The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-03
THE DAILY UNION.

u f'u5ieSS, pOL l, r. los. Much stress mas Deen
LAID ~ this country since 1924 upon the want of
50 600 worth Of blankets in the last war with Great
brltain--a want which in great measure proceeded
from embargoes and non-intercourse laws. But in
reply 70 this il was very pertinenty asked By the
committee OF the free-rade convention in 1882 "f a
nation which at that time was engaged in the manu-
facture OF woollens To the extent of least S40-
100000 IN value could be put in jeopardy by the
want OF 1000 or 5000 Blankets (Exposion Of
Evidence, No, IL, p. 2O) But, Mr., Chairman, this
mutual dependence between nations for trade, far
from being an injury TO any one, Is common bene-
nj to all. The dependence Of foreign nations upon
US Tor cotton is worth perhaps more 10 us pro-
eetisn against foreign hostility than the amount of
our exports Of that article would be to US il expend
ed in fleets and armies. As nations grow in wisdom
and IN wealth, 1t is this very mutual dependence for
trade which is TO prove the great conseryator Of the
peace Of the world. 10 looking back to the opera
uon OF The restrictive principles, which TO great
tent have governed the commercial policy Of the
world, what picture do we see A sacrifice Of in
diyldual liberty the discipline deemed necessary
10 increase the offensive power of the social ma
chine, an isolation between nations, waste of the
means Of growth in deadly efforts at mutual injury
and domestic feuds which are never quiet except I'M
der the apprehension the existence of foreign war
With how much pleasure should the philanthropist
and the statesman from this revolving picture To
the glorious promise of the doctrines Of the free
trade school If there be hope for the progress
Ol the human race winch 10 ltldH
so far as the action Of government Is concerned II
rests upon the contamination Of these principles IL
is thus that we may most enlarge the liberty Of in
diyidual action by simplifying and diminishing the
necessary operations Of government. IL is thus that
we may best cultivate spirit Of peace and good
will amongst men, by teaching them that the inter
est Of all is connected with the prosperity Of each
IL is thus too, that we may place man in the fullest
possession Of the Of psrectng his nature, by
afording free interchange Of thought and opinion,
and all the benefits Of common and kindly inter
course between the nations of the earth. Our appi-
cation Of the federatye principle has done more TO
improve the science Of government than any event
of modern times.
IL has enlarged the capacity for union amongst
men, and through 1t we have solved the most won
derful Of problems in discovering the means Of in
creasng social strength without diminishing indi-
yidual liberty. The free trade policy, between its
members at least, Is necessary element in its ex-
istence. IL is through this policy that the fedora
tive system increases its capacity to comprehend
more people and interests under the same social
bonds. II is, perhaps, not venturing too much to
say that they pust 60 together IL is not for me to
undertake to measure the extent Of this joint lnfu
ence upon human affairs. But none can doubt as
TO its nature. The mighty impulse which it must
give 10 Capitalization, general prosperity, and the
growth Of peaceful relations amongst men
not fail to strike every republican mind. That mu-
tual interest must thus spring up between nations
which uepcIu upon peace tnelr existence, anu u
klndler spirit will be cherished not merely by the
interests, but the affections which arise from free
and familiar intercourse. That these twlnslsters Of
reform, these two great systsms of social union
would continue to advance, ! have never permitted
myself to doubt The laws of nature and the i'm
proyements in the arts are all minisering to their
progress. Without them, man loses the full of
these wonderful discoveries in the transmission of
thought and the facilities Of intercourse which have
added so much TO his physical and intellectual
power, and which have already taken him beyond
the boundaries which centuries seemed TO have es-
tabshed as the limit to human achievement. The
whole course Of modern discovery, whether in gov
eminent in the arts, seems to have tended towards
closer and kindlier intercourse amongst men, and
an increase not only Of social power, but of lndIvd
ual liberty Half century Of free-trade with the
facilities for intercourse already within our reach,
would probably make it more difficult disturb the
peace OF the world than It has hitherto been to pre-
it. The arts Of civilization would probably
effect more revolutions in human affairs than force
has ever achieved by arms. The eyes Of southern
aAd western Europe are no longer turned TO the
passes of the Caucasus for the mighty tide of
change and war which was to plant strange races
within their borders, and nfuse elements into
their existence. The day for armed migrations, for
forced admxtures OF races, for those marriages of
the Roman and the Sabine are over. The tide of
change sets from western TO eastern Europe. The
iron horse is on his path; powerful than Nor
courser, he is bearing civilization to more distant
and durable conquess than were ever achieved by
bow or lance. When commerce shall bear the scales
of justice in her hand, shc may yet achieve the
conquests IN which the armed crusader failed.
Thus armed, she may FIX the banner of the cross
where once she plants 1t, and repay the debt which
the western owes the eastern world. She may yet
adorn the earlier abodes in which the human race
was Graded, and revive the exhausted fires Of an
an older civilization from the ashes in which they
shoulder. She may relume the expiring lights Of
older life, and reanmate the dry bones of social
forms, respectable even in decay and venerable in
the hoar of imHemorial ages past 1t is not too
much TO expect, that if commerce were once free,
the day would soon follow when the duties which
we owe Gas Henry VII declared) to our common
mother, would be discharged by all her children.
When look, Mr.. Chairman, to the causes
which are operating together to bring men into
closer and klndler Intercourse with each other, the
anticipation is not extravaganza that the public opn-
ion of the world will pronounce its verdict in favor
of the free-trade policy. If this country and Eng
land were now to set the example, it would be diff
cult for the residue of the civilized world TO resist
it. | could wish, Mr.. Chairman, not only for the
prosperity which it would give us, but for the rcpu-
tatlon of the country, that we should now consum-
mate the policy which we have na, (for the rec
concentrations of our Executive preceded those of
the English minister, so to secure the credit of
the first movement in this reform 1t is due to the
character of our institutions and the affection which
we cherish for liberty in all its forms, that the
ample should proceed from But although we
may lose the triumph for the present, do not doubt
ofthe ultimate victory of the free-trade principles in
this government. | believe | am not mistaken in
the opinion that the public sentiment of this coun-
try is in favor of these principles. This Con-
gress may disappont our people for a while, but if
it should do so, another will succeed it, in which the
manufacturing interest may find it more difficult to
make terms than in the present But Mr., Chair
I I'll 6, 49,
believe that majority Of the House are in favor of
the principles of the Executive recommendation,
and will not suppose that they will permit diff
ference as to details to prevent them from achieving
such triumph in principles. The tariff of l842
was fixed upon US in part by the votes Of New
York and Pennsylvania in the Senate. We were
then encouraged to indulge the hope that at some
more proptious season they would aid us to obtain
relief. What proptous than the
present. We have President and large party
majority here elected upon this amongst other s-
sues. The recommendations of the Executive are
all that we could desire. Can we doubt the DISPOSE
A. r A.