The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-10
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
TUESDAY NIGHT, AUGUST mol. Is47.
More Nuiui

viduas to be controlled by the government Common
tells that in country is the alternative propo-
son of Adam Smith more strlklngly applicable, Either
particular employment of industry and capital is profit
able it is not If profitable, there is no OCCASION to
protect it. Individuals whose interest ii is to study the
best possible modes of investment will make the discove
y themselves; but if it be not profitable these indvidu
ais ought not to be induced by artificial hobed encour
agemen divert their labor and capital from more profit
able employments. We raise pine-appes for con-
sumption at a very heavy cost; but what should we
think of the wisdom OF government which would en-
courage by high premiums, the production OF domestic
pine apples or by prohibory duties the Importation
of foreign fruit
But this general principle of free trade be true of any
country under the sun, il is particularly applicable to our
Our government is free, and therefore the people
ought to be free in selecting their empoymens as
possible Our government is not only free, but FEDERAL
extending great variety of Soils climates produc
tons, and interests and therefore cannot encourage one
species of labor secon without taxing the in
dusty OF some other employment and some other sec
ton-hus violating the great principle OF an equal dis
button of benefits and burdens among the whole con-
ederacy which binds the parts by community OF inter-
ests and feelings the strongly together The country
itself is comparatively young and new-free from those
ancient preuces and restrictions which have shackled
the people of Europe Shall we, then, initiate their alb
surd and stringent policy and put the whes and re-
slrictons which many of them anxious to throw
off? 1t is new and comparatively unsettled country,
Astounding in extensive of unsettled and unappro-
praed land, and susceptible of raising upon the cheapest
terms almost every species of production and every
material of manufacture and therefore ought to leave
the people free to cultivate the earth and raise its produc
lions or to manufacture its materials into various fab
RIGS for consumption or fabrcae ships for the Transport
tation of our produce or our merchandise 1t is, be-
sides the last country in the world to require any
adventurous protection for any species of employment
because free and great people are the first to think
boldlythe first to see and understand their own in
terests; and our countrymen the most Sagacious,
the most enterprsng the most inventive of aborsaving
machines of any people under the To assume the
province therefore, OF Judging for such people-o d.
rectpg their labor and captas not only unnecessary
but it is mschievous, and in IFS consequences unequal
and unjust.
Nav we narrate an anecdote which took place during
the long session of the last Congress? The reduction Of
the tariff had become the great problem OF the session.
The democrats went for the revenue tariff of 1916 The
infatuated whigs-especially the "Cay whigs"adhered
doggedy to that child OF abortion, the tariff OF ls2
made up it were, in hurry, and on the heels and in
the agones of an expiring session and of impoverished
treasury They anxious to adhere to it, in spite OF
its abominable features of the unjust principles of min
mun duties and Of specific duties. They contendng
that tariff of lsd6) would food the country with
foreign goods, drive out the precious metals, bankrupt
the banks, ruin manufacturers, and starve their
operatives and by another species OF incompatible
logic, they attempted to show that, whilst it would flood
the country with foreign goods, it would reduce the
revenue and mpoversh the treasury Under these panic
views, they threatened continued opposition to the
tempated law. They threatened to repeal it; and
PEAL becoming the fayore word from Mr..
Webster throughout all the clans of the Clay party
1t was at this momento excited feeling that citizen OF
Washington stepped morning into the library of Con.
gress, when Mr.. Meehan pointed out to him some small
marble busts which deposited on the mantclpoce.
They were, indeed, most ingenious specimens of Ameri-
can art, and worthy Of admiration. They the busts
some finished, some with only one side of the face
sculptured out of marble by the machine OF Thomas
Blanchard of Boston, and ingenious its operation,
that by placing in it small bust statue, copy,
however large or however small, it would bring out an
exact copy OF any dimensions, whether miniature
lossa which might be required.
| Whilst the newcomer TO Washington was admiring
the specimens, and complmenting the ingenuity of the
Yankees word which we never employ in an oppro
brous sense-he was joined by three intelligent whig
members of Congress- 1.-TWO from Massachusetts, and one
from Connecticut who addressed him. without introduc-
ton and one of them said, with graceful smile ''You
see, Mr.. -, what we can do and will you not grant
us some encouragement and protection for ngenui-
ty" "No gentlemen" the reply. 'sYou are the
last people in the world who require any. Permit me to
say that you do not yourselves sufficiently appreciate your
own ingenuity You do not do Justice to yourselves,
nor indeed TO all of our gifted countrymen Such inge
nuity requires no protection. In due season. it will defy
all competition from other nations. Blanchard has
brought this business almost to perfection without any
protection 1t is not the law, but his genius, that
brings these beautiful buss from the raw material He
deserves the credit for it, but he did not ask you to
protect his busts by duty foreign labor Besides,
gentlemen, remember the old maxim, that necessity is
the mother of invention"
The conversation dropped with courtesy on both sides;
but II is still remembered with pleasure by of the
actors. And we say that ingenious and enter
psing people, like those OF the free people of the United
States the last to need protection to ask the adj
vice, much less the control of their official servants in the
application of the talents with which gracious Provi-
dence has blessed them
And now, since the agony is over and a year has