The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-06
POLITICAL.
From The n, Y. Morning News,
THE GERMAN LEAGUE.

From the n Y. Morning News
THE GERMAN LEAGUE.
The March number of the Westminster Review
contains an article on the tendencies Of the German
Zoll Verein, or commercial league, now in rapid
progress of development. A variety ofpublicatons
have appeared during the past year, Calculating
the principles the league, and advocating plans for
its extension and stability While great diversity
of opinion prevails in all that is purely speculative,
il is conceded on every side, that already, under
the new system, the prosperity of the people has
wonderfully increased Within the limits of the
league, the antiquated walls and cumbrous bull
warks of the restrictive system are leyelled TO the
ground and, although its legislation on foreign trade
is of jealous and hostile character this is not nhe-
rent to its constitutions and need not last longer than
the prejudice, passions, ignorance to which it
owes its existence The league now consists of
thirteen different States, comprising population of
%, O0O,0 900, blessed with unrestricted commercial
intercourse. This is the essential feature of the
constitution of the league while the league tariff is
an incident subject to modification or total abroga-
ton. II is stated that the principal statesmen and
politicians of Germany are favorable TO free trade;
but that their wishes are overborne by the morbid
state Of public opinion created in the manufacturing
districts by the writings of the champions of the
monopoliss and class interests. How like our own
country, where it has been only by slow and painful
steps that the more enlightened section of the de
mocracy has succeeded in obtaining "a recognition,
yet but partial, the rights Of the many to
protect themselves without legal moestation,
against the Entertainments Of monopoly. We have
fear Of the ultimate result for although age may
give strength to monopoly by extending its ramif-
cations, by the accumulation of capital and the
power Of capital, still the day must come when its
expressions can only be sustained by force UNI
known to the constitution. What will become of
monopoly then,
No commercial system can be named which has
enlisted so much enthusiastic appreciation the
Zoll Veren There is no special attachment enter
tanned by the people of the United States, of Eng
gland or France, for their respective systems which
are mainly sustained by specious compromises be-
tween conflicting interests pretensions. The GU
rious distribution of favor and severity scattered
over vouminous tariff, suggests none of the glad
emotions which it is the property Of freedom, and
fIeedom alone, TO excite. As has been remarked
the constitution of the league is freedom, while re-
sricon is its incident; but already, while the sent
of webeing is fresh in the hearts of the people,
the sophistcal tools of the monopolsts at work
and endeavorDg to prove that the major part of the
benefits received to be attributed to the league
tariff, and that those benefits are susceptible of in
finite increase by infinite diversity and complication
OF customs duties. II is precisely as if the people
Of the United States while rejoicing in sudden eman-
cpation from the thradom of customs on the
frontiers of the several States, invited to see
the tariff enforced their sea coast the source and
prime cause Of their prosperity and happiness.
People abroad are award Of the grounds on which
MIR. Wheaton. Ii not only exacted more from this
country than it yielded in return; but, by involving
question of differental duties, was direct nva-
sion of the powers OF Congress, under whose au-
thority the existing duties levied. This is not
all II was not discovered until the treaty was al
ready before the Senate that, by virtue of treaty
spulations with England, that country would be
entitled to claim, in the event Of its adoption, all the
advantages intended to be conferred exclusively on
the Zo-verein. Here again, by retroactive effect,
would the whole of that part of the tariff which
templated articles of British manufacture have been
nulllhed by the ratification of treaty with third
power! The non-ratifcation occasoned very Sc
we're disappointment TO the Prussian government,
and this was natural, since it calculated to be-
stow great advantages on the league States In ia
vor of the United States, it provided for reduction
of the duty on tobacco, and for the permanency of
the present exemption from duty of American cot
ton, two highly desirable stipuations, which, we
trust, wiser statesman than Mr.. Tyler may secure
for us. In maintaining the present duty on tobac-
co. the league perpetrates the mischief of nourishng
forced branch of agricultural industry at the cx-
pense of the consumer The extent to which this
is done may judged from recent statement taken
from Bremen publication, Weser Zeitung. The
league derives from IFS own culture, annually, 405,-
900 cwt. of tobacco, and imports from the Uni
ted States the further quantity of $3.50 cwt-,
equal to. 32.4 per cent. of the whole quantity
supplied by this country to Europe. In the eight
years, between 1884 and 1642, the consumption of
foreign leaf tobacco had increased GIG per cent.
and it was estimated that in few years the quanti-
ty required from the United States would be 450,-
600 cwt These estimates are made with reference
to the tobacco required for consumption alone; indie
pendently of which, Germany receives annually
from the United States 100000 cwt. of leaf tobacco
for manufacture and re-exportation
Ii seems, therefore, that interest in this branch
of trade, already of great magnitude, is susceptible
Of indefinite increase if the battle against monopoly
he IL, III
as it must be here. Which country will have the
start in sweeping away the cobwebs of restrictive
enactments, future history will tell. Prussia or
America
favorite theme of discussion with the writers of
the league is its excntion One project is scheme
Of foreign colonization, so visionary and unfeasible
that 1t were waste of time to exhibit its details 1t
could originate only in the country Of Fiehte and
Hegel. A more practicable measure would be the
virtual admission of the United States into the
league. OF course this could not be done without
relaxation, on our part of our own hostile COM
mercal code; but this we do not despair of accom-
plishng all the with the aid Of external in
ducements. The organizations for emigration on a
large scale, which are in progress of formation in
every part of Germany, would not only naturally
come to look upon this country as the future home
of their MEMBERS but with more extended CONNER
cal intercourse their plans would be complete
and economical. A printed circular, promulgated
in Germany during the year 1874, shows that the
number of individuals who, on the average of the
last few years, annually migrate from Germany,
chiefly to the United States, is about 10000, and
that they carry with them at least capital of four
millions of our money. 1t is held in Germany that
it would be desirable to direct this migratory popu-
lation and capital to land which should be under
German domination-to the Mosquito shore, for in
stance II is not doubted there that such an influx
into an unsettled country must create wealth, the
arts, and their attendants is it seriously dis.
puted here, except by very small and insig
nifcant factions the natural Of the body poll
tic. There is no danger of our retrogradng in our
policy towards immigrants All are welcome to
our shores, and not the least welcome are the Ger
mans.
Among the many gratifying evidences of the
manner in which Mr.. Dobbin,s. nomination is re-
ceived in this district we select the following from
an eminent democrat Of Wake county: