Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-08-27
THE CORN LAWS

There never was greater mistake than TO sup
pose that the recent change i'm the British tariff has
been dictated by any regard to the doctrines ofcom-
mercial freedom," about which we hear much
twaddle, from leading Statesmen, both in Great
Britain and in the United States, who nevertheless
dare not carry their principles into practice, the
commercial codes of both countries, even in their
modified forms, attest The most superficial obser-
vor cannot fail to see that the selfish motive
which originally induced the British Government
to impose high (and generally prohibtory) duties
upon wheat and flour, has now led to the success
iul movement in favor of their modification and u-
innate repeal. This motive was lucidly exposed
by Mr.. Stewart of Pa. in his admirable speech a.
gainst the tariff bill, (Which shall take an early
occasion TO lay before our readers.) He says: ''Sr
Robert Peel understands his business. He propo-
SEES 10 take the duties off breadsus and raw mate
rials of all kinds used by their manufacturers and
remove every burden, To enable them to meet
us and beat us in our own markets, and in the
kets of the world, where Yankee competition is
giving them great uneasiness. Last year eX-
ported hundreds Of thousands of dollars worth of
cotton goods into the British East Indies. and beat
the British in their own markets. after paving dis
criinnatlng duties imposed to keep out, first g.
then ~ finally per cent. In this great struggle
SIR Robert Peel comes to the rescue. He repeats
the duty on cotton and WOOL and bread and meat
and every thing used by British manufacturers, to
enable them to go ahead in this Struggle with the
Americans. He understands the great interests Of
his country, and like great and true Statesman he
takes care OF them. He secs new crisis and he
meets 1t like a man. He sees that the manufac-
turers OF Great Britain the t.pllars of her ma
.ohai prosperity are lettering To their fall he sees
that powerful rivals sprinoing up i'm the United
States and in Europe who are not only supplyinu
themselves, but threatening to drive Great Britain
out OF the markets OF the world. To meet this
new and fearful crisis, what does he do He adj
dresses the lords and landhoders of Great Britain
win whom he had been always politically indenti-
ned, thus: ''Gentlemen stern necessity now de
mahds that you surrender some temporary advanta-
yes 10 save your country and yourselves. Our ma
nuiacthres are threatened with destruction They |
are your great and only markets. They consume |
sell and carry abroad one hundred and seventy five
millions OF your agricultural produce annually
thus making England the greatest agricultural ex +
porting country in the world. But if YOU suffer
your manufacturers 10 be destroyed by foreign com
petition, what becomes of you ?-Where are YOUR
markets Can you carry your bread and meat
your wool and other products, abroad in raw and |
unnanutac.ured form. Our manufactures are Civ
ing way. Last year the L. States sold in the TO
reign markets more than thirteen millions of manu-
iactured goods; and the question is now presented
VIII you sustain your manufacturers in this struggle
by cheapening their living, or will You hold OH and
break them down, and with them your country and
yourselves !' This is the true kew of the British
policy. and furnishes ready solution to the sudden
and otherwise incomprehensble conversion not only
of Sir Robert Peel and his followers, but of Lord
John Russell and his supporters principles which,
a lew years ago, found scarcely corporal's guard
to support them in the House of Commons. while.
their leading advocates, Hume and Vilcrs, were
greeted with shout of derison when they submit
ted the annual resolutions in which they were en-
bodied. II is not free trade that the British Go
vernnent desires-it is no new born adherence of
commercial shackles which influences her States
men-ior these are still retained in the British ia
riff, where they do not interfere with their leading
and paramount desgn-and lhat is to perpetuate the
MANUFACTURING MONOPOLY, the sinews of her
wealth and power, in her own hands and to arrest,
If possible, the growth of the new and formidable
rivals that have arisen both in the new and old .
world, to compete with her in this important de-
partment of industry.-Rich Whg