The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-12
Hon. s. A. DOUGLASS,
Washington, d. c.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, Ie45.

40 Me x>QuoT % We Union:
Sra: A correspondent of the New York Express,
writing from Washington, has undertaken very
absurd crusade against "Bundelcund" whom he
deDounces no better than bungng compiler of
other mems thoughts and false interpreter Of es-
tabshed theories. Now, sir, have not the advan-
tage of personal acquaintance with "Bundelcund }"
NOR am | in any way connected with government,
either by tenure of Office in virtue of expectancy.
am plain, unlettered man. with just suficiency
of good sense to rejoice at the onward progress of
democratic principles and the prospective elevation of
my suffering brethren Of mankind to that proud posi-
ton which the Creator intended for the joint occupan
cy of all From the solitude of my humble retreat,
have watched the course Of passing events with no
ordinary anxiety; and can safely say, that among
the many contributions which have heen laid on the
altar Of democracy, through the columns Of your
valuable paper, none have produced deep and
abiding an impression on my mind as the lucid dis
sertations of "Bundelcund" on the abuses and inn
positions Of the present tariff So far from his state
ments being full of errors, the writer in the Ex
press has been pleased to assert son the highest loco
Joco authority" they evince a profundity of re-
search and nicely Of induction seldom to be be
differences being injudciously drawn or his concu-
sons being hastily arrived at they exhibit patience
of investigation, power of analysis, and degree
of critical acumen which as wonderful as they
rare Having made the subject of political econ
omy the favoritc pursuit Of my life, from my youth
sources which have supplied "Bundelcund" with
such irrefutable arguments against continuation Of
the present i-system; and can, therefore, speak
of his general correctness and ability with confidence
The manly and dignifed tone assumed by the Pres
iden in his message to Congress on this important
subject induces me to prolong his communication
with few general remarks that class of WRITER'S
who, Of late years have undertaken crusade against
Adam Smith and his followers.
The principal arguments adduced by these wri-
tiers in favor of protective duties, these First
that nation imports from a distance manufac-
tured commodity which it could make as cheap or
cheaper at home were the manufacture introduced
there. Secondly, that as the introduction of such
manufacture would be too expensive project to be
carried into effect by any private individual, the
whole society might do so, through the expenditure
for few years of portion Of its revenue, much
less than what an equal number Of years succeed
ing them will return to it in the diminished cost Of
the article. Thirdly, that he they, who legis-
late for the society, embrace the apparent benefit
and by means of a small expenditure, effect an in
crease of the productive powers of the commodity.
Fourthly, that in this the legislator acts in man.
ner that would be accounted prudence in private
person, who conducted any system of industry for
his own emoument. Now, the whole fallacy of
those who support the restrictive system is con-
tanned in these few sentences; for the existence of
lance, which it could make cheap or cheaper at
home, may fairly be questioned. Nor is the intro
duction of any manufacture to position which ma
ture has rendered peculiarly favorable to it, beyond
the power of private individual, or, at least,
body of individuals Witness for instance, the es-
adjustment of manufactures in New South Wales,
in consequence Of the discovery of coal in that col
ony; and that by individuals, who never thought of
calling on the nation TO defray the cost But il
would not be very easy TO count the expense to
which the forced establishment Of any manufacture
would put nation. Let us suppose, that, in or
dor IN MAJ Of oto
government should place high duty on their import
alton. Now every purchaser loses the difference
between the American and the English prices; but
the manufacturer does not gain that amount,
because the cost Of production is greater TO him
than TO the Englishman. The purchaser also
loses in the inferiority of the article supplied;
for forced manufactures, protected by monop-
oily, are not only DEAR but bad, as was proved
within my own memory by the English silk trade.
The government must lose by the necessity of en-
ploying means to prevent smuggling. And, finally,
the improvement that is to remunerate all these
losses is at best probematical; for no mandatory
protected by monopoly has ever yet improved.
Protection and monopoes are not only evils, but
they evils that love to perpetuate themselves.
To establish them is easy enough; but to remove
them has been the most difficult task that modern
statesmen have had TO encounter. Again, the sup
position that those who legslate for the society en-
brace the apparent benefit, etc. is a rash and daring
assumption, contradicted by daily experience The
legislator, in the first place, does not increase the
productive powers Of the community; he only gives
them new direction. II the mandatory be one
less suited to his own country than that in which
the manufacture was previously established, he
gives them westeful direction. The article must,
in the first instance, confessedly be produced at a
greater expense; and that expense operates as tax
on the productive powers Of the nation, by checking
the production ofartices to exchange with the for
eign manufacturing country.
1t is fortunate that that great body corporate,
styled nation--avast assemblage of human beings,
knit together by laws and arts and customs; by the
necessities Of the present and the memory Of the
pasoffers in this country through these its vigor-
healthy frame than falls to the lot Of other
nations. Our stout-but constitution throws of
with more facility and safety Of those crude and
dangerous humors which must at times arise in all
human communities. We are preserved from those
reckless and tcmpesuous saies that in other coun-
tries like whirdwind, topple down in an instant