab!e in this. The fippant and childish
criticisms Of one class of directors were
only too much dignifed by notice; the i'm
penetrable stupidity of the other, reason
would assail in vain. 1t shows an inabhi-
ty and dissemination TO argue a question
upon its merits, when resort is had TO
contemplate verbal criticisms. The in
dividual who discovered this weighty and
momentous incongruiry, deserves to be
made chief keeper of the monkies to her
majesty, and if no such Office exists, it
should be created forthwith, for his esPe-
cial benefit. In that congenial sphere he
could exert the reach of his lofty 'intel.
lect.
It is very common for the advocates of
the restrictive system to say, that if all ma
tons adopted the free trade system, the
policy might suit US, but as it is, say they,
the free trade is all on our side. Now,
the truth is, the United States has the high
est system of duties Of any nation in
christendom. Eng land, monarchical, ars-
tocratic England, approaches the nearest
to free trade; a system which her most en-
lightened statesmen and political econo-
mists, such as Brougham, McCauley and
Hume, have been earnestly fpressing for
many years. Amongst the standard wri-
tiers upon political economy, there is, upon
this snhlect. more decided coincidence
than upon any other in existence. Upon
the side Of restriction can there be addu-
ced such weight Of authority as can be
arrayed by the names of AGam Smith,
Nautilus, Ricardo, Huskisson, Say, Whae-
Iy, Mill, Mccullough and Wcilandl Can
ono respectable writer, upon political econ.
omy, be found to advocate the restrictive
system as at present contended for by Mr..
Clay and his party? Not one! 1t has
been secuted from the halls of philosophy
as a barbarism of the last age, or an in
vention of modern tyranny.
In every point of view in which it can
be taken, high duties for other purposes
than revenue, are impolitic, suicidal, and
preposterous. Says the resirictionist, if a
nation taxes TIE article we export, we
ought to tax what they import by way of
retaliation. What sort Of retaliation is
this2 Our neighboring nation, by duty,
compels the consumer to pay higher price
for the article we export, than he could
otherwise have bought it for; and we in
revenge make our consumer pay higher
for the imported article, for that is the
meaning of retaliatory duties. That is:
my neighbor has whipped his child, when
he ought not to have done so, so to be re-
venged on him, will go home and whip
mine; Or my neighbor has killed one Of his
horses in a fit of passion, and by way of re-
taliation, | will 60 and kill two OF mine. H. |
Illustrations are not arguments, but let any
one take the system and trace it through,
and he will find we have correctly stated
its operations. Away with the wretche1
absurdiiy of government attempting to tell
us where we shall trade, or how we shall
trade! What ulchymical power has it of
creating wealth. The cant phrase of be-
coming Independent of other nations is
catchword. II is theory which
would result in the creation of nation of
PERMITS. The miserable mockery of gov.
,rnmental interference with private inter-
,sts is destined shortly to expire with the
rading political mountebanks who have
70 long sustained it.
CONSISTENCY.