Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1847-03-03


FROM THE vICKsBURG SENTINEL.
The Influence Of the Repeal of the English
Corn Laws, and the modification of the
Tariff upon the commerce of the World,
and upon the prosperity of our own
country.
There has been within the present Gen.
fury great advancement in the knowl-
edge of the true principles that govern
commerce, which must at no distant day
produce an entire revolution in legislation
on that subject: eni although we are
placed but at the commencement of this
change, and only the entering wedge of
reform and improy ement has been applied
TO the ancient errors, we may anticipate
some Of the benefits that will flow from
so small beginning.
In removing some of the shackles that
have SO long trammeled the operations of
trade and controlled its course, England
may be considered as having taken the
lead. Her commercial policy, from be
ing the most restrictive, is rapidly and in
evItablv tending TO the utmost limit of
liberality. Yet many circumstances will
doubtless render the progress of reform
In commercial Legislation less rapid than
the true interest of trade call for /; the
people, at least the governors of the old
world are men of precedents their ia
lures are so thoroughly imbued with rev.
erence for the ancestry from whom they
derive their titles and wealth, that they
are apt to transfer like regard for their
institutions and laws and although they
will admit that many laws which were a
benefit century ago are now not only
useless, but detrimental to national pros
perty, still nothing but stern necessity can
induce them to consent TO any reform /;
their governments are expensive, and
their debts are enormous, requiring so
great a revenue TO meet their ordinary
expenses and their interest, that the ru-
lers are compelled to proceed with ex-
treme caution in all measures that will
affect their revenues.
In considering this subject, it may be
we'll to notice the circumstances which led
to the imposition of restrictions upon
commerce their operation, and the cause
of their partial removal !; and, as England
by the greater extent OF her commerce
exercises controlling influence over otheI
nations. shall confne myself principally
to her. regulations. Before the reign o
James |, the government had been sup
ported by the proceeds of the Grown
lands and con6scations, together with oc
casional grants and subsidies, as the ex
igencies of the State demanded. From
this time till the execution of Charles
imposts upon exports and imports were
resOrted 10 as occasion required but they
were regarded as a temporary measure
rather than a permanent source of ordi
nary revenue and the sum they produc
ed did not exceed f200,000 in any ont
year. During the Commonwealth, tn,
Crown lands having been sold, and an IN
vinclble repugnance to direct taxation
having been engendered In the minds 0
the people in consequence of the unIus
taxes levied by Charles, and the arbrtrari
and insolent conduct OF his tax gatherers
no source of revenue remained but from
imposts. Thus began the system OF IN
direct taxation.
The first legislative act, imposing re
~
permanent IN its operations, was the ia
nous navigation act, passed by the Ions
Parliament the first effect of which wa!
TO transfer the carrying trade from tht
Dutch TO the English, and increase ths
commercial marine of England beyond
that of any other nation. So rapid wa
the increase that the revenue from Gus
toms reached 100000 at the restoration
In imposing the earlier tariffs, little at
tention was paid to their Interior conse
quences. The statesmen of that day ha'
contempt for commercial pursuits tina
prevented their studying the principles
upon which their success depended. They
were only anxious to secure their presen
object-a revenue from trade; therefor
1t is no wonder that they commit man.
bunders in their attempts to control an
regulate it. The practice OF keeping
Standing armies. aud the debts incurred
In the prosecution Of wars from time 4