Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-23
(From The Boaon Post.

eminent merchants but also as zone OF The best
and most honorable men in England. no" el.
close copy of another letter received by the last
steamer, from The same distinguished person "
the Honorable Abbott Lawrence, upon Inc grea.
topic OF the day, free trade, which cahno. uouo'
your numerous readers WIZ peluSe WV. -; Wv
deepest interest; especially al the present ume'
when The whole country is anxiously looking 10
| The Compress now assembled al Washington for
radical change in the tariff, which Expresses The
| agriculture and commerce OF the United States.
must also request your insertion Of the pre-
iminary letter OF Mr.. Brown 10 myself. herewith
enclosed, which will explain why have made
public a communication oil his addressed ~ an
other gentleman.
Very truly your friend and cb't serv't,
S. ID. BRADFORD.
RICHMOND HILL, Liverpool,
18th May, 1916
AbboN Laurence, Esq'r:
My Dear Sir-I aru very much obliged 10 you
for sending me copies of three letters you wrote
| 10 The Hon. VIM. e. Rives Of Virginia, bearing
date the eth and 10th January, and Odd Februa-
ry, and for The very nauering manner i'll which you
are pleased to speak Of my judgment in noticing
an extract from a letter OF mine 10 Mr.. Role, OF
the 10Th of October last.
| In Justice 10 myself, and hope without prodn-
| cling on your part any change of opinion as 10
my Judgment must totally dissent from The in
ference you have drawn from this insulated para
graph, that Is in support of your protective dn-
| Ties my arguments merely went 10 show that The
landlords OF this country had no just right by high
duties 10 exclude your wheat, flour, maize, &c.i
for that the natural advantages that they, through
our manufactures, possessed. enabled Ihem 10
| transmule a large quantity OF grain into hard
| hraadclathS &r &r for eyDOrlatiOQ. and
that their monopoly kept Us in stale OF CONNER
| cial warfare with you and other corn-growins
nations, who have the means 10 some extent OF
supplying our wants on as good and better terms
than they can do. No class interest in any coun-
try, whether farmers, landlords or manufacturers,
ought 10 be sustained BY protective Or prohibory
duties Tor heir benefit, or 10 enable them 10 carry
| on business which is misapplicalion OF skill
and capital, and not only injurious 10 those who
are more Immediately laid under contribution,
! but 10 the country al large.
The United States have advantages which We
do not possess Tor sustaining your nalura and ma
tive industry, in the manufacture OF wheat,
maize, rice, cotton, tobacco, pork, &c, &c; and
il is not important 10 you whether they are expor-
ted as wheat, maize, rice, &c, or transmuled into
cotton, pork or tobacco Whichever pays you
best is your interest. The words "naiive indus
try" have been very much abused as applied 10
the making of manufactured goods only. Ii is
still more native as you are situated, il applied
10 The cultivation OF the sod
There is no doubt Ina, We can manufacture
many articles cheaper than you can, and il is
equally inconlroyer,ible, that you can supply Us
with much that We cannot obtain elsewhere So
advanla2eousy Now, The question 10 be an
swered is simply ihis:-ls il our interest respec-
lively, 10 take from each other such articles as
we can import cheaper Than we can make or pro-
cuce them al hoine7 / cannot conceive there
will be moments hesitation in answering in The
affirmative. Neither Think will il be disputed
that the more we can induce other nations 10 take
what we can advan,ageousy produce and spare
with advantage, il is our interest TO do so; and
see no way so efectual 10 accomplish this end as
by removing all protecting and prohibiiory duties.
