The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-28

ofthe United States wllprotect, as it ought,
the foreign navigating interest of this great
country. five would have American sen
mento man our Navy, the mercantile marine
must he protected in the carrying of our own
productions. One more fact, and will close
these long, and fear you will think, des-
ultory remarks Some years since, few
bales OF course cottons were sent from this
country 10 Hindostan,us n commercial eXper-
lment the superiority of the fabric, and the
material out ofwhich il was made, gradually
brought the goods into notice and use in that
country, and the annual expectation from the
United States increased from few bales up
TO and 1000 per annum. The British man
utacttlrers were much annoyed mt this inter.
! ference and il is presumed that it was through
their influence that the East India Company
(the Government ofthat country have re-
peatedly augmented the discriminating duty
on these goods, (Which are called drillings,)
for the purpose Of protecting their own man
ufactures against those ofthe United States;
prior TO 1886, the duty was five per cent. in
favor of British goods; in that year it was in
creased To IL per cent; few years after
augmented to 10 II per cent, and even this
rate ofdifferential duty proved insufficient to
keep out the Americans, who drove n profit
able trade, Notwithstanding the great differ
ence against them.
And now, within few months, the East
India Company have been compelled again
to increase the discriminating duty to Is per
cent in order TO exclude our goods altogetl-
err and this difference will, without doubt,0c
complish the object. These facts are dcserv-
ing of Il passing remark, as Illustrative of the
energies and resources of the United States. !
AS late as the declaration of the last war in
1912, this country imported almost all its
coarse cotton fabrics from lIindostan, whence
they came literally by ship loads, aud were
paid almost altogether for in coin. No coun-
try seemed to be more abundant in means
necessary to supply such goods chcaply, than
Hiudostan; its soil furnished an abundance
ofcotton, which, though not ofan equal quail
ity Ofthat of the United States, was much |
less in price, and labor was cheaper than in
any other country in the world. Cotton spin
ming machinery was available through the
medium of British capital, aud the manuiac
lures received n protection ofl0 l-2 per cent,
against foreign interference. No country
seemed more secure Irui2 foreign competl-
ton in these goods than Hiudostan, aud least
of ALL was there fear decomposition from the
u. States; n country $4,000 miles distant,
where n days labor will earn about twenty
five pounds Of good rice, whilst in Hiudostan
ii obtains less than 10 pounds of very intcri- |
or rice. But the American planter furnished
n better raw cotton; the manufacturer, n bet |
ter aud cheaper fabric; the ship owner, Il
speedy and cheaper conveyance. Their u.
nitcd efforts drove the British manufactures
of those coarse goods from the largest British
Colonial market and which the Americans
would be in possession of now, but for the I'M
terpostion ofthc Enst India Company, with |
another protective duty TO sustain their mnn-
ufactories. have no fault to find with the
course pursued by the British, in these regu-
lations. | have introduced these facts, To en-
hibt TO you the transcendant folly of attempt
ing system oflow duties and free trade,
where il is all on one side. have not yet
known the British Government TO reduce the
duties to a point that has reached n single
important interest Their free trade and low
duties never apply TO any article that serious
ly completes with their own labor nor are
they likely TO adopt such measures. The
Free Trade of the political economists of
Great Britain, is a transcendental philosophy,
which is not likely to he adopted by any gov
eminent on the face ofthe globe, unless il he
the Chinese, and we have already the earnest
of the effect oflow duties on the internal con-
dition ofthat country. The trade of that
empire is fast approaching to hartcr;thc prec- |
ious metals having been drained, TO pay for
the foreign products introduced into it.
ABBOTT LAWRENCE.
To the Hon. WILLIAM c. RIvEs.