Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-12-17

in other pursuits than manufactures.
A system unequal and unjust has been su-
perseded by the existing law, which imposes du-
ties not for the benefit or injury OF classes or pur
suits, but distributes, and, as tar as pracucable
equalizes the public burdens among all classes and
occupations. The favored classes, who, under
the unequal ard unjust system which has been re-
pealed, have heretofore realized large prohts, and
many OF them amassed large fortunes, at the ex-
pense OF the many who have been made tributary
to them, will have no reason TO complain II they
shall be required to bear their just proportion OF
the taxes necessary for the support OF government
So far from it, it will be perceived, by an examn-
alton of the existing law, that determinations In
the rates of duty imposed, within the revenue prn-
ciple, have been retained in their favor The in
cldental aid against foreign competition which
they still enjoy gives them an advantage which no
other pursuits possess; but of this none others will
complain, because the duties levied are necessary
for revenue. These revenue duties, including
freigEts and charges, which the importer must pay
before he can come in competition with the home
manufacturer in our markets, amount on nealy all
our leading branches of manufacture to more than
third of the value of the imported article, and
in some cases to almost one-half OF its value.
With such advantages, it is not doubted that our
domestic manufacturers Will continue 10 prosper,
realizing in well conducted establishments even
greater profits than can be derived from any other
regular business Indeed, so far from requiring
the protection of even incidental revenue duties,
our manufacturers in several leading branches are
extending their business, giving evidence OF great
ingenuity and skill, and of their ability TO compete,
with increased prospect of success tor the open
market of the world Domestic manufactures, to
the value of several millions of dollars, which can
not find market at home, are annually exported
to foreign countries With such rates of duty as
( Il.
will probably pc permanent; and capitalists, who
have made or shall hereafter make, their invest
mentS in manufactures, will know upon what to
relv. The country will be satisfied with these
rates, because the advantages which the manufac-
turers still enjoy result necessarily from the col
lection of revenue for the support OF government.
High protective duties, from their unjust operation
upon the masses of the people, cannot fail to give
rise 10 extensive dissatisfaction and complaint and
to constant efforts to change or repeal them, rem
derng all investments in manufactures uncertain
and precarious Lower and more permanent rates
of DUTY at the same time that they will yield to
the manufacturer fair and remunerating profits,
will secure him against the danger of frequent
changes IN the system, which cannot fail to ruin
ously affect his interests.
simultaneously with the relaxation of the re-
strictve policy by the United States, Great Britain,
from whose example we derived the system. has
relaxed hers. She has modified her corn laws,
and reduced many other duties to moderate reve-
nue. rates. After ages ofexperience the statesmen
of that country have been constrained by stern
necessity, and by public opinion having its deep
foundatIoh in the sufferngs and wants of impover-
shed millions, to abandon a system, the effect of
which was to build up immense fortunes in the
hands of the few, and to reduce the laboring mil
lions to pauperism and misery. Nearly in the
same ratio that labor was depressed, capital was
increased and concentrated by the British protec-
tive policy.
The evils of the system in Great Britain were
at length rendered intOlerable; and it has been
| abandoned, but not without severe struggle on
the part of the protected and favored classes to
tain the unjust advantages which they have so long
enjoyed. 1t was to be expected that a similar
struggle would be made by the same classes in
the United States, whenever attempt was made
to modify or abolish the same unjust system here.
The protective policy had been in operation in the
United States for much shorter period, and its
perncious effects were not, therefore, so clearly
perceived and felt. Enough, however, was known
of these effects to induce its repeal
1t would be strange if, in the face of the example
of Great Britain, our principal foreign customer,
and of the evils of a system rendered manifest in
that country by long and painful experience, and
in the face of the immense advantages, which, un-
der a more liberal commercial policy, we are al
ready deriving, and must continue to derive, by
supplying her starving population with food the
United States should restore policy which she
has been compelled to abandon, and thus dimnsh
her ability to purchase from us the food and other
articles which she so much needs, and we so much
desire 10 sell.
By the simultaneous abandonment ofthe protec-
tive policy by Great Britain and the United States,
new and important markets have already been
opened far our agricultural and other products
commerce and navigation have received new
impulse labor and trade have been released from
the artificial trammes which have so long fettered
them; and to great extent reciprocity in the ex-
change of commodities, has been introduced at the
same time by both countries and greatly for the
benefit of both. Great Britain has been forced by
the pressure Of circumstances at home, 10 abandon
policy which has been upheld for ages, and to
open her markets for immense surplus of
breadstufls; and it is confidently believed that
other Powers of Europe will ultimately see the
wisdom. if they be not compelled by the pauperism
and sufferings of their crowded population, to
pursue similar policy
Our farmers are more deeply interested in main
tanning the just and liberal policy of the existing
law than any other class of our citizens They
constitute large majority of our population; and
il is well known that when they prosper, all other
pursuits prosper also. They have heretofore not
only received none of the bounties or favors of
! government, bit by the unequal operations of the
protective policy, have been made. by the burdens
OF taxation which it imposed TO contribute to the
/ bounfies which have enriched others.
4 " hen foreign as well as a home market is