The State guard. [volume] (Wetumpka, Ala.) 1847-18??, 1847-07-20
New YORK.. June, l947.
To Messrs. William F Havemeyer, Ed

To Messrs. William F Havemeyer, Ed
K Collins, aud associates.
GENTLEMEN:-i have just received
letter slgned by yourselves and ore hun
ored other gentlemen of this city, with
the success OF the great doctrines Of
Free Trade, aid aitrihniing 10 me an
ipfuence in producing the result OF the
preseLt rate of important duties, which
by no neaps feel that deserve.
With the most hatteri,g estimate Of
the very humble part l have borne j.
he great contest hich terminated in the
reduced ate Of duties, imposed by the
act Of 1916 feel il impossible 10 APP
propriate to myself any degree If merit
which does not equally u!'aeh 10 the
lends of Free Trade throughout the
Union. claim nothing more than 10
have performed faithful service in a
common struggle against Privilege and
Monopoly; and TO have been one of the
few who rallied under the flag of Free
Trade. when Projection, by pouer, and
speaking through the mou'h-piece of the
Government, vas proclaimed The set
lied Policy of the Country to oppose
which was considered something more
than anti American, and but little less
thantreason. Such was he state Of this
question twenty one years since when /
entered the public service.
us representative of the people. !
have ever felt that commercial freedom
was but the assertion OF tie right Of any
individual, TO manage his own affairs as
he may hink best of his own interests,
subject TO no other restriction, than iha,
in so doing he shall invade tho Just
lghs of M other person Ii this mo-
dicum of individual liberty is taken a
way. what becomes of individual free.
dom2 What other rights are left, wor~
Thy OF being maintained Ii am sub.
jecl to the will Of the government in The
direction and control Of my labor and
capital, am notwithstanding the forms
of liberty, in fact The slave of that gov,
ernment. What better defiaition can
be given Of a slave than that 10 The
prosecution Of his private business, he
Is under the control of some other viii
han his own?
But II such is the tyranny, where Is
he wisdom of interference Does moi
>elf interest rive 10 each individual u
better knowledge of bis own private at.
airs, ,hao any government can rtqnire?
II this is true OF individuals. it is quail
~ true of the conmun'y; and can go.
sernment, with an imperfect knowledge
Of individual interest, wisely assume 10
control the business pursuits OF such
'niire community II is difficult to de>
'eimine whether such assumption oe
most vioIa'lve of the public interest or
Of the public liberty.
But. gentlemen. can never forget
hat in the earliest struggles OF CONNER
cial freedom in This country, the city of
New York. true to the instincts OF her
great commercial destiny uniformly and
almost single-handed ard alone, of all
The north. rallied nnder the then small
banner OF Free Trade. There is some
hing therefore appropriate that his Of
all other mott hrrn cities, should be The
first to compliment Southern Iepresen
'atIve for his uniform devotion TO free
rade principles, and 10 propose public
festival, for the triumph Of cause
which New Yok was herself among
the FIRST to vindicate. II adds too, 10
The fnrce OF this compliment, that il
como from city admitted on all hands
to he The commercial centre OF this great
country, and destined as | believe, 10
become the conm rrc;al centre Of all