The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-12-02
WHOLE NO. 24a

successively perish, and taxation continue 10
converge on the remaining basis Of production
and consumption. Now the commercial in
tercourse of what are called old and new
countries such as Europe and America, con-.
ssts chiefly in the exchange of agricultural
for manufactured products. The direct act
ton therefore Of revenue tariff in America
is hostile to agriculture, by destroying the
commerce by which great mass of con-
sumers are supplied. Hence the foreign
trade of the Union has not increased fifty
per cent in forty years, although the States
have doubled, and population almost quadru-
pied with that period. And in order TO main;
tain even the present comparatively reduced
amount of foreign commerce, agricultural
products have been compelled to reduction
in prices of from forty of eighty per cent?, a
decline almost as great as that which has
occurred in manufactured fabrics, but MOTTO
be accounted for like the latter, by the intro
ducton and wonderful improvement in ma
chinery; which is not applicable extensively.
TO agricultural products. The encourage.
ment of manufactures by government, in
taxation, is then accomplished by direct
dscouragement ofagricultuIe, through gross
abuse of the fiscal political power, The evil
lis tolerated from misconcepiion of the
nature of government, concealedby an arttul
misapplca,on of terms. Government is not
as many still suppose producing, but IS q
distributing agent. 1t cannot give then un-
less it take. 1t cannot confer favor without
confiscating right. The phrase encourage.
ment of domestic manufactures by govern
mont, is captivating only because it discloses
the benefit and conceals the injury that results
from the policy. The statement of both
effects would be fatal 10 the measure. II
would be encouragement of domestic manu-
faclures, by the encouragement Of our agri-
culture, still more domestic. That any mis-.
calculation of interest, or mlsconception OF
power, or impsrfection Of phraseology, or
conjunction of circumstances, or sectional
and subtle sel6shness, or all combined,
should so beset and pervert the deliberations
of our Government, as TO secure the adop'
ton of permanent policy TO direct the fiscal
action of our Federal system against Agrl-
culture, its very life, is the most astonishing
and mortifying fact in our history. Nor is
the enomity of such policy miiigated ma.
terialy by its professed design. Manufac-
lures are not Of themselves objects of desire
to a free people or of favor for free govern
ment. They involve the necessity of .
crowded population, subject to very arbitrary
control over their comfort by few wealthy
persons-and devoted to unwholesome en-
ployment Surely such establishments do
not deserve political favor where land is
abundant and the people free. Indeed the
advocates of manufacturing policy are con-
scious of the inaptitude of our circumstances
for such establishments, and insist on their
encouragement for the purpose as they con-
tend of rendering US Independent Of other
nations. Now we insist that the manufacture
ing policy has the reverse Of this efect.-,--.
!, The principle agent in manufactures is capi-
tal-and capital is cheap and abundant only
in old countries. This is the reason why we
/ resort to such countries for manufactured
, goods. But if we refuse to purchase their
fabrics, without possessing the principal ma
terial 10 make them-captal-bu must re-
) sort 10 the same country for that, it is clear
| our dependence does not cease. Indeed il
is greatly augmented. For when we resort
, to Europe with produce for manufactures We
60 as traders, but when we apply there for
, capital, it is as borrowers, a relation much
more dependent and degrading And if as
is the fact, we are habitually indebted to
England in our mercantile, corporate, state
and federative capacities for loans, is it not
plain that the effect of promoting by law a,
branch of business whose principal agent is
capital, the very thing we don't possess, is TO
increase or prolong our dependence for credit,
on foreign states; either by increasing the
number of loans to meet the wants of the
protected business; or by diverting capital
into it, from other employments, render them
dependent abroad for new supplies, or the
continuance of old ones Ii is clear that the
people among whom capital is dear will re-,
main the debtors Of those among whom it is
cheap: that to urge the former into business
requiring capital more than any thing else, is
to extend this relation, whilst the employ
ment of resources peculiar to themselves AZ
in our case, is the best policy 10 accumulate,
native capital until it equals foreign. Tho,
nation that exchanges the products OF agri-
cultural for those of manufacturing labor, is
the most independent and powerful; for the
former are more indispensable than the latter.
But the people dependent on another for cap.
ital or credit are slaves to the will or the
whims of their creditors. 49,.
I There is another and kindred effect Of q
tariff also to be dsplored. The duties are
paid TO the government in large sums, by the
F importer, who thus performs tho functions Of
farmer general Of the revenue--wilh this
disastrous difference--the. farmer general
proper, is limited by law in his demand on
the tax payer: but the importer charges ths
consumer for advancing TO the government,