Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-06-07
TERMS OF THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM:
Two Doilars-.in advance; and Three Dollars
at the expiration of the year.
EFFECTS OF THE TARIFF on AGRI-
CULTURE.
SPEECH Of Mr.. CALEB u. SMITH, OF Ind n,
on he subject Of the Tariff.
TConcluded.l


ncrce with foreign nations, and more especial
with Great Britain that tho agrlcuurlsts of tho
west cannot find foreign ma rket adequate to thC
consumption of tho vast surplus of their products
1t is equally clear, that any reduction of duties
which we may make will not have tho effect of eX
tending our market abroad. The policy Of
Great Britain is fixed and permanent. Her corr
laws, by the operation of which our grains arc
excluded from her market, except when gre
ilarvcsts and high prices bring u large portion oil
her population to the point of starvation, will be
rigidIy adhered to. Her politicians may talk a
bout FREQ trade, and cndcayor to persuade Other
nations of its beauties, but it is mere talk. They
desire no FREQ trade, except that which is free tc
them, but restricted to those with whom they
trade. Sir Robert Peel, tho primo minister Of
Great Britain, declared, at tho opening of the
present session of Parliament, that her corn laws
would not be changed modified The Duke OF
Wellington lately stated i'll speech, in the Brit
ish Parliament,
That when talked existing in Eng
land, it u absurdity. There not and can be NJ
such thing free trade in this country proceed on tho
system of protecting manufactures aud own
pfofuce-the produce Of our labor anl sniiof protec
ting them for expotaton and protecting them for
cnnumption and on this universal system OF protection
is absurd 10 talk OF free trade -
These sentiments of British statcsmou.-
This is the policy 10 which they will adhere. That
sellishnoss which has evor characterized the adj
ministratlon of her government, Will still continue
commercial intercourse with wc as other
nations; and we shall look III vain for any con-
ccsslons in favor of our interests. Still intent
upon her tavorltc system of selling largo an
amount as possible of her manufactured goods to
other nations, whilo sho buys as litto as possible
OF their productions, she Will eagerly embrace
every opportunity, which may DO afforded by a
reduction of our duties, to pour in upon us her
goods, whilo sho refuses to purchase IN return,
our agricultural products. The modification OF
tho tnriff-thc reduction Of tho duties now con-
tended for--is to to her benefit. and not to
ours. Tho bill itself has been aptly donomina-
ted n 8 British bill. | would not, sir, inputc to
those who support the bill any desire to promote
British interests nj tho eXponso of our own.
am not so unchartabo to believe that there is
my party. or any set Of mon in this country, so
destitute of patriotism as to desire the prosperity
OF any foreign nation at tho expense of their own
country. But | spoak of tho bill as British
bill = because firmly believe that its effect will
be to promote tho interests of British manufac-
turcrs, while it will produce injury TO our own
country.
think, Mr.. Chairman, it must be apparent to
all, who will properly examine this question. that
the foreign rket for tho agricultural products
of tho west will not be extended by tho passa 90
of this bill. The corn laws of Great Britain.
and tho restrictive duties of other nations will
still be adhered to. Any concessions which we
might make by reduction of our duties would
not be mot by corresponding concessions from
other nations Tho policy of every civilized ma
ton at this timc IS to protect their own industry
against foreign competition and due regard to
our own interest, and tho general welfare of our
people, should induce to adhere to the Same
policy.
But. sir if the corn laws of England should be
modified, if her restrictive duties upon the inn
portatiom of grain should be reduced. we should
not derive the important advantages from such
rntu hICb nfIclD fad Ti,o Int
States is not the only grain growing country
which would seek 4 sale for its surplus in tho
British market If that market were opened. Rus
STA. Poland. Germany. and other parts of Europe.
raise wheat cheaply it be raised in
this country. If tho ports of England wcre OPEN
cd to productions they would also DO opened
TO theirs. In the competition for the market.
they would have decided advantage over us in
their vicinity to it, in the time necessary reach
It, and expense of transportation. If the desired
object of free trade could be obtained. the gold
fruits which anticipated as its result would
cludc our grasp. and should be left to the en-
joyment of the bitter waters of disappointment.
| have attempted thus far, to show that tho
people of the west can find no adequate market
abroad for the vast surplus of their agricultural
products-that tho foreign market is uncertain
and very limitcd-that we can adopt no course
of policy tending to a freer interchange of COM
modities, which will be met with correspond
ing spirit of hberality the part of those ma
tons with which we trade; and that a reduction
OF tho duties which impose upon foreign
goods will not increase the expectation of our ag-
ricutural products.
II: then we cannot rely upon tho foreign mar
ket Tor tho sale of our produce, the question pre-
sents Itself, to what market shall we look Inn
swer. cmphatlcatly, to the homo market Tho
homo market is the only sure and unfalna
source of demand for the products of the west
which will approximate an absorption of our sur
plus. am aware that great efforts havo bean
made to produce the impression that the home
market for our agricultural products is of but lit
tic value. Those who arrive at the conclusion
that 1t is of less value than the foreign market.
have given the subject but superficial examina-
ton. From an examination of the census returns
OF lS4O,it will be that the annual agricultural
products Of the United States of the chm racter