Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-01-06
RATE AT WHICH THE WORLD BUYS
THE PRIVILEGE OF TRADE

hdNe spohei ol inc extent oil restrictions up
on Commerce, and have seen that the world
enjoys IFS advantages only on condition Of
being constantly taxed TO The amount of
many hundred millions OF Dollars annual
ly. We have farther seen that, by means
OF numerous and ever multiplying CONNER
ca treaties, this system Of exaclons, ever
operating 10 lessen, end render uncertain,
the gains OF commercial enterprize,s made
and continued an in'erminably changeful
and fluctuating system; rendering com
mercc, 20 very great extent. business
Of hazard and speculation, tending to una
voidibIe b1nkruptcles in multitude of cas-
es, and to sudden and unlocked for acqui-
sitions in other cases.
Commercial treaties. under the policy of
regulating commerce by the imposition Of
duties,are nothing more or less than fresh
and somewhat varied modification OF gen
eral and perpetual system Of exactons up
on trade. Trade which, BY previously ex
listing regulations, had been forced 10 an
unnatural activity and extent Of ope raiions
in some Of lis channels, is, by new regu-
lalion, suddenly arrested, or made TO con
tnue only at ruinous disadvantage. The
spirit Of commercial enterprise, meeting
with obstacles caprciousy thrown across
its path, can hardly be any thing else than
refractory; and the arbitrary regulations
Of trade are infringed; and treaty sipula>
lions are, as opportunity presents, regarded
as not binding; and complaints Of the vio-
laion OF national faith are rung in The ears
Of ambassadors abroad and cabinet officers
at home; and threats Of reprisal and retail.
iatory measures stir the Indignation of the
government, and make powerful appeals
to the sel,inerest, prejud ces and pride of
the people. The public presses scuss,
cxaggerae and mis- epresent the griey ances
ex sting; and talk, in railing and boaslful
terms, Of The ability and readiness of the
country 10 chastise and humble the govern
ment that ventures 10 represent any thing
dero9atory 10 our honor and integrity. An
increase Of business at the National Ar
mories, forts and navy yards, and in the
department of the recruiting servicc,is nat.
urally one of the next features developed
by the controversy; and formidable war
blus,er Mt lenst. It not q war ia fact. ia tho
finale of the difficulty.
That this is neither theory nor declana.
ton, very large part olour own national
history, and still larger part of the hiso-
ry oFother nations, cvnces beyond chance
Of contradiction. We open little manu-.
al Of American history and among the eau
ses which brought on the war of our reyo-
luton, we read: "The mother country had
agrow'ng jealousy respecting the increase
OF commerce and entorprize in the colo
nics." claws were enacted from time
TO time designed and calculated to make
the colonies permanently dependent on the
mother country" For example, in 1892,
we have he act prohibiting the expectation
Of hats cat Of the plantations Of America,
and 10 restrain The number Of apprentices
taken by hat.makers In 1850, the act
imposing penalty Of G2o0 for erecting
any mill for sitting or rolling iron, or any
plating forge 10 work with tilt hammer,
orany furnace for making steel, in any Of
Ihr coIonie.. The trade of one province
with another, in certain important articles
was also PROHIBITED. "The colonies were
also compelled " iew to procure mary
articles ftom England wi'ch 'hey could
have procured twenty per cent cheaper IN
oihe, markets" In 1913, to relieve The
E4u India Company, which had. at that
time, immense quantities of tea, which had
been excluded from market, parliament au-
ihori1ed the sale Of that article in the A.
mcr;cnn colonies, at the rery loto daty of
three pence pound" The fate which
she duty paying article met with in Mas
Sachuseus, New York. Pennsylvania aud
South Carolina, is familarly koown. The
number of articles on which duty had been
exacted in the colonies previously was We
~ SMALL un1 the duty on these but mode
rate, and OF a few vars standing. And
tho flesh aitcmp, 10 drive the wedge,n the
Ten concern, resulted in is re6oun1 into
he face Of the operator. We are aware
that there were other causes which opela
ted 20 bring on the war Of the revolution;
bhwe Know thai he policy of restricting
oad forcing he trade Of the colonies, was
a leading cause, and, perhaps, the most
important one. The tea tax and Boston
,port bill,fre the train which previous acts
OF a similar character had been preparing
Oar declaration Of independence complains
of ',Prctended oc;s of legislation" "lor cut
sing OF osr trade with all parts oil the
world" la otter words, Of restrictions up
on our an1nuntIny n prOlli hi