Ii other nations are obstinate, and will not recin-
rocale mutual Benefits do not let US aggravae
the evil, and punish ourselves ny Teialiang nd
depriving ourselves Of many OF the necessaries Of
life BY high duties, which, 10 The extent these du
TOSS G., more Ia D0r 10 ooiaNf ahn ff'ty our
wants. When these prohibitions are carried too
far they either annihiate The trade altogether, or
smugglers step in, as in Spain, 10 The injury ci
the revenue and decentralization Of the nation;
and we have ample proof from experience, that
moderate duties produce the most revenue, and
that by removing restrictions, we have material
" increased our exports 10 nations who have be-
come more stringent in their prohibitions. send
YOU the anli.Monopoy Society's report for last
year in lie appendix TO which you will find proof
Of this. | would throw commercial treaties 10
| The wind and act solely rs deemed il The inter
est Of my country, without reference 10 what other
nations do, never losing sight OF line fact, that no
people can import without exporting an equiva.
lent-we canno, sell without We buy-wc arc no,
generous enough 10 give the products Of our in
dustry without obtaining for them something that
! is more valuable 10 us than that with which we
part; and the further can create these eYchan-
ges, the more both parties and the nation arc en-
riched, for their labor, skill and capital are then
turned 10 The best possible account, by creating
the greatest quantity OF value 10 make exchanges
| with.
just take one example of the Injustice iha,
heavy duties do in injuring your farmers, and all
those who buy wooens cottons, hardware, &C.,
&c. Let us suppose you charge duty Of fifteen
per cent. on woollens, as you did al one period,
and that TWO barrels of flour then bought or ex-
changed for one piece Of cloth; but 10 sustain
your manufacturing pursuits, you induce the gov
eminent to raise these duties 10 one third on the
previous cost and duty, which would be less than
your present rates, then il requires three barrels
Of The farmers -four 10 buy The same quantity oil
wooens, which is positive loss 10 him, and 10
all other purchasers who must part with larger
corresponding advantage TO the manufacturers
| unless they have some local or natural advan-
lages; they may not derive more than living
profit out oihertrade when all the resi- ofthe coun-
Try is heavily ked to sustain them in their bust
ness 1.-THE manufacturers have more than fair
profit it is equally unjust that others should pay for
! their exclusive benefit. Just fancy us forcing the
growth ofpine apples in England, and you breeding
Shetland ponies al New Orleans. This is nothing
/ .f,t.z ~
labor and capital in attempting 10 effect what 9TH
ers can do for US on much better terms. A tai
Tor can make clothes infinitely better and chea.
per than shoemaker-a shoemaker can do the
same with shoes much better than the TAILOR
Now, what would be the effect OF laying coun-
lervaing or rrohibitory duties between these
TWO parties Would it not punish both by COM
polling them 10 make worse article, and al an
unproha BILE and greater expenditure Of Dor than
if each was left 10 his own natural trade TO sup
ply the other with clothes and shoes7 Can there
be doubt OF lhs2 Now fancy The trade Of
New York and Boston nerfered with by confer
vailing and prohibitoIy dutics-eo slep farther,
and imagine The nations OF the earth all pursuing
The same suicidal policy, and leave you 10 draw
the inference. The effect appears 10 me as
clear as the sun at noon, yet this is The policy
50 far as nations are concerned, that you advo-
cafe.
Almost all your protection publications which,
have had an opportunity of reading more or less
say that all you want is reciprocity. Now on this
point we are about testing The sincerity of such de-
clarations, for hope the packet OF The 18th June
will carry you out an account of the death war
rant of our corn laws, &c, having received the
royal assent, and that We are about 10 give your
-four, wheat Indian corn, cotton, lard, &c, &C.,
free admission to our consumers.
tits true our Government, with view 10 raise
revenue, prohibits the growth of tobacco in Great
Britain, although it can be raised OF very lair
quality in Ireland, and better for the consumers
than The adulieraIed trash now used by them
This gives you complete monopoly OF our mar
ket for that article, although ii will continue tax
ed. II your interest that this course should be
pursued, but much question whether it is ours.
/ am not without hope, that even here, by and
bye, We will get the duty reduced, unless by your
prohi billions YOU put il out Of our power 10 paw