The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-09-05
THE TARIEE

VI all the various topics which are to be dis :
cussed, and the important measures to be adopted
by the next Congress, none will excite deener
interest, none will be replee with more important
consequences than those concerning the tariff
lhat there is to be modification of the present
law there he little doubt That any and
every change VIII be contested at every step, by
the friends of the present system can be as little
doubted. This has become one of the great fun
damental principles of difference among the poiti-
cians OF our country. Indeed lis importance can
hardly be over-rated, when we reflect that ex
element this subject has almost riven our
glorious Union in sunder, has arrayed man against
man, brother against brother, father against son
State agant State, party against party, and in
terest against interest. In matter of such mo-
ment it surely becomes all dspassionately to con-
slider and decide
The end of all proper Legislation is the welfare
and prosperity oft the nation. Whatever promotes
this, should be sustained, whatever opposes it
should be rejected. National wealth and indi-
vidua prosperity the result OF useful produc
ton This may be product of the soil or a
product of labor applied to products of the soil.
by which those original productions are made
to answer other purposes of life than those to
which, in their natural state, they are adapted
he more useful labor there is in any nation the
more real wealth is there, into whosever hands
that wealth may fall. But the amount of labor
that will be performed in any community depends
much upon the reward that NAV be obtained for
such labor. In other words upon the demand
there may be for the products of that labor and
the value of that which may be obtained in ex-
change for the same, whether the equivaIen, be
In the form of money other articles the posses
sion OF which is desired by him who labors or a,
whose will the labor is performed
Originally mankind were doubtless disposed TO
perform for themselves whatever they thought
was necessary for comfort Each for himself
prepared his tent or bower sought his own food
and raiment, rude and uncouth, coarse and uncer
tain, these necessaries of life. Bv de-
grees relinquishing portion of this native indie
pendence OF each other, butdependent upon the
most uncertain casualties for bare support, they
found that in order to arrive at any degree of adj
yaneementin the arts of life 1t was necessary for
hem to resort to division of labor And while
some devoted their efforts to the obtaining SIM
ply of food, &C., from the soil, others aided them
by providing the necessary implements for so do
ing, while others supplied them with habitations.
others prepared clothing, Sc, Sc, by which
each was enabled to accomplish much more
work, which was also far better executed. because
each deyoiing himself to a single branch of bust
ness, by experience came to understand and make
improvements in his own department, which he
could not have done had he been compelled. in
addition TO laboring 10 obtain food from the soil
to secure an apprenticeship in every other bust
ness, which now contributes to the comfort and
happiness Of man. Excellence and advancement
could never have been thus obtained. Hence the
wisdom Of our present system Of division of la
Dor, is most clearly perceplble The farmer
feeds the multiplicity Of mechanics, whose indus.
try, ON the other hand, surrounds him with the
ten thousand comforts and elegancies Of civilized
life. How now, it is reasonable to ask. is tbis
business best enabled TO prosper in every depart.
ment? Clearly by opening the most extensive
market possible for the sale and exchange Of the
commodities Of all. And how is to be effected
BY laying burdens upon and restricting the opera-
tons of trade ? Who does not know tba Tho
greater the facilities which are offered for Trade
tho greater rewards that are held out 70 the on
terprise and industry Of tho merchants whose
busIne IL is,to make exchanges of properfv ~