The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-08
THE PROTECTIVE PRINCIPLE.

Il is a remarkable fact that the protectonlsts only
stand by their principle when il is applied 10 trade
which takes place over the sea. These men are
continually telling of the vast extent of our coun
tryof the varieties Of its soil and eimate-of It's
manifold resources--ofits varied forms of industry
and of the prodigious domestic trade which takes
place between the different sections Of our Union
Now, strangely enough, these protectonlsts who
would restrict and fetter all foreign commerce,
are the most sturdy advocates of entire freedom IN
this same vast domestic trade. Massachusetts, has
her looms and spindes, and so has Ohio Yet the
very same man who urges upon you the duty OF
protecting the manufacturing interest OF Massachu-
setts against that of England, has not word TO
say in favor OF protecting the manufacturing inter
est of Ohio (though comparatively in its infancy
against the great manufacturing establishments OF
Massachusetts. On the contrary, the proteclionis'
maintains that perfect freedom ofrade between Ohio
and Massachusetts is a great blessing to both those
States Now, why is this II it be good policy to
protect Lowell against Manchester, why is It bad
policy to protect little manufacturing village in
the west against Lowell Why is free trade a good
principle ever SO far inland and bad principle just
so soon as it begins to look across the Atlantic
Take again the case of New England agriculture.
Why should il not be protected against the over
wheming competition Of the great vest The pro-
tecionists tell us when they would glorify the
"AOms marksi," that Massachusetts, buys more ofthe
agricultural products Of the west than England
buys This, the protectionist tells US, Is the con-
sequence Of free trade between Massachusetts, and
the west; and it is, in his view great blessing.
But why does the protectionist thus abandon his
principle Why does he not insist that the New
England farmer ought to be protected against the
farmer Of Illinois, Il cannot be pretended that these
two men stand upon an equal footing. The same
labor which will raise seventy bushels Of wheat in
Massachusetts will raise seven hundred in Illinois.
If the principle Of prohibition, miscaled protection,
be sound principle here is clear case for its ex-
ercse Yet the staunchest protectonist will be the
first to proclaim the utter unsoundness of the prin-
ciple in such an application of Iron and coal
are found in other parts Of our country beside
Pennsylvania. Then on the protectionist's princi-
pie, why should he not protect the infant mining
interests Of other States against the opulent and
wel-established mining interests of Pennsy yaniai
Mr.. Webster argued in the Senate that we must
shut up our ports against the Nova Scotia coal, In
order to protect the coal interests Of Pennsylvania
If this be sound policy, then why should not
every other State having coal mines with
in its limits equally seek to prohibit or
restrict the importation of Pennsylvania coal
Any such legislation is indeed forbidden by
the constitution of the United States and the pro-
tectonist tells you that this provision of the consti-
tuition, securing freedom Of trade between all the
States, is emnently wise. Even the wing protec-
toniss of Boston found their zeal against annexa-
ton to cool somewhat, when they reflected that an
nexaton would give them the benefit of free trade
with Texas But if free trade between Texas and
Boston be so great blessing to both parties, why
is free trade between Texas and Liverpool de-
nounced as an evil
These considerations point very clearly to the
indisputabe truth of the case. The protection
clamored for, is protection of class interests 1t
does not apply to communities The protection
principle will not work at all when you apply it
southwark and westward. Even in the eyes Of its
warmest advocates, it is good only when it travels
to the cast. principle thus double faced-wearing
one countenance for the west, and another for the
east, can never command the confidence of the
country We suboin, on this subject, the following
we'll put illustrations from the Boston Chrome
type.
"Free trade does exist, and has existed between
from thirteen to twenty six sovereign republics for
fifty years or more, and who says it is failure ?
You have only to cut off the eastern hemisphere,
and shave down the western little and there would
4 L. thn rnrlA NAtr
restrictionst, take any of the twenty-six SOW
ereign States of the Union, and say If u could be
benefited by any restrictions on trade with the rest
Individuals and classes might be enriched by it to be
sure, but there is not man claiming the smallest
thmble full of brains, who would not say that the
State, as whole, would be made the poorer by
the restriction, if it operated at all; and if 1t did not
operate, it would be restriction. II free trade IS
practically good between twenty or thirty different
countess extending over space 1000 miles square,
how does il become bad the moment you overstepth that
extent If trade must be trammeed against Euro
pean industry for the benefit Of Massachusetts IN
dustry, why should it not be trammelled against
Massachusetts industry for the benefit ofthat of OHIO
We should like to see Mr.. Abbot Lawrence and
Mr. Nathan Appleton come up to the work like
men, and answer this. Let them If they can, tell
us why sauce for the goose is not sauce for the
gander. II we are to have restrictions on trade
lest the industry of Massachusetts, should be over
whelmcd by foreign production, let them tell ,ohy
it would not, on the same principle, be wise to re-
strict internal trade, lest the of Pittsburgh
should be overwhelmed with the superabundance OF
the webs of Lowell, and the farmers of Massachu-
sets be Frustrated by the plenty of wheat and corn
in Illinois. How would cotton lords of Ameri-
can Manchester like to have the pebean landlords
of New England get the constitution and laws so
mended as to give them a nice protection against
western -four and pork, and set the spndles to buzz
zing on the Cuyahoga, the ST. Joseph's, and the
Fox riversw .'.. a'