Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-12-11

t"SsuCH"af iesenuc uutieSt our manufacturers
In several leading branches are extending
! their business giving evidence of great in,
genuity and skill, and Of their ability to cora
pete, with increased prospect Of success, for
the open market of the world. Domestic
manufactures, to the value of several millions
of dollars, which cannot fiHd market at home.
are annually exported to foreign countries.
With such rates of duty as those established
/ by the existing law, the system will probably
be permanent; and capitalists, who have
made, or shall hereafter make, their invest.
ments in manufactures. will know upon what
Ito rely. The country will be satisfied with
these rates, because the advantages which
the manufacturers still enjoy result necessari
fy from the collection of revenue for the sup
port of government. High protective duties,
from their unjust operation upon the masses
of the people, cannot fail to give rise to ex.
tensive dissatisfaction and complaint. and to
constant efforts to change or repeal them, rem.
derlng all in vestments in manufactprs uncer-
tain and precarious. Lower and more perna-
nent rates of duty, at the same time that they
| will yield to the manufacturer fair and re-
mnnerasing profits, will secure him against
the danger offrequent changes in the system,
which cannot fail to ruinously affect his in.
terests.
simultaneously with the relaxation of the re-
strictive policy by the United States, Great Brit.
ian, from whose example we derived the system
| has relaxed hers. She has modified her corn
laws, and reduced many other duties to moderate
revenue rates. After ages of experience, the
statesmen of that country have been constrained
by stern necessity, and by a public opinion
| having its deep foundation in the suferings and
wants of impoverished millions, to abandon a
IL sc, - Ill
mense fortunes in the hands of the few and to re-
duce the laboring millions to pauperism and mis-
| cry. Nearly in the Same ratio that labor was
depressed, capital was increased and concentrated
by the British protective policy.
i he evi s of the system in Great Britain were
at length rendered intolerahle, and it has been
| abandoned, but not without a severe struggle on
the part of the protected and favored classes TO
retain the unjust advantages which they have so
long enjoyed. 1t was to be expected that SIM
liar struggle would be made by the same classes
in the United States, whenever an attempt was
made to modify or abolish the same unjust sys-
tenn here. The protective policy had been in
operation IN the United states fer much shorter
period, and its pernicous effects not, there
fore so clearly perceived and felt. Enough, how.
ever, known of these effects to induce its re-
peal.
pie of Great Britain, our principle foreign Gus
toner, and Of the evils of system rendered man
ifest in that country by long and painful expert
ence, and in the face of the immense advantages
which, under a more lberel commercial policy.
we already deriving and must continue to
derive. Ly supplying her starving population
| with food the United States should restore pol
icy which she has been compelled to abandon,
and thus diminish her ability to purchase from
US the food and other articles which she so much
needs, and we SO much desire to sell. BY the
simultaneous abandonment Of the protective poll
| icy by Great Britain and the United states, new
and important markets have already been opened
for our agricultural and other products; commerce
and navigation have received a new impulse la
Dor and trade have been released from the artifi-
cia tfammels which have so long fettered %hem {;
and to great extent reciprocity, IN the exchange
of commodities. has been introduced at the same
time by both countries, and greatly for tho benefit
of both. Great Britain has been forced, by the
pressure of circumstances at home, to abandon
policy which has been upheld for ages, and to open
her markets for our immense surplus of breadstuf;
and it is conf eny believed that other Powers of
| Europe will ultimately see the wisdom, if they be
not compelled by the pauperism and sufferings of
their crowded population, to pursue similar poll
cy.
! Our farmers are more deeply Interested in main.
tanning the just and liberal policy of tho existing
| law than any other class of our citizens. They
constitute large majority of our population and
it is we'll known that when they prosper, all other
pursuits prosper also. They have heretofore not
only received none Of the bountes or favors of go
vernment, but, by the unequal operations of the
protective policy, have been made, by the burdens
of taxation which it imposed, to contribute to the
bounties which have enriched others.
When foreign as we'll as home market is o.
pened to them, they must receive, as they are now
receiving, increased prices for their products.
They will find reader sale, and at better prices.
for their wheat flour, rice, Indian corn, beef pork,
lard butter cheese, and other articles, which they
produce The home market alone is inadequate
to enable them to dispose of the immense surplus
of food aud other articles which they are capable
of producing. even at the most reduced prices for
the manifest reason that they cannot be consumed
ia the country. The United states can, from their
immense surplus, supply not only the home de-
mand but the Deficiencies of food required by the
whole world.
That the reduced production of some of the chief
articles of food in Great Britain and other parts
| Of Europe, may have contributed to increase the
demand for breaJstuffs and provisions, is not
doubted; but that the great and efficient cause of
consists in the removal of artificial restrictions
heretofore imposed. is deemed to be equally GER
tain. That our exports of food, already increased
and increasing beyond former example, under the
more liberal policy which has been adopted, will
be still vastly enlarged, unless they be checked or
prevented by restore alton of the protective policy
cannot be doubted. That our commercial and ga
vigating interests will be enlarged in correspon-
ding ratio with the increase of our trade is equally
certain; while our manufacturing interests will
s be the favored interests of the country, and re-
ceive the incidental protection afforded them BY
revenue duties; and more than this they cannot
! Justly demand.
In my annual message Of December last, tariff
of revenue duties based upon the principles of tn.
existing law was recommended, and have seer
no reason 10 change the opinion then expressed
In view Of the probable beneficial effects of thai
law, | recommend that the policy established BY
it be maint,ined. 1t has but just commenced tt
operate; and to abandon or modify it without Civ
) ing it fair trial, would be inexpedient and I'm
wise. should defects in any of its details be as
certained by actual experience to exist, these ma.
be hereafter corrected; but until such defects shat
become mani fest, the act should be fairly tested.
It is submitted for your consideration whether
may hot be proper las measure, to impose reVe
nue. duties on some of the articles now embraced il
\ the free list. Should it be deemed proper to i'm
pose such duties, with view to raise revenue
f meet the expenses of the war with Mexico, or
avoid to that extent the creation of public debt
: they may be repealed when the emergency "hic
gave rise to them shall cease to exist and const
tute no part of the permanent policy of the country