Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-01
FREE TRADE IN FRANCE.

Wednesday Morning, April %, ls46.
FREE TRADE IN FRANCE.
Sound principles are progressing rapidly over
the world-Nol only England is begnningto feel
their infuence-and resolved TO establish them
upon solid basis-bu, France has caught The
inspiration OF liberal interchange OF Tree
thoughts. She has sought for the true remedy
and profound investigation Of the commercial
and industrial condition of France has SATISFIED
MANY of her leading men, that Free Trade pre-
,ents cure for many evils under which she Ia
bos.
They know that the work demands zeal anu
perseverance; it is nothing else than inc unue',
taking 10 educate an entire people. In England
i,reouired lty years 10 give vitality to the immor
tai PRINCIPLES avowed by Adam Smitn.-iear
after year the English people have CRED out
against the Corn Laws; thousands OF petitions
have they signed and presented to have The unjust
regulations abolished; and it is only lately that
the British Government has been forced 10 yieia'
The Free Traders in France feel that England
was better prepared to receive the ideas OF Free
Trade than their own country-that IN England
there are greater facilities for the diffusion oil sucn
ideas; that they read more, discuss more meet more
together and acquire more knowledge by con-
Aict of mind with mind than in France. Still,
with all these advantages, the English people
have made but snals progress towards just
appreciation Of the blessings Of Free Trade, and a
steady resolution TO bring them into practice. II
in England the task is SO difficult, how much
more immense and yet more glorious is the at
,.mnt to establish the principles Of Free Trade in
France!
Nevertheless, conscio Us Of the obstacles in their
way the free traders OF France feel 50 strongly
that upon the practical operations Of the pruci-
plies depend the good order, tranquility, peace,
and general comfort and happiness of the peo-
pie and the Government, that they have gone to
work, undaunted by the discouraging signs
around them. Bordeaux has always defended
these principles Her Chamber OF Commerce
has maintained The principles OF Free Trade ior
fifty years. and her citizens have resolved 10 strike
A blow which will vibrate through France. A
meeting of The Association to promote Com
merce was lately held at Bordeaux, in the large
concert-room Of the Theatre. There were from
500 to 600 persons present; the greatest en!hasi-
asm prevailed, and The sum of $4,000 francs was
subscribed in the room. The meeting adjourned
with "Three cheers for the King" "Three cheers
for Free Trade" Ttre la iibertc des cea0ngesD
The chair was taken by M. Dufour-Duber-
sier, Mayor OF Bordeaux and President OF the
Association His address on the occasion is so
r.n M praefscol ufpuS
ed in ,erse and graphic language, that We are
tempted to make pretty long extracts. Though
they proceed from the lips Of distinguished
French funclonary, they speak The words Of truth
and experience, and might be studied with adj
vantage by the Republican Tarifites on this
side of the Atlantic. Is it TO be much longer a
matter Of wonder, that while Free Trade is pro-
crossing so steadily in England and France, We
should see large party in the United States
struggling confidently TO rivct upon The nation
tho misehievous fruits Of The restrictive sys-
tent We hope that Congress will soon vindi-
cate the true principles of revenue, and leave
the people to pursue their own affairs unmoest-
ed
"'God helps those who help themselves Such
4
practice. .r.s
selves to complaint. For nearly fifty years we
have complained N y.a; let US to-day en-
gage YOU 10 Join us in claiming as right what
has been refused 10 our prayers.
eyes, gentlemen, long enough and 100 long,
have we been sacrificed TO private interests and
superannuated preludices; the day OF intelligence
and redress Of grievances has arrived.
ITO succeed, We need only combine; LOT we
are the more numerous-we are the stronger, and
we have reason and justice on our side. What
is il that we ask 2-,hat each should do what ne
knows how 10 do, and not attempt that which ne
does not know how TO do; and that ne should
exchange the produce Of his labor with him who
offers him the most advantageous terms-that is
10 saw. with him who offers the largest quantity
and the best quality.
"Lons, and TOO long, has attention been exciu-
sively paid TO producers; il is as consumers and
in their name, that we demand justice.
"All do not produce, but all do consume-and
among those who produce, there are many who
produce badly-that is to say, at high price, and
Of inferior quality.
"The interest Of consumers-that is to say, OF
the mass OF mankind-is to have good articles
at lew price, and they have right 10 take these
where they can conveniently be had.
"Is it then possible, gentlemen, that IN France
a land where all boast OF freedom, and where
there have been ten revolutions 10 win it-wbere
every thing has been leveled-that man should
dare 10 ,rample on the most Just and natural right
of free citizens, that OF employing their capital
and labor as their intelligence directs them
that OF buying what they please and where they
pieasel
that the human mind is mass OF absurd preJu-
dices.
"During fifty years, We have been struggling
for visionary objects, demanding franchises which
prof, us nothing and at the same time ALLOW the
iirst. the most natural, the most simple and The
most useful of our liberties to be reft from US
that of employing our wealth as our inclination:
and our interests direct. We amuse ourselves
with fancies, and realities escape US.
"Why should il not be between nations as be-
tween individuals OF The same nation 2
"Why, il inere are shocmakers, taisors, weay'
ers and each citizen does not make his own shoe,
clothes, and shirts-why, | ask, should not each
nation have its special branches Of industry !
"Why, if the division OF labor is good for indi
yiduals of the same nation, should it not be goot
for nations themselves If good for individuals
fortioYi il must be still better for nations, since
The aptitude of individuals for this or that profes
sion depends on habit and practice, while The ap
titude OF nations for a special branch OF industry
depends on climate or other natural causes Do
yond human control.
aWhat is true in the one case is consequently
still more true in the other; yet we accept speeia
pursuits for individuals, and reject them in The
case OF nations, where they rest on the immuabl'
laws of nature.
awe must confess, gentlemen, that the interes
of the masses has been sacrificed 10 the interesli
of the privileged classes. 1t is in the name
of the masses that we come TO protest agains
injustice, and TO claim Free Trade as right
at is true that this usurpation has been excused
by plausible pretences. We are told that a ma
ton should depend on itself, and that we shoulc
favor our national industry.
"But this argument is not even sspeclous; Il
might as we'll be said that every individual shoulc
depend on himself; but thence would result con
fusion in industry, the cessation of the division