Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-04-13

yo.I to.ner esfay upon the suhieel Of the Tariff
= Worthy Of The profound politieSl economist
eno poiaiy declaned 'she diminafisa Of fersigs
eslmerses 81 one Of the ekisf tisssiags which arr
= % anticipated FROM Inc ProlectiSe Tariff
ne sane ingenuity which prompted Won Ia
that wonderful discovers, has induced Won d
aenonncP NE principle Of free trade e. theory.
and % question its praciica6ility. Abandoning
ne ground which you formerly occupied, we
near 20 more 81 the home market for cur sur
Ptos produce But your great argument seeh lbs
nc,p % oes that because an nations have prac-
tisec the restrictive policy, we should also prac.
Use i IN seif-defence. That Is you insist because
other nations will not take from US al Of our
surplus produce. I'VE should take none Of theirs.
lMs = the childish and ridiculous argument
which Is COMMONLY exempl6ed BY biting OF The
nose 70 spite the face Because Great Britain
Wlit not suher her citizens 10 take our surplus
tobacco and hpuf, We should lay heavy duty
upon her manufacturers, and thus prevent them
from taking evan the quantity which thew are
willing and able 10 lake. ifGreat Britain should
take OF The heavy duties from our tobacco, Ii
would bp Of infniie benefit TO u.s. But can we
force her 10 do This by imposing heavy taxes
upon her Prodactiousi II yeu did not belong to
that party whose misfortune X ise ever 10 turn a
deal eaEio the warning voice Of experience,
you would ere this be satisfied that our every
q DO this has signally failed. Il is not in
ne ~ sol Great Britain 10 take OF her duties
iromou 3aeeo; because il Is one Of the great
sonrefs cfrspsnas, which she cannot do without
But The amount Of tobacco which she does take
from u.s. is BY no means trihing II Is, notwith-
standing The restrictions. . very large amount,
annually, as may be deduced from The fact sta.
ted ~ yourself, that she derives revenue from
This srtcle alone, greater than that of the whole
United States. Now, the question is, shall we
oy excsudlng her manufactures, prevent her
subjects from taking even this amount Of our to-
oaeco For i is vain and foolish TO say that
they will take this amount, whether We take
their goods IN exchange or not. They cannot
DO 4; i % impossible. Because The planters Of
Virginia cannot sell Eve millions worth OF TO-
oaeco - Great Britain, should we ID order TO
'retaliate' upon Great British, protect the plan
tiers BY prohibiting them from selling her one
millioni That is the question Will you turn
your attention 10 il in your nexti And do . OF
beg Of you take refuge in the hackneyed end
pltiful terms Of 'ahsiractons.' .imprscticable.
tHeory, which seems 10 be the common resource
Of fty, whenever they meet an argument
ICY cannot answer.
As to the article of66uf, you are greatly mis-
taken ii suPposipg that Great Britain purchas-
Is none OF il from Us. She, and her Colonies,
80 atrptutCty y TIC ucSt customers VIC nave lot
our -four, and actually take from US morefof that
article than all The other nations together. But
1whetheE sho docs or not. ask sou once and
seain, V you can make her takemore By impos
ing tariff upon her productions? II you cam
not how are you 70 protect our farmers and their
hourf This wordsprptectioi's seems 10 be ma
gic word--a very great favorite with both your
self and party. You are either ignorant Of lis
meaning yourself, or you use tito deceive the
eredulons and ignorant. You M1tif 'protecl'
commeFce BY binding her 10 fette You pros
tect' our farmer, By prohibiting them fromselI-
ing their produce, where they can sell highest,
and buying their necesssries where they can
buy cheapest, BY compelling them 10 give two
oarreissof hourfor as much cloth, or as much
sugar, IS they could procure for one barrel, or
one and half without your protection You
protect The mechanic BY imposing a burden
some and unnseessary tax upon the clothes
which he wears, and the sYery implements Of
his trade. The people are so fully sensible Of
your kindness in this respect, that their voice
has more than once been heard exclaiming, in
tones oftthunder. save US from the protection Of
WhiggeFy.,
did not pass over 'unceremopiously' your as
sertion that the effect Of the Tariff is to reduce
the price Of the articles protected. endesvor-
ed briefly 10 expose the fallaey and utter
absurdity Of such statement II has never
been denied that, our own manufactures can,
after they have been protected BY the tariff FOR
some time, produce their goods at cheaper
rate, than these same manufac tories could pro-
duce them, befpre they were stimulated BY the
competition and the accumulation Of cspiisl--
and this without the aid Of Protective Tariff is
the natural tendency Of things, as young
country Increases in population, and acquires
grealef skill 10 the art Of manufactures. In
the mean time The mass OF the nation, constilut-
ing at least nine-tenthS of the whole population,
will have 10 pay higher prices for the domestic
articles than they would. had not Protective
Tariff been imposed But sgainS after thus
paying extrayagant prices year after year, can
our man6factorles furnish us with those goods 4
a rs cheap rate a. we can procure them from
foreigneFs' said, and say again. that they
have had the advantage Of sixteen years Of high
tariff, and eight years Of moderate tarif, and
hey cannot do 30 yet, nor will they ever be able
10 do 50 until they have degraded the operatives
Df this country 10 the condition Of those in Eu-
rope, and reduced the price OF labor to the
standard established there. beg you to bear
"a mind the words, and not accuse me Of wish
ng to see this state Of things 10 this country -
You ask, Is it not hamliatiDg for any indepen. |
tent nation 20 be compelled to depend upon 70, |
reigners for articles Of common use and indis-
Densable Necessity, when they can make them |
'or themselyesa answer that il is not shumii- |
iating' 10 any naiiOn 10 suffer her ciiiySs~. 80 |
furnish themselves Win III e s.saries o LIE
: sAa Teaches them they can do Il cbespss,
4 ~ ~ .sasl ssaof Ans Il hess eilizeer 6ad
,apitai 10 the ayocaiions Of agriculture; plant
ne, &c, they can produce more Of these neees- /
aries of life, than they can BY bestowiag The
anne amount Of labor and capital upon manu- /
sctories. / say the government which forces |
hem 10 bestbw their labor and capital upon |
manufactures, as special protection and bene-
il. ii tyranicaI, oppressive and ignorant.
You are moi content with misqaoting me, but |
lou absolutely misquote your own immortal
You say, what said was this,
hal ID proport ion to The increase Of our dOmes-
ic trade, eur foEeign TRADE might diminish. - /
Bot sic, what sou did SAY sbns not thg above
luosati0h. You did not express il in manner
hsIf 80 decent, ~ 10 language half 80 becoming
This Is what sou said, That Il may in some de-
ztee diminish cSmmerce is freely admitted, and
nat IS considered one Of lis greatest benefits,
but hat our domestic commerce which IS much
better. and much moro deserving Of encourage
ment. win be ID the same degree increased, Is
truth 81 self-egidentt that s0phisir9 can eFade
g. inpadenee deny IL These are your. very
words. and .thoagh you may well Be ashamed OF
Them. Vel i cannot saties you 10 forget them 50
..silr a yor seem disposed % DO Although
+, an have not had me lemerily . second time 70
your splendid discoverss thst 10 dimin-
in is foreign commercs i TO bensbt nation.
rst YOU strive 10 disproye The fact that The pla-
- 4. ned b. ne owed t1eir spcient hpiendonrl
~ reno.xu chiefly 10 their foreign commerce