The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-08-04

IT we wish, then, to furnish the supplies of
grain to the English market in preference over
our rivals IN northern Europe, we must reduce
our duties on foreign manu- features Ia secure the
opportunity. With this advantage we may rea-
diiy secure the larger share of the British mar
ket for foreign grain. Our lands are as cheap or
cheaper. facilities for internal intercours e and
our skill are far greater. lf they have advantage
over us in freight. even that would be removed
or greatly diminished by facilities for an EXCHANGE
OF commodities. which would give a cargo both
ways, whilst the present commercial system i'm
northern Europe. being so restrictive as it is.
wond diminish the ability to send caruoes of
goods m return. Here. sir, is the point tn which
the attention OF the grain grower in this country
ought To be turned. They will rest on a fal!a
ci"us nope II they suppose that the vast and fer
'''e grain growing reginu with which we must
co'"e INTO competition, cannnt supply the British
'arket' provided there is an increased demand
Inr 1t and an increased profit npun lis production
Inc quantity now produced there under the past
demand and past profits is test by which to
inmate that which might he grown under better
prices and larger demand in a country in
portion ct which there is little agricultural skill
and artificial improvement. We are informed by
Porter. in his progress of the British nation, thu,
y from lS0l To 1888 the average annual importa-
ton of wheat into Great Britain had fallen from
more than peck TO gallon to each consumer ::
and that while the total number of families in
Gfeat Britain had increased at the rate of Sd per
cent, the number of families employed in agri
culture had increased only at the rate of IT per
cent."-(Vol. L.. pages I46. l47, 1857 He
says that everywhere the condition of agricul.
tnral laburers is stated to be visbly amended, ="
and that with scarcely any exception the reve-
nue. drawn IN the form of rent from the ownership
OF the soil has been at least doubled in every par,
OF Great Britain since l790."-(Vol. ] p. l64.
Now this vast increase of production with pro
portlonably less amount of labor has been the re-
suit ct agricultural skill and science stimulated
by Increased demand and growing profits in tina,
branch of industry. Can it be supposed that like
causes might not produce great effects in coun.
lries, portions of which are far behind what Great
britain was IN 1870 in point of agricultural skill
and improvements But it may be said how ca
we hope to supply the British market in view of
TINS picture of their agriculture before us2 Ii
VIII be recoected however, that the demand
ana Inc prices which encourage this high state of
production was brought about by their corn laws.
which gave an artificial profit. whilst it dimin-
ished the capacity of other and larger classes 20
consume. Remove those restrictions, and the
manufacturer, IT he exchange his goods for IT,
may furnish, not entirely, hut To a great extent
cheaper corn than caIi be raised at home The
capacity of the whole nation to consume will be
vastly increased, as has already been shown by
the experience under Sir Robert Peels measures
OF 1912. Large quantities of lard meat. flax and
wool have been imported since that time, and We,
the domestic prices have increased, because The
demand grew even beyond the greater supply,
under rise in the profit of production throughout
the Kingdom, and consequent increase of capa
city to consume these articles. View this ques-
ton, then. MIR. Chairman. as we may, whether
upon general principles founded upon the long
settled and universal experience of mankind, or
upon the particular experience of our own country.
we md the result the same. In either way the
great truth Is demonstrated that the result of re-
strictlons upon our foreign commerce is to dimin-
ish the amount and the profit of the productions
OF the country which adopts them.
ITO be continued