The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-23


mediate rejection Of this scheme. ! ask for no ex'
preston Of opinion upon il this evening. hope
that after an interval Of some days, We shall APP
proaeh the consideration Of the final result in the
same temper of mind in which, on both sides Of the
mouse, you have listened to my explanation Of the
views OF the government. Hear, hear. Now, lei
| me conclude with two observations, one connected
win our foreign policy and the interests Of our com
| mercIa intercourse with other countries the other
having reference TO our own domestic prosperity.
! larry aVow TO you thai in making this great re-
uueuoh on the imports Of articles which are the
produce OF other countries have no guaranty
that other countries will follow our examine [H.ay
near give you the advantage Of the admission
| that her Malesty's government, worn out with
long-contlnued efforts to make other countries give
US fair equivalent have determined TO pursue their
own course, and that We on the behalf Of this coun-
Try, have resolved TO consult our own interest," and
not TO punish both other countries and ourselves by
encouraging high duties, and with high duties a
contraband trade. Cheers We have had no
communication with any other government on this
subject cannot promise you that France will
give us an equivalent for the reductions made ON ar
Ilcls which are produce Of that country; nor that
Russia will eylnce her gratitude for the policy Of
reducing tho duty on tallowj you may therefore
say 10 me, You are giving away all these du-
ties, and you get nothing in return" | may be
told, and with truth, that many foreign coun.
tres which have benefited by the reductions
which we have already made have not followed
our example, but have actually applied TO BRUSH
goods higher rates Of duty than were imposed upon
them before. Hear, hear. give YOU the whole
dement, OF that argument. rely on that fact as a
conclusive proof Of the policy Of the course which
we have pursued. IL is undoubtedly the fact that
they have not followed our example But look at
The state OF our export trade You have defed the
regulations OF other countries, and your foreign
trade has greatly increased. This is owing partly,
perhaps, 10 the smuggleT, whose daring and ingenu-
he IElVl -. A -.
tablIshed TO exclude your manufacturer and partly
perhaps, TO the circumstance that the inhabitants OF
the countries 10 which refer have not the adyanta-
ges which enable you TO into competition with
them. But your exports, whatever the tariffs Of
other countries may be, are a clear indication that
the trade Of this country with foreign countri,. /.
increasing. You have dehed your coml,etitorS IN
the mar eti and notwithstanding hostile tariffs the
declared value Of the exports of this country has in
creased to the extent Of 200 900 during the pc
Rod since the reductions in our tariff have been
made. say, therefore, that you may depend upon
II That the example which you have set will ulti-
matey be followed. When your example could be
quoted IN favor of restrictions upon commerce, il
was quoted and acted upon; and you may rely upon
1t that when your example can be quoted in favor of
relaxation of restriction II will be without its ef.
feet Ii may not act at first upon foreign govern
mens or boards OF trade, but Ultimately the true in
terests Of commerce will prevail and In spite Of the
desire OF foreign governments and boards Of trade 10
raise revenue, the voice of reason will at last lie
heard see some symptoms already OF an adher-
ence to the principles by which we have been guild
ed Look at the report of the Secretary TO the
Treasury of the United States, Mr. Walker. That
shows that your example has not been unavailing
The report made by him, containing many enlarged
views on the sub oct of commerce, speaks thus on
the question OF foreign trade: by countervaiing re-
srictions we njure our own fellow-citizens much
more than the foreign nation at whom we purpose
to aim their force, and IN the conflict of opposing
tariffs we sacrifice our own commerce, aericu-
ture, and navigation. As well might We impose
monarchIcal arstocratc restrictions on our
government or people, because that the course of
foreign legislation. Let our commerce be as free
as our political Institutions Let us with revenue
duties only open eur ports TO all the world, and
ton after nation will follow our example. "
lie says also, III the question is asked, who shall
begin the work of reciprocal reduction? il is answer.
ed by the fact that England has already abated her
duties upon most Of our exports. She has re-
peaed the duty upon cotton, and greatly reduced
the tariff upon the breadsufs, provisions and other
articles; and her present bad harvest, accompanied
by reduction of our tariff, would lead to a repeal
Of her corn laws, and the unrestricted admission at
all times OF our agricultural products Here is a
direct homage TO the course which you have al.
ready pursued Here is an admission that without
any preliminary stipulation you reduced the duty
on cotton, and the United States has now admitted
that the time has come when she must follow your
example. In other parts of Europe, where the form
of government is totally different from that Of the
United States, could give you proof that your ex-
ample is producing considerable effect. | could
quote the instance of a State, as different from the
United States as can be, where your commercial |
principles are growing into favor. In Naples lib
eral views on the commercial subjects are begin
ming to prevail. Hear, hear. l must say, in JUS
tce to the sovereign who rules over that coun-
try, and who takes personal part in the admins
traioo Of that branch Of affairs, that have seen
documents on commercial subjects from his pen, in
which the principles Of commercial intercourse are
enunciated with as much correctness as if he had
been professor Of political economy That sove-
reign Is constantly urging upon his ministers the re-
Taxation OF duties; and | am convinced that at an
early period we may look for a reduction Of the du-
ties levied upon articles of our manufacture see rea-
son to think that the will at no remote
period be followed both in Sweden and Norway |
Austria haas shown disposition at least not to |
follow the example set her by neighborng coun- |
tries; and Hanover, also, has taken her own course
in commercial legislation | do not despair, there
fore, that the time will arrive when your example
will act upon other countries. trust that the i'm
proved intercourse which will ensue from il will
constitute Il new bond Of peace. | do hope that
the lovers and friends of peace between all ma
tons will derive material strength from the ex- |
ample which | advise to be followed, by the re- |
mova of impediments to commercial intercourse.
But, observe, that the continuance of peace
will expose us to greater competition. The
greater the certainty of the continuance of peace the
greater will be the efforts which you must make to
maintain your commercial position. During the
last we commanded the means of supplying
every nation, but peace has produced not only new
consumers but also formidable manufacturing rivals.
1t is Of great importance to to maintain the posi-
ton to which have reached Now, do firmly |
think that the abundance and cheapness Of provi-
sions is one Of the constituents by which the
tinuance of commercial pre-eminence may be main
tanned. You may say that the object of these alter
atoms is to foster the love Of gain, and to minister
the desire Of accumuating money, advise these
measures on no such grounds. | believe that the
accumulation Of wealth, that to say, the increase
of capital, is main element, is Of the means by
which we maintain the pre-eminent position
which we have long held. But have attempted to
show that the abundance of provisions and the Sc.
cuny-which is a main guarantee for the continu-
ance of that abundance-not only contribute to the
accumulation of wealth, but that they are directly
conducive to the alienation Of the public burdens
by the increase of revenue-o the alienation of local
burdens by diminishing the pressure of local claims;
but above all, that they are conducive to the spread
of morality, by diminishing those temptations to