Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-04-16

Th-&ue rnestion in reference 10 the restrictive pc.
Icy the odous Tart. for protection IS whether certain
men or sets of men, shall take unusy what belongs 10
others The great object and the great difficulty IN
Government the preservation OF individual property
All the fraud and almost oil the violence winch It IS
The business Of Government 10 prevent and rep:ess,
from the attempts of mankind to deprive one eno-
Their Of the prices Of their labor. Among savages,
these attempts produce robbery and theft To these
simple modes OF unjust appropriation civilized nations
add The l'ss pllpable forms Of monopoly, combination
and privilege But the mos, res,stess, and perhaps
the most mischievous, form Of robbery, that IN which
the Government itself becomfs an accomplce Tins
later form his assumed the OF Protective larih;
and II is this policy The Federal party woong you
10 sustain policy which pretend, 10 favor industry.
only ~ putting into one pocket what ii improperly
takes out of anoiherand II lakes from every man be
sides, in his character OF consumer, the worth OF the
difference between what h. pays for the things lie
consumes and what he might get lhrm for
II doubtless IN this view OF the subject, that
Mr. John H. Peasants, one of the Committee whose
names signed 10 the article TO which we are
plying, and who is now recommending th's "restrc-
tive system almost every editorial coinmn OF th1
Richmond Wing in his character of Editor OF that
paper, the 26h Of Aug 1925, shortly after It's re
commentator by Mr. CLAY, and It's first distinct atop
ton ny Congress, Justly said rriat ne nom eTr"t
and adopt from him
"For this restrictive system, Which originated ages
OF barbafsm and ignoraEce entertain especial Gni
rial ABRASION We believe to be founded IN fraud
and rapacy rioiais The principlrs c natural usr,
eagendsr great moral and political sr and TO be
mons 10 he best interests Of The country ain
order foster domestic manufactures, heavy
duty must be imposed the introduction of fo-
reign Goods, equal. or nearly equal, TO a prohib
ton. In either case, the domestic msnutactu-
rer would add 10 the price ut which he could
otherwise have afforded TO sci! his articles, the JnR
amount Of the duty; and the consumer, who is the
agricuita'isi, the mechanic and in instances The
merchant would have 10 pay b: extrcvagaut charge.
And here must be permitted 10 point out the at
surdy of this policy To foster and protect these
nufacturng establishments, told will
the ccah Of the nation that Is, the manufacturer; Tor,
It he sells lis articles ID the other classes OF The
munty, Of course the purchase money only changes
hands The nation is rich when the price Of
commodity in the hands OF the agriculturis the
chanic and the erchant, as II is when has been do
posted IN the Golfers Of the manufacturer /! afti-
Gle be purchased from foreigners for suta,
to compel man 10 pay double that sum, merely to en-
courage hts neghbor 10 undertake lis manufacture IS
to give the sanction Of lao 10 ac; Of do'ongh rob
berry, and should be submitted 10 by free people
IL as therefore founded, we CONCEIVE, fraud ana
i, Will end gratifying only the apacty OF the manu-
acturer, a. the expense OF other classes equally honest
and more deserving Of protection than himself. al
violates the principles Of justice because, instead
of fostering The industry Of all classes Of society
that s, as understand the terms, by securing The
fruits Of their labor, aud leaving 10 individual sagacy
capital, and oil employing their productive powers, It
plumbers the mechanic the agtculturist, and the
chant wilhout either the slightest necessity or equlva
lent, to CLINT The iaOrdtndte ao0riee ~ me manWaet"
Does patriotism exact any snch sacrifice Is the
nation benefited by ii? Certainly not for the other
classes could with smaller portion of the produce Of
their labor purchase the article they wanted from TO-
gners their market and the residue might be
jndlconsly applied, either TO the improvement and
extended cultivation oil their lands, or 10 such
-
investment in manufactures. II is as much an IN
frngsmen of the rights of the cit GEN. and al act Of
pa pabe and fagran; injustice, L, force man, by pro-
hbitory duties, 10 puy domestic manu!acufer % 10
100 per cent mere than IT would cost If there VAS iair
and open competition, would be, by direct tax.
TO take the amount from the mechanic and bes,ow II
the merchant, ffon the manufacturer and give 1t
to the farmer.
So much, however, has been said and written upon
this subject, and the whole theory and prari'ce ot
the restrictive policy have been 10 often conroverted
and exposed Nv politlca, economists and statesmen.
both in this and in other countries, that 10 us II
appears work Of snpescrogat'on (but for the present
efforts Of The Whigs,) TO advert 10 the subject. We
verify believe, that in this country, at least, there
would be very li,tle difference OF opinion upon thus
policy of "rade bu, for the perverse designs of
bilious leaders, and the interested motives of jealous
partsans ling themselves Of the avnricious brides
OF manufacturing monopolIes
We cannot think that duty upon any article can
cheaper tina. article. II 10 mpossibe-it is absurd
and irrational. Can farmer be seduced into the
opinion and belief that if there but way TO so
to and from bis farm, and that along this way collec
tor was Stationed who could lawfully demand from
him half twohirds of every thing that went our
in he would grow rich more rapidly, or h..
farm become and more vtluoble2 Would not IA
Their the be the case, and the farmer, It the
system was persevered IN, become bankrupt, ana
hs farm unsaeables Would tine land owner in the
city vcue his lot highly, if i, were subject 10 a
heavy ground-renp Would tie Clerk seek an employ
with avid,y il he knew The salary he wac TO re-
ceye wss to be subject deduction Of 30 40 per
cent, THIS is but the Tariff brought home 10 US and
although consequence of the shrewd inventions Of
men defraud the people, the pill that we daily avail
low is covered up that do not see II, yet ia Ell
fecs quite sensiby fell. This is the working OF
the very system these Federalis!s urging you 10
faslen upon yourselves and your children.
THOMAS II. ELLIS,
CHAs. F. OSBORNE, Committee
WILLIAM WALLACE,)