Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-01-12

OF some in 1912, that our gallan, ma /
w must be retained within our ports and
ha bors under the protection OF their forts |
aud ordnance, and dare not 10 venture upon
t'e ocean, to meet on equal terms, gun for
gun, and man for man, the n,yies Of the
world. II oar country is inferior. and car.
not meet, at home and abroad, upon equal
terms, the products and fabrics OF others
nations, it is time thai we should prepare
to DO SO. Protection may exclude rival
fabrics. and shrink from the encounter,
but We can only assume the position. of an
equal by trying our strength under free
trade or low duties. This we have done, and
have e@shereby placed our own industry
upon that solid basis which fears no COM
petion. --...-....---
We knew not our strength until it had
been !ried by low. duties, and proved that
protection is unneces ,ary. We are not infe-
riorto other nations in the arts or sciences,
IN war or in peace; upon the ocean or the
land, In agriculture, commerce, manutac-
lures or navigation. We have the raw
mat r. in greater abundance at low
or pr c., cheaper substance, more mineral
wealth, more fertile lands, yielding from a
better soil and warmer sun more to The acre
and greater variety ofpro1ucts, with exemi.
iion rom costly government and oppress v,
internal taxation, ut least equal kill,eLter.
prise, Industry, energy, perseverance, and
inventive genius; oar working ireemen,
xaore vigorous and intelligent, and perfor
ming in day more effective labor, with
better AMI freer Institutions. and with pub
lie and individual prosperity, and capital
augmenting in greater ratio, than any
o.her nation. We require no protection,
because our industry and prosperity repose
upon the immovable basis Of SUP erior ad-
wamages; and advancing as NE are more
rapidly than any other nation in all the el-
.ements of wealth and power, our exports,
imports, Tonnage, and specie, as has been
already provsd, will soon exceed those OF
any other country, and the prices lie regu-
dated at the creditor city OF New York. Il e.
.sfrictfops upon the conerce of the UniUn
are especially restrictions upon her coin-
anerce, and lave impeded Ter advance to-
wards her destiny-rred.cted innly last re-
port-as the centre and emporium OF the
commerce of' The world. Fer that high
position she possesses more natural advan-
tages and gEcater elements Of augHent:ng
Let US remove the Instructions :" h ch
high tariffs have erected around her mag
niicent harbor. Let her have free sc'te
10 deye.ope her transcendent natural ad-
vantages, and she must become the depot OF
universal co,amerce, where International
balance-shee:s will be.adlusted, and as o ted
products & fabrics of all nations lnterchan-
ged; the great regulator of prices current,
and the b. rometer Of the exchanges OF tho
wo-lj! The Fine is approaching when
bill upon New York will bring higher
pre- mum than q bill upon any other city,
AMI when the tribute Of millions of dt Hars,
paid by us II, other nations upon exchange,
shalt be paid by then, to us, and flow INTO
our own great commercial emporium.
Whilst New York must contain large
population, MS we'll as New Orleans, the
principal depot of the mighty w est, and
many other cities, they will all be small
indeed, compared with the masses >ot the
people OF the Union, who will go on argu-
menting in corresponding ratio, still
leaving an immense majority OF the nation
engage in agricultural pursuits, and sup
plying with their products, not only our
own! markets, but those of other nations. IN
G ,ar,ges I'M Ear FREQ trade or low duties.
Although it must crafty all our people
that san American city should become the
centre Of universal commerce, the advan-
tages will not be limited to that place; tut
al the people, and cities, and Suites OF the
Union will feel the favorable effects OF
ahis great revolution. Every branch OF
our Industry will be enlarged and ms. 60
rates; and foreign cities, having ceased to
control our commerce or currency, Will no
longer sink at their pleasure, and with their
reyuisions, as heretofore, and as they now
d.. the price Of Gu products. Other At
lantic< cities may not be rs great as New
York, vet they will all be greater when
the emporium OF universal commerce shall
bs here, than they would have been with
any foreign city occupying that command
ing position % This destiny we can never
accomplish, If. com nerce is restricted here;
and our Industry, instead of seeking for II:
products and fabrics The markets OF more
,h.n thousand millions of people, retires
within our home market, confined to TWEEN
,y.or,e millions Of people, and surrender'
without an ,rt the markets AMI com
mercs Of the world. 4 liberal comnlercia
policy is essential to the fal6lment Of thi
great destiny of New York and of TIL
Union; but, above md EeJord tll, th'
Union itself-the frec-,rode Union
its Ie>fetuity ana onward progress ii
a.ea, wealth, and population, are neces
sa.y to the ac :omplishinent Of thes
grand results. Upon this point, sectiono
families, few in number at home, and des
pots abroad concurring with them, ma
hope or menace; but the American Unio1
is moral and physical, a political an
commercial necessity, and never can 0
will be dissolved. As well might we al
sempt TO decompose the great element Q
nature which holds. together the planets
.tuns, and systems Of the Universe, as hop
to sever the links of mighty lakes and riv
ers, of ever-extending telegraphs, rail
roads and canals. of free trade, Of inter
course. ofinterest, Of love and affection, c
the glories Of the past, the present, and tn
future, which must forever bind togethe
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