Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-10-01
The Tariff Question.

Before entering upon any particular observations
on the character, provision and probable effect
the Tariff Of 1916, we may be INDUCED in
few general SUGGESTIONS bearing on the Tariff con.
troversy at large
And first, we remark, ihat none of chose who
have so ably discussed this subject either in the for
uidable tones which arc too generally regarded as
infable textbooks Of Political Economy, or in the
able debates ofthe last session Of Congress. seem
to US 10 have contemplated directly and given SUI.
fcent weight to the peculinities of National
condition We are Que people, but dffused over
rapidly widening area, which far exceeds the civ
ilized portion Of the Old World Our country |
presents diversity Of soil and climate ofcapacities
and products, whick all Europe combined cannot
rival. Ills quite common to see arguments pass
unchallenged which rest on such bases these -
France Injuries herselfn refusing the Iron and Coal
Spain in rejecting the Cottons, Russia in declining
the Woolens Of Great Britain; ergo zoe ought not
10 protect our own Iron, Coal, Cottons and Wool
ems But the logic falls short admitted in all its
legitimate force il would only prove the expedience
of a Free Trade between the various sections or
States Of our own vast empire, which nobody is
dsputinq Prove that nations divided but by an
imaginary line, or few hundred miles at most, |
NAV adyantageously exchange products, and you
have barely begun TO prove like advantage in
exchanges Of commodities, bulky at least on one
side, between nations whose shores are thousands
Of miles distant
But in truth no Intelligent advocate Of Protec-
ton contends for any thing like the exclusion of
British Coal fromiFrance and Of French Wines and
Silks from Great Notwithstanding such 10 exist
The hippant aphoTsns and sorry ess Of our adver-
sares ayertng the absurdiiy OF attempting TO grow
grapes in Nova Zembla and fabricate ice in Ceylon
to make sugar at Labrador, or extract sunbeams
from cucumbers-are based on an entire misappre-
hension or cupable peryersion Of our views What
do Al va have a thousand times q
stated u.s. that sound policy dictates TO each country
at least TO each country vast and so versatile
in capacity as our own-the expediency of produc-
ing within its own limits all articles requisite to its
own sustenance and comfort so far as Nature has
interposedn obstacle. II. for example, Nature has
decreed that the iea.plant shall flourish only in
China and its vicinity, unless by an extraordinary
bestowment oflabor and care, then the production
OF Tea ought to be nowhere else an object Of Ma
tional solictude and protection. But prove TO u
that Tea will grow in parts Of this country as wei
as in the corresponding ATTITUDES Of Eastern Asia
and we would urge the immediate imposition OF
Protective duty on Tea sufficiently stringent to en-
courage our people TO engage in this branch ofin
dusry and to enable them to overcome the dlfiicul
ties and disappointments always incident to such
enterprise. Admit that annual supply of III
fragrant herb would for a time be enhanced in COS
by nearly the amount OF the duty, 1.-THE differenc
mainly going into the Federal Treasury aud
could not doubt that the ultimate reduction in cos
consequent on production within the neghborhou
Of the consumer would more than compensate III
original disadvantage of Protection, looking at tn
matter merely in the narrowest mercantile point
view Dear-bought and far-fetched' is an axior
the truth Of which but partially depends on the COS
Of transportation. Wherever A and b, producer
respectively Of articles desirable to each other, ar
neghbors and exchange their respective surpluse
directly, the cost OF such exchange is usually lrhin
IL r. ,lo.. IL LII. i. II l..
tween them. But place them few hundred mile
apart, and you have now not only transportation,
but reciprocal risks Of damage or decay and tn
profits Of two or three traficking intermediates
subtract from the joint products Of their labor belor
you arrive at the amount left for their enjoyment
Increase this distance to thousand miles, and plac
formidable barriers OF mountain and valley as well
as more pable water between them, and you hav
greatly increased the proportion of their joint pre-
duct which must be subtracted to satisfy the egiti
mate demands of Commerce. Hence the crcnm
stance that the naturalization Of branches Of in
dustry has scarcely failed 10 reduce the cost t.
the domestic consumers of the articles produce
thereby. Thus, while the whole of Europe an
Western Asia for century after century procure
their silks from India and China by slow, expensive
perous overland journeys of caravans, the cost
pound Of silk averaged nearly pound Of gold
though gold was more valuable than at present.
Probably it cost good deal more than this to pro
duce the first pound, or the first hundred pounds
silk grown in Europe but after the silk culture an'
manufacture had been thoroughly established there
the price Of the product inevitably declined, and
now as low as in China. So with hundreds oil othe
articles in all parts of the world.
But we deny that the mercantile is the only ligh
in which this subject should be viewed Suppos
il were true that our Cloths and Wares would for
many years cost twenty-five per cent more if mad,
here than il brought from England-would ID
therefore be proved advantageous 10 buy them a.
broadl Wesay it would not, for these among other
reasons
enhanced and the productveness of Farming in.
creased by the creation Of markets Of consumption
in the midst Of our rural population. Does any
doubt this Let him compare the value of farm
in Hamilton county. Ohio, wherein is Cincinnati,
with that of an equally good farm in Richland or
Stark county, in the Northern part of the State
The character of the population is not materially
different their industry and thrift much alike,
Yet the Hamilton county farm is worth thrice to
ten times the Richlant rival. And whyl Flour
or Pork is no dearer in Hamilton, but the mme.
date vicinity Of populous community, who con-
sumo but do not produce food, enables the farmer
here TO secure thrice as great return from each
acre Of ground as he could obtain in Richland.--
His fields are not more fertile but he here sell
fruits vegetables aud other products-more protita.
Die to him than Pork or Flour--for which he could
find but capricous or no market in Richand.-
So every where: so will il be Wherever manufactures
are extensively introduced. Yet Free Traders look
only TO the price Of such great staples as Pork,
Beef Flour. &c. aud ifthese have not advanced
in price they argue that the farmers have derived
no benefit from Protection Do they not clearly
affirm upon insufficient and unreliable Drcmses