Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-08-22
From the Washington co,,,..
FIR ZEE TRADE tution.

The advocates of this doctr;o.
United States. mean by it lou d,a: "e
a tariff so adjusted, as, with other soy
of revenue, to bring just SO much and
more money into the Treasury, than !. 10
quired for an economical and nrona" It.
ministration of the Government. p. 'u'
are opposed to all unnecessary res,ric,;a sy
upon commerce. They 60 against ~ Oa'
riffs got up for protection and not fo, =. %
enue. They are opposed to all pro,s,,:
tariffs, because they are restrictive and
hibitory in their operations, levyinc , r ~.
upon the many for the benefit of ,ls g., "1
unjust and oppressive upon pari;cul., ~.
.ions, whose agricultural production. sc cse'
nish the great bulk of commerce vh;a,
so largely promotes the wealth and the ~
vancement of nations. The pro,ao,;'
system is system Of violence as we'll
injustice. 1t violates that great pripciU.
Of trade. which impels and influences man
to exchange something which they h,,.
and do not want, for something which tho,
have not and therefore need. 1t prohM,.
the exchange Of superhuities for nece,,
ries. It is an artificial system, which
would shut up the markets of the world
for the sale of our products, and compel n.
to supply our wants from what thew ar.
pleased to style 'home Market OF al
the countries under the face of the sun. au,,
is certainly the least favorable Tor such
system to be thought Of or tolerated. It.,
immense area, It's soil, and its climate, mus,
make it, to the end of time, peculiarly an
texporter of vast amount OF products 70
find foreign market. 1t must be, and is,
commercial as we'll as an agricultural
country. But how shall we find marke,
for ouT surplus products of other countnesl
How can we export, unless we can import!
There is principle of political economy
better established-iRdeed, there is no law
of physical nature more certain and fixed
than that no nation can long continue 10
export unless they can also import. Re.
ciprority is its gravtatlng principle-'hs
law of its vitality and existence. The pur.
pose and the effect of our prohibitory ia.
riff system-our Wanted american sys
tents to destroy this reciprocity. |!
would force our products upon others, but
levy such duties and taxes upon theirs, as
10 shut them out of our markets. But what
do the protectionists offer US by their sys.
tenn! A home market! High duties
make low prices; and we offer you home
market, instead of foreign one say the
princes Of Lowell. Blu, if their seminar
nual dividends were as fallaclous and as
groundless as their arguments, we should
, soon escape the Aagtious consequences Of
> a protective tariff.
The effect Of this protective system is
not only TO violate the vital laws Of CON-
merce. but also to obs,ruct and prevent
those moral influences which enter so large
f., ly into proper system of political econo
my. The following passage from an able
s article on free trade, in the last number o.
e the British Quarterly Review, places OH
last remark in the clearest light:
"The sort of antagonism which the supper
ters of commercial restriction are in the haO!
Of assuming, between political economy and
Christian morality. will be regarded by future
generations with similar feelings to those win
which we look back ON the old theological
ohioo To- No (Ionnr.ioan EVRn
apart from the circumstances that some Of ouI
:, ab'est and most earnest living advocates Vi
- Christianity rank high as expositors Of eco
nomIca' science, the assumption OF a co"" !.
dicton between doctrines of social phl'oSoP"'
verified by an adequate induction OF sac!s' 'n'
u those principles Of social duty which RIO"
: dence has authenticated as the laws OF ""n''
action, is, in any case, sufficiently S"a"2''-
Economical truth is not less divine 'na" o.
:. Economical truth. The laws when go'.'
- the phenomena of production and eAc"' "ps
' are as truly laws of God. as those "hc ~ y" ~
ern the phenomena of day and night iO''
} certain, by inductive inquiry, the na'uF1I .vi
IL e ditions of commercial and industrial PtOsp'.I
u ty, is to ascertain the will Of Deity WI" "
> gard to a certain department OF human W
- duct; TO act in conformity with those COD If
u tons, so ascertaned, is to act religlously =.
. truths of science become, when viewed VIZ
II reference to their Author, religious tfu'n' '''
- - draw after them religious duties.
g sit is not difficult, we think, to olscs,a
- moral beauty and nobleness evenln 'nOssT =,
6 cial results of economical science wn'' -,
y most decried Cor selfshness and inhum I;"s.
% The familiar formula of Free Trade R0;i n n
&c buy in the cheapest market, and sell r ~
;" dearest, '-certanIy savours more Oh .I w.,
j. commercial prudence, than of PhIlan,s a0.Gp
yet what is it, but brief vernacuaf . I. ds
ton of the very course of condnc! .; Isr.
q most enlarged and comprehensive Ph'.' ,bpn
- ply would dictate. Cheapness mean' .besp.
dance-excessive and extraordinary ,.;ty-
IF ness. supeIfnity. Dearth means '' Jislsss.
- excessive and extraordinary deartn III in the
To buy in the cheapest market, and st axe tn.
&c dearest, is. then. in fact and eifecl na If tho
=, products of the earth, and the cfea,O where