The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-20

and GSaIsa vas as iS % s sSS~
this and sslsS q ssSs Ri asS' ~
which commerce aud industry had been SO much benefited
finances, added 70 the permanent dsIt Of the coanty
On the contrary, the Of these esrse
tons every test which could be taken Of the financial con.
dlnon 81 the esuntry showed that il had rather been i'm
proved than Impaired" ~. #s|
further proof is also found in the repeal of the
British corn-laws. 10 ... nv, ny
Take another instance Of the injurious effects of
ee restrictive and the tendency "a liberal policy
~moh 10 found IN the manufacture of Silks
whieh, oy'he-by, is wholly artificial IN Great Brit
e, am Was commenced as early the reign Of
Edward Ill. Various laws were from time 20 time
enacted for the protection of ths branch of indus
Try, and IN l76S the importation Of silk goods man
ufaetured IN other countries was entirely and strictly
piohbiied which gave to the manufacturers of this
article lhe exclusive control Of the home market.
This system continued all 1924, at which time IL
was wholly changed, and the high duty of four
sehlings per pound on raw silk reduced TO three
pence, and the enormous duty Of fourteen shillings
apd sight pence per pound upon thrown silk was
reduced TO seven shlings and six pence. Il may
appear strange, but II ID no less strange than true,
That for the next twelve years succeeding this rap,
ID reduction in duty the quantity Of raw and thrown
silk used oy the manufacturers increased over
one hundred per cent; which Is accounted for in
the spur with which composition was driven Tor
ward and the consequent reduction Of price, which
enabled me common people 70 wear silk goods
which had before been used only by the wealthy
See Isl vol Porter's Progress, page 2530
Inc then chancellor Of the exehequer, (MT. Rob
inson,) on the 22d OF February, 1924, ia pressing
his measure, delivered a speech from which will
make very lew extracts, lie said
For some year, past there has certainly prevailed In
this country among h .b-.t slstss~sn sad olr most emit
and Soessd Govern s hon ~ ss 2, sens
ih. prohioilery system u sxsssdiasly apOlitie,r
present for carrying principles into effect and for nV
hg iotegn powers to act in sceorance with them Let
down commerce TO the earth may soar aoft uncon
hned and unrestricted ttissr, heart
II therefore hope that the House wi think il iulI tim.
. throw down th, hollow gidsd. and distorted idol Of
sh this foundation the statue Of
commercial liberty Hear, hear hear'I
BY turning TO the debates ia the British Parliay
ment, IN May, 1870, IL will be found that Lord
Lansdowne, Lord Marlborough, and Lord Liver.
pool deplore thelrsystem OF commercial .prohibitons
ana restrictions, and greatly desired gradual
urn TO free-trade, TO commercial emancipation.
Lord Lansdowne expressed this beautiful senti-
menu
mo axiom than this thai il was by grow.
chsaPly and by receiving hom other countries what IL
could not produce except at too great expense
greatest extent ofPoPulation"
Need say to you that even Massachusetts, now
so abused of her sisters for her protective and plum
dering ProPenstes, was originally opposed to the
system, because her interest was found in the ship
ping, commercial, and fishing smployments and
thai she warned the friends of protection and priyl-
ledge against its evils
here give the resolutions Of the Boston meeting
with an extract Of Mr.. WEBsTER's remarks upon
them:
Tgs,p.r. October 3. 1870
GENERAL MEETING.
Yesterday an adjourned meeting the subject OF the
Gray, chairman, and william Tostar, E, secretary.
n. tna report wa. read from the sPeets
Guided with the following resolves;
LIST Rs'sised Thst have regarded with pleasure the
and success Of manufactures among and
thnr growth, when natural and spoaneou and
not the effect OF system Of bounes and protection
evidence Of general wealth and prosperity.
our fellowcitiIsns all adapt
ed to our characters and circumstances will be oduCed
and EXTENDED as soon and fast viii promote the public
interest without any further protection than they
3D. That no objection ought ever to be made to .
amount OF taxes equally apporoned and impo-cd I0r
purpose Of raising necessary fol the support efgC
benefit of any class of equally inconssle
with the principles of constitution and with sound
ath That the suPposition that until the proposed tariff
or some similar measure be adopted are and shall
ne, dependent on foreigners for the OF subsist-
ence and defence Is In ola ou altogether fascouz
and anciful and dsrogaory 10 the character Of the
9th That high bounties such domestic manufactures
. are principally benefited by that tariff great capt
as rather than personal Industry the
capitals and therefore that do not perceive tendency
to promote national industry, . ...
beneficial effect. agriculture since obvious copse-
qunnce Of its adoption would be that the farmer give
than he now does for all he buys and receive lees for
all he sells
7th That the imposition Of duties which enormous
and deemed by large portion OF the people be unequal
ana nhus dangerous, as 1t encourages the practice Of
smuggling ... -. J.. : 80
in oyro ~ Ia ~.
principles on which 1t is avowedy founded would il
adopted have tendency however different may be the
ions oil those who recommend them, to diminish the indus
impede the prosperity and corrupt the morals OF the
James T. Austin esq, and the Hon Daniel Webster ad
dressed their eowctzens Of the report and re-
solves IN speeches which We're distinguished for coseness
OF argument variety OF illustrations, and abundance
fact 't ~ w 7TU7-- '. =
The report was then accepted and the resolves
mended by the COMMITTEES unanimously passed,
vote ofthanks to the Hon. Mr. Otis of the Senate and
.ensSs Ss nsa n state IN the House Of
The report constituting the preamble to the above reo-
inons Is too long for insertion this day forming twenty
three manuscript pages to be printed in pamphlet
Here is wholesome truth plainly and cogently
spoken 1t reads strangely by the side of the
cent Lawrence letters and the subsequent speeches
and votes of Mr.. Webster. . ,..-' ,.. '....
But let us see on what grounds these free-trade
resolutions were then commended to the unanimous
judgment of the good people of Boston. Here is a
passage from the argument Of the master spirit Of
the OCCASION In addressing that Fancuil Hall meet
ing on the ID October, 1870, Mr.. Webster said
There s power in and those who had pressed
the tariff Congress- and the country had represented
i as immediately and almost exclusively connsced with
ion measure could rose more Injurious 10 he industry Of
se country and nothing iancul than the opinion
'ary ne certainly thought IL might Be dorbtsd rheher Con-
ses rgad not b qciins somewhai against spi, and in-
tally the pursuits and occupations Of individuals in their
private concerns power to force great and sudden