The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-21
FREE TRADE.

The following letter is from gentleman whose
views and opinions are entitled to respect. Let the
farmers Of the country and their representatives
read it, and determine whether free trade is not
an object to them:
New YoRK, July 90, 1876.
MypEAR SIR: The revenue bill, now before the
Senate, excites more interest here than any other
subject. The protectionists rave and swear; the
friends of the ''greaest good to the greatest num-
Der" fervently hope il may pass. How can dem
ocrat--the enemy of monopolies-opposed to the
plan of favorng classes at the expense of the masses
how can such one hesitate to support this bilR
wish few thousand western farmers were here
to see what virtue there is is in free trade If they
could go with to the docks, and see our gigantic
packet-ships literally grooming under the weight Of
-four for England, they would see that u foreign
outlet for this most plentiful article Is something of
an object to them. Produce, under the cure all
tariff of 1912, is now unprecedented'y cheap-four
less than "a per barrel Were it not for the large
shipments to England for the last three months in
anticipation of the repeal of the English corn
laws, -four at this moment would not be worth
three dollars per barrel in this market. England
has relaxed her protective policy, and her mar
kets are now thrown open to the American
farmer. Shall we recprocate this liberal movement
or shall we pertinaciously adhere to that policy
which speaks to Finland this language: awe do not
expect you to buy Of u.s. BECAUSE WE WILL NOT
BUY OF YOU" Let the farmer who looks for vent
for his immense surplus, answer through his rep
resentatives. The question before the Senate en-
phaticalIy is, Shall the agricultural and CONNER
cal classes be longer ground down to pamper the al
ready wealthy and bloated manufacturer-or shall
they be relieved from that depicting and exhaustng
process which is going on under the tariff Of
lS42
The idea that labor is protected by high tariffs,
is by us, who have always lived among the manu-
c,.,, kno IN he NIL The DrOtec-
zion is to capital not labor to the rich at the ex
pense of those who "sow and reap;" to bankers who
are afraid ofbeing occasionally called upon for spe-
Gle under the operations of foreign commerce,
repeat let those in Congress, who doubt
that foreign commerce Is an object TO US, visit
New York, and accompany me to our docks, and
there see the -four of Indiana, Illinois, and Mich-
ean: the pork, lard and beef Of Ohio the tar and
torpentine of North Carolina-not to mention the
cotton Of the south--all vending their way to Old
England. The game is in the hands Of the Senate,
to be PLAYED for "weal or for wo" to the country
God grant they may emancipate us from that ac-
cursed policy which is suited only TO the dark ages
The protectoniss do not yet quite despair 1t is some
tinoes suggested that It would be marvellous If a
.rol, democratic senator could not be induced to be
among the missing when the final vote ls taken
The eyes of the whole country are upon tpery mem
bcr ofi6s Senate If all not at the post of duty
when this great question is taken, the people will
insist upon knowing the reason, and the true and
the whole reason. | have no fear for the result.
The protectionists reckon without their host Money
cannot buy, panic-makers cannot Brighten, true
democrat, Every friend OF free trade here regards
the bill as safe. The wings and .protectionists al
most give up, but cherish still faint hope-a hope
founded only upon the remote possibility that one
democratic senator may either be coaxed or fright
ened over to their side, or be induced to be away
when the question is taken. Such an expectation
is surely illusory. Twenty-eight democratic sena-
tors a re here regarded as certain for the BILL"