Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-03-26

ton of the duty will cause an increase of
consumption by lowering the price; and
that when the price of wheat shall fall, the
production in Great Britain will be les.
sened. consequently increasing the neces-
sity for Importation There Is no doubt
more bread will be eaten in England when
The price is low than when it is high; but
it must also be remembered. tina, the in
crease of consumption so caused has
natural and not very wide limit and &C
corlingly we find, that although short
crop raises the price of wheat suddenly,
vet the demand is soon supplied by I'm.
porta,ion, and The fall Of the market again
makes the duty prahibilory; while sue
eesson of plentiful seasons, or even
single abundant harvest, mol only brings
down the price OF grain a. home, but may
even authorize ils expectation. If. then,
there should be no duty whatever upon
wheat and flour. the demand regulated by
natural causes, mus. cease a. the point
where the wants of the population are
supplied; and whatever the policy Of the
Government may be, no change can ma
terially increase the consumption OF The
whole nation for any given period oil time.
am not, of course able to suggest with
any great confidence the result OF the re-
peal Of the corn laws upon the agrlculiu-
raj production of England. | think, how
everi that any expectation OF material
reduction in the quantity produced will
prove unfounded. The lands Of England
are owned by the arlstocracy. believe
it will be found that the arabic land Is d.
vded among less than $4,000 persons, -
Now, taking it for granted that the redsc-
ZION of the duties will lower the prce,lt Is
obvious TO me that the principal effect OF
the decreased value of the article may be
to lessen the worth of the land, and to d.
minish the rem, paid 10 the great landhold-
ers, bu. not 10 decrease the quantity pro.
duced. The agriculture of England IS the
result Of scientific Improvement and we'll
directed capital. Ii is fixed investment.
There may be some persons who may
change their pursuits; there cannot be
much change in the use Of capital already
vested. There is, therefore. not much
reason for supposing that any change, or
even repeal, of the corn laws. will lessen
materially The quantity Of wheat produced
in Great Britain, or that il will increase
the average importation. IT, then, there
is no good reason TO suppose that the pro-
posed change in The British corn laws will
materially increase the demand for wheat
and flour. LEI us next examine how lie re-.
ducton Of duties is 10 affect our exports.
|! is imagined by many persons that
decrease of the duty will lower the price
to The extent of such decrease; it being
often argued tina, The duty is tax upon
the consumer. There can be no doubt,
that as England canno, raise grain enough
| in any given series Of years 10 supply her
| population, that he true principle of pro-
teciion does no. apply to breadsniis IN
that country: for as no encouragement to
agriculture can supply the demand for
home consumption, The duty may be con-
sidered as bounty to the landed interests.
| need no! stop TO point out the difference
when The energies and resources of a
country are We, undeveloped, and when
the protection to the home manufacture
creates competition in skill and invest
men. of capital, and competition reduces
the price; these are subjects which do
no. pretend to discuss; but may remark,
tha. whatever may be the effect Of the re-
duction of The duty on The price in Eng
land, there are strong reasons why The
change will no, benefit US.
In the first place, our export of whea,
and -four. does not keep pace with the
increase of our population:
Per cent Proportion 10