The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-12-27

tions, 1t should not be demanded by the maDufac-
turers, who do no, feel the injury, and whose fab
RIGS, in fact not excluded by the foreign egis-
ation OF which they complain. That agriculture,
commerce, and navigation are injured by foreign
restrictions, constitutes reason why they should
be subjected to still Severer treatment, by addition
al restrictions and countervalllng tariffs enacted at
home. Commerce, agriculture, and navigation
harrassed as they may be by foreign restrictions,
diminishing the amount of exchangeable products,
which they could otherwise purchase abroad, are
burdened with heavier impositions at home Nor
will augmented duties here, lead to reduction of
foreign tariff; but the reverse, by furnishing the
protected classes there, with the identical argu-
ment used by the protected classes here. against
reduction. BY countervailing restrictions, we in
jure our own fellow-cilizsns much more than the
foreign nation at whom we propose TO aim their
force; and, in the conflict of opposing tariffs, we
sacrItlce our own commerce, agriculture, and nav
igatlon. As well might we impose monarchical or
aristocTatic restrictions on our government peo-
pie, because that is the course of foreign legislation.
Let our commerce be az free as our political nsti-
tutions. Let US, with revenue duties only, open
our ports to all the world. and nation after nation
will soon follow our example. If we reduce our
tariff, the party opdosed to tho corn laws of Eng
land would soon prevail and admit all our agricul-
tural products at all times freely into her ports in
exchange for her exports. And If England would
now repeal her duties upon oui wheat, flour, Indi-
an corn, and other agricultural products, our own
restrictive system would certainly be doomed to
overthrow If the question is asked, Who shall
begin this work Of reciprocal reduction! it is
swered by the fact, that England has already aba
ted her duties upon most Of our exports. She has
repealed the duty upon cotton, and greatly reduced
the tariff upon breadstuffs, provisions and 9TH
articles; and her present bad harvest, accompa-
MED by reduction of our tariff would lead to
repeal of her corn laws, and the unrestricted ad-
mission, at all times, of our agricultural products.
The manufacturing interest opposes reciprocal free
trade with foreign nations. 1t opposed the Zoll-
Verein treaty; and il is feared that no other treaty
producing reciprocal reduction OF our own and
foreign tariffs, will receive its support If that
interest preferred a reciprocal exchange of our
own for foreign fabrics at revenue duties, il would
not have desired tariff operating, without excep-
ton, against all nations that adopted low as well
as high tariffs; nor would it have opposed every
amendment proposing, when the tariff of 1912 was
under consideration, reduction of our duties up
on the exports of such nations would receive,
free Of duty our -four, and other agricultural pro-
ducts If that interest desired reciprocal free trade
with other nations, il would have desired very
different tariff from that of 1912. II would have
sought to contine the high duties to those cases
where the foreign importer would sell his imports
for cash only, and admitted drawback OF d ne half
OF the duty where American exports would be ta-
ken abroad in exchapge-not an actual barter OF
foreign imports for an equal amount in value of our
products, but without any barter, where sum
equal 10 the value OF their exports was used in
purchasing here equal amount in value of any of
our products; and the shipment made abroad Of
these products, upon the same principle under
which a drawback OF duties is now allowed OH the
re-exportaon of foreign imports This would be
less simple, and is not recommended in lieu Of that
absolute reduction of the duties, which will accom-
plish the same object OF unrestricted exchange.
But such provision would be self executing re-
ciprocity law, and should be desired by those be-
lieving in countervailing tariffs against foreign ma.
tons, but in reciprocal free trade with ALL thus
abling our farmers and planters to sell their pro-
ducts for cheaper foreign manufactures, getting
moro for what they sell, and paying less for what
they purchase in exchange. Itseenis strange, that
while the profit of agriculture varies from to
per cent, that of manufacturers is more than dou-
Bile. The reason is, that whilst the high duties Sc
cure nearly monopoly of the home marketto the
manufacturer the farmer and planter are deprived
to great extent of the foreign market by these
duties. The farmer and planter are, to great ex-
tent, forbidden to buy in the foreign market, and
confined to the domestic articles enhanced in price
by the duties. The tariff is thus double benefit
to the manufacturer, and double loss TO the farm
monopoly of the home market, and IN enhanced
prices of their fabrics and loss to the latter in
the payment of those high prices, and in total OF
partial exclusion from the foreign market. The
true question il, whether the farmer and planter
shall to great extent, supply our people with
cheap MANUFACTURED purchased abroad with their
agricultural products, or whether this exchange
shall be forbidden by high duties on such manu-
factures, and their supply thrown, as monopoly,
large prices. by high tariffs, into the hands ofour
own manufactures. The number of manufacture
ing capitalists who derive benefit from the heavy
taxes extracted by the tariff from twenty millions
of people, does not exceed ten thousand The
whole number (ncluding the working classes enga-
ged in our manufactures) deriving any benefit
from the tariff, does not exceed 400 900, OF whom
not more than 40 900 have been brought into this
pursuit by the last tariff. But this small number
of 10000 would still have been in the country,
consuming our agricultural products;and in the at
temptto secure them aspurchsaers,s so small in mum.
ber, and not consuming one half of the supply of
many countries, the farmer and planter are asked
to sacrifice the markets Of the world, containing
eight hundred millions, disabled from purchasing
our products by our high duties on all they would
sell in exchange. The farmer and planter would
have the home market without tariff; aud they
would have the foreign market, also, to a much
greater extent, but for the total partial prohibi-
lion OF the last tariff.
We have more fertile lands than any other ma
tion can raise greater variety OF products and it
may be sad could feed and clothe the people of
nearly all the world. The home market, of itself,
is wholly inadequate for such products. They
must have the foreign market, or large surplus,
accompanied by great depression in price. must be
the result The states of Ohio. Indiana, and llll-
nois, if cultivated to their fullest extent could oi
themselves, raise more than sufficient food TO sup
ply the entire home market. Missouri or Kentuc-
ky could more than supply it with hemp; already
the state of Mississippi raises more cotton than is
sufficient for all the home market; Louisiana is
pidly approaching the same point as TO sugar; and
there are lands enough adapted to that produc, in
Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, to supply with SUI
gar and moasses nearly all the markets of the world
If cotton is depressed in price by the tariff, the con-
sequence must be a comparative diminution of the
product, and the raising in its place. TO great ex-
tent, hemp, wheat, corn, stock, and provisions,
which otherwise would be supplied by the teeming
products of the West, The growing West, in a