Litchfield enquirer., 1844-10-17


poorer article to increase the duty. Still, I
would protect generously-and 60 to the full OK
tent Of what is iust-those manufacturers OF cot
ton and wool Thoy should be protected but not
in this unequal way.
Let us consider, Continued Mr.. W. as con.
nccted with these articles, the prohhitory poll
ey-for that is the policy Of our opponents. Sup
pose We carry our duty on cotton and wooden up
TO prohbition-and TO protect our manufactur-
ers and incidentally, in the article Of wool, our
farmers. We go so high with our duty as to
prohibit importation. We FIRST give our manu-.
facturers q monopoly Of tho market. Then We
have only domestic competition 10 protect as
from oxorbiiant prices. But we loose six mill
ions Of revenue, and We must DO taxed on some
other article 20 make it up. And ask any man
who has the curiosity to examine this subject,
to 60 to the tables of impOrtatiOns. for any num-
Dor of years. and SEQ on what he can lay duties
to supply this deficiency Of six millions made by
raising this prohibition. know of none but the
tea and coffee, which are now FREQ. And would
it be right to give the manufacturers OF cotton
aud wool u monopoly of tho market, and tiSn
tax tho whole community on these nocessaries
Of life? / believe it would DO unjust, unequal,
and most impolhic.
But, we are told, this policy Is necessary to
protect the labor Of the country-and that It is
the productive labor Of the Union which We de.
sire to protect by this prohibitory syatem. Let
us SEQ how far the labor Of the country can be
pro,ected-how far it 10 in the power of Con-
gross 10 protect il. We have always seen that
labor employed in raising grain, beet, pork, but.
| ter and cheese, cannot be protected because you
cannot by duties change tho value Of them. We
export them-then you cannot protect that class
Of the labor Of the country. You con protect in
this sense the manufacturing labor. Let US SEQ
how it will operate, and how far labor will be
benefited. Here (aluding to the village OF Wa
iertown) are manufacturers, ! believe, ct cotton
and wool, and ali about you are farmers raising
grain, beef, pork, and making bulicl and cheese.
Now tho manufacturers are protected by duty
of say 80, 40, so, 60 per cent. on these articles
| ut least an average Of 30 or 40 We will as.
sumo that they can afford to pay 20 or 81 per
cent. more for labor. But tho farmers oil about
them, the mechanics in the village not engaged
in these branches of manufacture, cannot afford
to pay more. Will the manufacturer say, Here
is farmer-ho can't pay moro than dollars
month--but am protectcd-L can afford Is dol
lars' Is that your experience! doubt not
thore are many laboring men here. Or will the
manufacturer como 10 you and pay Just as little
as will hire you away from the farmers! If the
farmer pays ten dollars, the manufacturer will
pay eleven. But, though he can afford 1t, will
he pay fifteen? My experience is not so. My
study Of human nature teaches that it is not so.
Every man will hire labor as cheaply as he can,
and pay only enough to hire the best labor. Ono
farmer turns his attention TO growing wool. He
wants two or three hired men. A neighbor of
his raises whoat, and no wants ono or two or
,hrco. Another noighbor raises cattle and keeps
dairy. Well, tho .wool.grower is protected by
40 por cent. on wool. Does he pay ~ per ccut
more for the labor that he hires, than tho man
who hires labor for his grain or bccf2 No. All
pay as little as thcy can command labor for. 1t
there was deficiency Of labor, tho wool grower
would, most likely, get it, for he can give most.
Don't understand me TO suppose that the farmer
receives the same compensation for labor that tho
manufacturer does-but moan according TO the
branch OF labor in which it 10 employed; What
controls the price of labar? The aggregate dc.
mand for labor in the whole. All who want to
hire will 60 into the same market, and will pay
nearly the same rate OF wages, in proportion TO
the description Of labor thoy want. Now, you
can't protect but one OF several branches of ag.
ricultural industry; How then can you protect
labor by extending your monopoly to them
No further than you can extend the aggregate
demand for labor, and raise up the whole. And
you can Judge how far protection on wool will
raise the price Of tho whole agricultural labor Of
the country.
But our opponents tell us you stop short
There is another position that will help you out
of difficulty. You must change your system,
and by your prohibitory policy turn so much la
Dor to manufacturing employments that the
manufacturers and mechanics will cat up all tho
agricultural products of the country. Then you
give q homo market to our farmers, and thus pro.
toct all their productions. That is true. II, 10y
law, YOU can turn so much OF the productive
labor Of the country to manufacturing and me-
chanic arts, so as TO mako these branches equal
TO tho consumption Of oil the agricultural pro.
ducts, and we cease TO export bread stutfs, beci,
SC. then you can protect the farmer in his whole
interest. hut how will il thon stand with tho
manufacturing and mechanic intcrests1 Wall
the farmers be able to turn round and buy oil tho
manufactures Of the country! For If they can't
your system 10 just as cad, only you have chang
cd Sides (Laughter;) Now the farmer cannot
be protected, even though there are heavy duties
on the agricultural imports. Then. the farmer
would be protected TO the whole extent, and the
manufacturer could not DO protected at all be-
cause for two.thirds Of their articles they must
depend upon expOrtation--and tho moment ticy
are compelled TO 60 abroad for market. they are
| as much beyond protection as tho farmer 10 now.
Then, how will it stand? Will the country be
the gamer Will he in q more prosperous and
healthy condition? And especially will the man.
ufacturing aud mechanical interests be any bet
tor Off We can answer this question if we will
believe in experience and history, The govern.
ment af Great Britain, 10 which we are pointed
for an example of the wisdom Of this prohibitory
policy, have gone through with this. They have
tried the experiment and most effectually. They
commenced by protection 70 manufactures, Ivy
20 and 100 per cent. duties. But they had a more
efficient system than we have. The British CO.
vcrnmcnt neither depends on public opinion nor
on constitutional restrictions 10 carry forward its
policy. What did they do !? A. the start. when
il became an object OF government 10 protect a
particular interest," they said in terms. in the law,
this shall not be imported And for two cen.
,uries, the importation Of wooden cloth into Eng.
land was entirely prohibhed--no duty about il.