Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-02-14

artiiicially the price of all products, SO that
though all were dear, yel the same guam
Atity Of each commanded in exchange as
much as any other, as if all were alike
cheap (for equal protection practically APP
piled could ouly mean this; ;)-were tins
for any (anciful purpose ever so desirable,
il must he obvious that in this country 1t is
no longer possible. By what process could
we raise the price Of our coHons, our
wooIlens, our hardware, aud the numer-
ons articles of manufactures which consti-
lute our exports? They must be sold in
foreign markets at the same prices as the
goods coming iuto our competition with
them from all other sources.
The same articles will command only
the same prices for home use, that they DO
for cxporalion, and Ibis price must there
fore be the lowest natural price determined
by the oren competition of the world
Laws made TO protect such articles must
always be mere dead letter. 10 proh'b-
it the importation of an article which we
produce in excess, which excess is disposed
ofin open competition with the whole
world, can never by any possibility raise
the price of that article al home. 1t is
beyond The power of the law 10 protect
such interests. But on the uther hand The
law is all powerful to protect aud TO raise
the price Of those commodities which we
produce in defciency,-of which we are
obliged TO import some portion 10 MAKE up
The quantity required. Whatever duty is
placed on the article imported must ena-
ble1he producer at home 10 command a
price as much higher than the producers
of that article abroad as the duty amounts
to. Protection, therefore, though avow-
edly extended to all alike, would land us
in this dlemma-lhose classes who pro-
duce such articles as we export III change
for the luxuries, or the necessaries, or the
raw materials. which we receive from lor-
eisn countries, would obtain from the rest
Of the community at home only lbe same
price that they received abroad in the
open markets, while they would have to
pay TO the producers of articles of which
we are deficient, an enhanced price equal TO
,heduty imposed On the quantity imported.
Thus the various producers Of hardware,
cot;ons, and woolens in Sheffield. Man
chester, and Leeds, receive from the tar-
mers and landlords only The same prices
that they do from their customers III The
United States o. Germany but they have
to pay 10 the farmers aud landlords price
for their produce as much higher as the
effective duty which is placed on the pro-
duce Of the farmer of foreign countries.
/, must be quite clear, therefore, that If
equality be honestly intended 10 all the
vailed interests of the community, it can
cannot be ACCOMPLISHED by protection; II
cannot be accomplished by any attempt 10
elevate prices generally to an artificial
standard but it can be idone, and can only
be done, by allowing all alike to remain al
The natural rale determined, by that free
competition 10 which large portion mast
be exposed, and therefore 10 which all
should be equally exposed. That just
equality Of interest which the principle o.
Protection cannot accomplish, Free Trade
alone can accomplish.