The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-23

Iboss who differ from US, seriously 70. ponder this
ISisw Of the subject We entreat them not 10 mis-
understand u.s. We cannot be deferred from the
~scharge Of our duties 10 ourselves and our com
x,nop country, by the menace Of consequences and
We are equally incapable of using It's language 10
Io,bers Il is as men and brothers--n the spirit OF
u 0 affection which is still warm and undiminished,
hhst we would call their attention TO these inevitable
results, which neither they nor we will have the
bower TO avert.
Lon with the principles of enlightened political
Economy, and see if the considerations which are
urged 70 sustain this system are not fsaeious and
L,usye. The view must be necessarily brief-
Consisting OF hints and Suggestions rather than OF an
Extended Argument or OF minute detallsj but our
obset will be attained If these may serve to awaken
Ia spirit Of dispassionate inquiry.
| I'VE are the advocates of free trade. The argu-
m.nt which sustains il rests upon proposition
which may not be denied. IL is the unqueston-
l,be right of every individual TO apply his labor
I.od CAPITAL in the mode which he may conceive
bss, calculated 20 promote his own interest IL
II, the interest of the public that he should so APP
Iply il. He understands be,ter than II can be
Understood by the government, what will con-
Euee to his own benefit; and since the majority
Iof individuals will, If, properly protected, be dis
kosed to follow their interests, such an application
IN their industry and capital must produce IN the
k,suIt the greatest amount OF public good Let II
\, remembered, that the question relates exclusively
L. the application Of capital. IL cannot be generated
by an aet of legislation. The power OF the govern
lnsnt is limited to its transfer from one employ
Imsot TO another. IL takes from some less
Favored interest, what il bestews on the one
In PROCESSES to protect. Il is equally untrue that
such system gives greater employment 10 labor,
I, operation is confined to the simple change OF its
Implication. Laws which protect by bounty any
peculiar species Of labor, cannot be said to encour-
"A. -. "A. "A
objects These laws favor only single class and
since the bounty is not supplied by the government,
bu, taken from the pocket Of the individual, the
protecton which is given 10 species Of labor is
l,o given at the expense OF every other. That
course Of legislation which leaves American capital
and labor TO the unfettered discretion OF those who
possess the one and apply the other, can alone
4 lie denominated the American system
wThe interference Of government with the fight Of
I,be individual to apply his labor and capital in such
mode as he may think most conducive TO his own
interest, thus necessarily operates TO diminish the
I,gpreghte amount Of production. In other words,
I6e amount Of the neeessares and conyeniencies OF
NE which are enjoyed by the community is
necessarily diminished. IL all nations then were
willing TO adopt the system Of free trade for
(which we contend, which is accordant to the
spirit Of Christianity, and calculated to unite
| tons in harmony and peace, IL cannot be doubted
| that the interest OF each would be promoted. The
ony question which can be raised on this part Of
|Ae subject is whether the adoption Of restrictive
policy BY one more nations makes II the interest
In either TO reciprocate those restrictions The an
swer seems TO be sufficiently obvious and satsfacto
~. The proposition which asserts the superior adj
vantages OF free trade among all nations, rests
| upon the following principle: The universal free
dom Of action which it allows tends most thorough
" TO develop the moral and physical energies of
each nation, and to apply them TO those objects to
which they are best adapted. The proposition must
be equally true in relation to each nation, whatever
(may be the policy adopted by others. The nation
which resorts to restrictive policy legslates to her
own disadvantage, by interfering with the natural
and most profitable employment OF capital. To the
extent TO which she thus excludes another nation
from an accustomed or from desirable market she
occasions, it is true, in that nation also dlspace
ment Of capital from its natural channels. But
the remedy consist in retsllatory system OF legis-
stion.-in a system Of further restrictions imposed
by the latter nation II il be true that restrictive
system is injurious to the nation imposing It, does il
cease to be so in regard the latter nation because
Of the wrong done by the former, and because 1t is
also injurious to such nation When We apply
these views to the corn-laws of Great Britain con-
sidered with reference TO their effect upon u.s. it
not then, obvious that system of pretended reta-
aton which snfetiers the productive energies Of
own people, whatever may be its effect upon that
nation must necessarily increase the evils we our
selves are destined to sustain ..r
at is strongly urged motive to the continuance
Fof the existing tariff that its operation had been to
effect reduction of prices. These have, in fact,
ALLEN since 1876 and our opponents contended that
this has been the result Of domestic competition.
A moments reflection will demonstrate the fallacy
Of this assertion. We present single fact in the
outset The dimuntion of price has been
general as well in relation to articles which are moi
protected by the existing tariff of duties as to those
(which are II cannot therefore have arisen from
this cause Let US remember now this dmnuton
of price has occurred everywhere--abroad as well
heme-and not only in an equal, but as neces-
sary consequence Of the tariff, in greater degree
there than here. Among the causes which have
produced this result, two prominent ones are pre-
scented to your cons deraon-the diminished amount
Of the circulating medium Of the world, and the
Astonishing improvements which have been intro
duced in the modes Of production. The cost Of pro-
duction is less the comparative value of money has
become greater. Can we wonder at the RESULT
Take the case Of cotton goods: these have fallen IN
price here since the enactment OF the tariff.
But the same thing ia true not only in an equal
but in greater degree abroad and the reason
is obvious, The causes which have produced
this result, those which have been before stated,
have elsewhere been left TO exert their full influence
in effecting the reduction Of prices. Here their
operations have been restrained by the conflicting in
huence Of the tariff The reduction, therefore, with
us has necessarily stopped point, which is ascer.
tanned by adding the amount Of duty to the price Of
the imported article. Thus the dlminution Of price
here has not been produced by the tariff but in de-
spite of it-and has been retarded by it. But for
this law the imported, which would take the place
Of the domestic article in the consumption of the
country, would be obtained at price greatly below
that which we actually pay; and the difference,
amounting yearly to many millions OF dollars, would
be saved to the community. Il cannot be doubted
that the prices of all commodities, the domestic pro-
duc,on Of which is forced by the imposition Of duty
foreign article of similar description, are raised
by the amount of duty necessary to effect the exclu.
sion of the foreign article that this increase of
price is paid by the consumer, and that the loss to
the nation which is occasioned by this system Of
protection is nearly equal to such difference of price
The success which has attended the manufacture of
coons is used to illustrate and enforce another sug-
ges,ion in favor Of the tariff II is said, that by
means Of the protection afforded by government,
manufacturers are enabled to overcome the difficulties
incident to new enterprises, and that this protection
Is ultimately repaid to the community in the reduced
price at which the article is furnished We have al
ready shown that this reduction in price, in the
referred to- has not resulted from the protective
system. Let us look, however, at this suggestion,
apart from that consideration. IL it be conceded for