Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-05-31

be productive OF De0cHcIai results, anu are IL
likely to be carried into practical operation be
tween any portions of the commercial world
The experience Of all ages concusively prove
4 this position. That commercial intercourse be
tween civilized nations. which will be productiv
of the greatest amount of mutual benefit, is tina
which is based upon the principle that each shal
purchase from the other what it needs and canno
produce. No sane would contend that tn
people of the United States should purchas
their bread stuffs from foreign nations
We possess a capacity for their production
equal to that of any other country. Tn
idea that should neglect our own fertile fields
and purchase grains and provisions from a
broad, would meet with universal condemnation
Yet this position is not moro absurd than that 81
frequently advocated, tina: we should neglect the
vast resources of mineral wealth, and the exten
sive facilities which we possess for the produc'
ton Of those articles necessary TO cothe our pop
ulation-to furnish them with tho implements OF
husbandry and the mechanical arts, and depend
upon foreign labor and foreign commerce to sup
ply us with these necessary articles.
An unrestricted free trade, if porsovcred in be.
tween all tho nations Of the earth, would result in
the entire destruction of the manufactures of the
Younger nations, while it would prove equally
fatal to tho agricultural interest of tho older in
which wealth and capital arc concentrated, and
civilization and refinement most extended.
Take off all restrictive duties, and Great Britain
would become tho manufacturer of the world.
Her already extended manufactures would be
still farther increased, until all competition would
be destroyed, and her manufacturers would con-
troll every market. Her Manchester and GIas-
gov would become the only source of supply for
cotton goods; her Birmingham and Sheffield the
sole producers of cutlery and hardware. The
manufacturing interest of the United States would
gradually, but ssadily, decline, until we should
reach that degrading point of dependence and
vassalage to which Lord Chatham wished to re-
duce us, when he said, she would not have the A.
mericans make even HOB NALL There is
permanent and marked distinction between the
influence of wealth and the concentration of cap
ita tho production of the fruits of the soil, and
on the labor employed in manufacturing. In the
production of manufactured fabrics the applica-
ton of wealth, aided by the discoveries Of science,
and the great variety of machinery which the in
ven:ivo genius of modern times has p<oduced. in
creases the facility Of production, and enables a
possessing these advantages to break
ana M sae Of toqsa
chnory, and the influence of capital, cannot be
brought to bear powerfully in aid of agricul-
ture. The younger and less wealthy nation can
not be injured by the rivalry of the older in the
pursuits of husbandry. Poland and Russia
raise grain for less than half the price for
which it can be raised in England. In this coun-
trv. tho extreme fertility of soil, the small
amount of labor necessary for its cultivation, and
the general advantages we possess for agricultu
.urai pursuits, moro than counterbaance the low
or prices of labor in Great Britain, and enable US
to produce grains and provisions cheaper than
hcy can be produced there. If our products
Nero admitted without duties restrictions of any
Kind we should be able to undersoll the British
farmer in his market, and ultimately to de-
stroy his business. FREQ and unrestricted adj
mission of British manu- featured goods into our
ports. would produce equally disastrous effect
upon our manufacturing and mechanical inter
ests. Under the influence of this competition, the
facilities which we possess for manufacturing
would be rendered useless; manufacturing
interest would gradually decline, until should
be compelled to rely upon foreign supplies for cv-
cry article which requires mechanical skill in its
production The result of an unlimited system of
free trade between this country and Great Brit
ain, would be tho destruction of the agriculture of
hat nation and the manufacturing of this. 1t |
would be reciprocity of OWL No nation can,
for any length Of tmo, continue to purchase from
abroad those articles which it is capable of pro-
lucing. without in the end prostrating the indus
ry at home employed in tho production of such
articles. The history of the Roman empire fur
lises ample testimony OF tho truth OF this position.
" hen her empire extended over every portion of
he world, and her gles had been borne by her
triumphant cohorts into every civilized nation. an |
Unrestricted free trade was prosecuted between
The various provinces embraced within her limits;
grain was freely imported into Italy, the heart of
The empire. from her Egyptian and African prov
noes. The consequence that tho agricul-
ure of Italy declined: her fertile fields were
neglected or converted into pasturage. until her
citizens were compelled to depend upon mporta-
lions of grain for their subsistence. Allison, in
his History of Europe. thus speaks of the runous
of free trade:
''No nation pretend independence which for
sensible portion Of its subsistence in ordinary
II foreign, who may become hostile nations. And if
you'd memorable example of tho manner in which
he and powerful nation may, in the
ages to be paralzed by this have only
cast Imperial Rome. when the of
he empire had practically established free trade grain
With the whole civilized world and result that
uiuvaton disappeared from the Italian plains, taas the
ace "f Roman agrie0tsts, the strength of the empire,
seame extinct that The fields asored only by slaves
ad cattle esisns could longer be recruited but
rom oreSn bands-vass OF pasiurasa oversprsad
ven the 6eld Of Loma the Campagna Naples,