The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-22
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Tariff and Warehouse BiiI-Sr Robert PeePs MIR.
Webster's, and MR. Walkers policy.

BfiI.-Sir Peel MIR
Webster's, and MIR. Walkers policy.
| Resuming hurried examination of MIR Webster S
views of the policy which fastened the country
IN 1921 as well as of his strange conversion since to its
anhpodes while the principle of protection, alias prohi-
btion urged he asked whether the consequence of
the universal application Of the general principle would
not be that nations should abstain entirely from all in
tercourse with one another ! think freedom of trade
to be the general principle and restriction the exception,
was his reply to his own query. He reasoned forcbly
and concusvely that the policy of all producers was
not TO keep other vendors out OF the market by high
hbltory duties but to conquer them by far competition
and The superiority Of their goods.
Long as il is, tempted TO take an extract from
the last treasury report it furnishes strong corrobave
evidence of the soundness of Mr. Webscr's views in
1920 and 1924. Mr. Walker has obviously studied the
subject well and what with demonstratve evidence OF the
truth and correctness of his postulates from abroad,
well the results already ascertained homethe i'm
mediate theatre OF our observationhs conclusions
sound and convincing:
"The home market sufficient our RAPIDLY
increasing agricultural products but it is for all
uiactures and Tor vast amount besides. which is inn
ported yearly Hom abroad Let enlarge the market for
our own manufactures Mt home, by removing taxation
and restrictions from agriculture, commerce, and navga
on, and, with augmented means, those engaged in these
pursuits will furnish larger and better home marker
series OF years by diminishing the profits of other
suits by high duties and restrictions. The great
body OF American consumers not engaged in manuac
lures are the customers OF the manufacturer, and to affect
njuriously the means of those who purchase
ualy diminish the profits of those who sell the manuac
lures. BY extending our own commerce, agriculture,
and navigation by increasing the profits of those engaged
and opening them unrestricted exchanges with all the
world, Tar larger, and better, and more permanent and
to the manufacturers than any they derive from
diminishing the means of their customers engaged in
other pursuits When the farmer and planter, the mer
chant and navigator are most prosperous they viii pnr
chase more OF American well foreign manufactures
ton will find its way into the natural channels and
prosperous pursuits and the aggregate wealth OF the whole
and profitable market, dependent legislative bou-
ties or restrictions or taxes will be built up at home for
extended by eer exchanges e export of our o mann m fac
tures last year amounted in value to $9569349 which
mercia policy. Such of manufactures as from their
interior loca other causes do require high duties
ciay, greatly injured by the protective system and the
higher the duties, the greater the resulting injurious effects
They injured both in the home and foreign market The
injury arises in the home market, by diminishing the
means of ths customers here to purchase their fabrics
and they injured the foreign Market by
upon the exchanges there OF their exports of home
lacmres for foreign imports Under system oow duties
all would be greatly augmented, and should
export largely only breadstu provisions, cotton rice
LARGE o aG s m aa we ana u"
unctures of wool, hemp and Already Indian
s@ Of exchanges w ali the ron ny
take its place list of exports to foreign countries.
Satisfactory Mr. Walkers reasoning is with the Gu
accuracy and the sounness Of his data let us see what
the able advocate for free trade said Speaking
in reference to the proposed augmented duty cotton
fabrics, he rays
"I consider the manufactures not only to have
reached, but to have passed the point of competition
the most impatient could well expect His own consti,u
ents largely interested in manufacturing but he
give additional protection. manufacturing community
enjoys many advantages but we may talk will Of
Welt and welclothed dayaborers journeyen they
after all to be compared, either for happiness
cultvates his own fee simple Inheritance
The woollen manufactures of England have, for many
centuries been the objects of anxious with her Par
lament receiving legislative aid in every shape and form
to and sustain them, any by reading
the works OF her commercial writers from the 18th to the
18th century: Ours, on the contrary, Mr. Webster
marked in his speech Of 1924, care but Of yesterday, and
yet with than the protection of existing laws
before the tariff of 1924 the duty wooens was 25 per
cent? hey are already at the point OF close and proms
ing competition
gress for this branch OF manufactures, Mr. Webster
conended treytrro years ago; he secuted the idea Of
our initiating the clumsy helps" with which European
governments have sought to enable the ingenuity and in
dusry of their people "to hobble along" 81 venture Che
continues) to predict that, in few years. it will be
thought wonderful that these branches OF manufactures
at least (referring to cottOns and woolens,) should
have been thought to require additional aid from govern
ment." [Spoken, bear in mind, in 1924 j "The best
apology for laws OF prohibition and monopoly, will be
found that state of society not only not unenghened
but sluggish, in which they most generally establish
ed" How truthfuly did Mr.. Webster reason in 1891
And pray auhdt has tansped since TO change his views
Of our national policy in regard to manufacturers He will
surely argue that manufactures have etrograied
in Skill that their knowledge and Judgment now fall short
OF Wnat tney were III 1871 ~ He Poht 81 u0S ana
promising competition in 1924, with the aid of the then
existing laws, what transpired dd interim to rem
der it necessary that these branches of manufactures
should have protection avished them with such
unsparng hand What unlooked-for contingency had
happened to require that which Mr. Webster had shown
was not, and icoud not be needed He had changed
his views, and, without venturing any ill-natured
surmses, we rather think that it by some peculiar
species of conuration it was Accomplishment hence he
cues, what unnecessary before and necessary
now. We pretend not to say hOto the change
wrought in Mr. Websters opinions, what causes were
brought into operation to produce such change destruc
tive alike to his reputation statesman of broad and
comprehensive views as the effects of the new policy
were deeterous to the best interests OF country
Consistency in the views and opinions OF public
ters rather think, largely into the question of morals
Errors there may be in judgment, and conviction may be
forced upon you by the reasoning OF your OPPONENTS if
So il is the duty of strong in his integrity, and
like Sir Robert Peel, who not only and acknowl
edges irresistible necessity for change in his opn
onsforced upon him by the agumentso his opponents
well the dstresses of the people, owing mainly,
the latter to the operation of niquitous legislation
Mr. Webster coolly and most stocay declares that, be-
constituents had generally changed, he felt himself bound
TO change also Was Mis adequate for his
most extraordinary somerset'
After such repeated and mastery vndcaons of the
doctrines he had earnestly urged before the people and in
Congress, year after year, this sufficient to explain
his derelcon OF principle, and atone for his abandon
nent of the cause offree trade Could he not, if he
were so very DESTROYS of still enjoying the high honor Of
representing Massachusetts IN Congress- have silently
given his vote for the they anxiousy craved
but which his Judgment and conscience forbade him to
advocated Strange the anomaly might have seemed
and we have many time and ot witnessed IT, MT
Webster would have been appauded for his consistency
| For HE lntau n.