The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-12


the great Revision IN England of 1877 pass al
most unframed, whilst the general overthrow of govern
ments on the continent of Europe. with the unparalleled
destruction OF confidence credit and industry there and
with millions lost to merchants by foreign bankup
cies yet through this ordeal under the benign in
uenSe OF the tariff OF 1885, the country has passed and
IS still prosperous and progressive, and prices of
features are tar less depressed than has been the
all such preceding revusions
Upon the eenacment of the tariff OF 1912. or any sim
liar restrictive measure smuggling TO vast extent will
become an organized system BY estimates from the To-
biographical Bureau and Coast Survey hereto annexed
narked A AMI b. tappears that our irect maritime
ocean front, exclusive of bays, inlets islands, &c
amounts to 5,120 miles, cur frontier upon Mexico to
l,456 and our frontier upon the British possessions to
1903 matchmaking in all 1879 miles which we have
10 guard against snugglers But II in addition 10 this,
as must be done, take the shore line of III United
States the Atlantic the Pacific and the Gulf nciai-
ing the bays, sounds and other irregularities OF The
shore, and OF sea islands, and of the rivers to head Of
tide 1t makes distance of 33,O63 miles, estimated by
the Coast Survey; which added 759 miles of frontier
upon the British and Mexican possessions, constitutes
an entire lne open to smuggles OF 1892 les TO pro-
tect which against Illicit importation, under the empa-
tons OF such tariff as that OF 1872 would be imposs
bic
In this manner smuggling, debasing AMI denora
zng SO destructive OF revenue, injurious to the hon
est trader and TO the whole country creating contempt
for the laws and the authority of the Union, would be
come the safety valve" OF the protective policy by the
operation of causes beyond all governmental control
Since my last report, the continent OF Europe has been
CONFUSED by revolutions and civil CONNEXIONS, para
shing our trade with them compared with what it would
have been if these events had not occurred Neverhe
less such have been the advantages of our unre
scted commerce with all the world that the estimates
Oh revenue Tor this fiscal year, presented IN my last
port may yet be reazedtheq quarter ending the Both
of September last being the first quarter qt the present
fiscal year, having yielded S, 92l 1875 o.
The adoption by each nation of high tariffs is war
upon the labor OF the world AS labor is proluc
tive, capital is more rapidly Increased and wages aug
mented; yet the tariff BY compelling each nation 10
MI Of it.. ,la- IL
produced more cheaply abroad and refusing the ex
change, forces labor throughout the world into less prof
liable pursuits and, as consequence dmlnshes the
products OF labor well as its wages Thus, II silks
can be manufactured at less cost in Europe, and bread
sufis more chcapy in this country and by high tars
we prevent the import OF silks here, whilst by similar
tariffs abroad, their inability to purchase from us be-
cause we will not take their fabrics III exchange, our
breadstus excluded to greater less extent from
their markets. and their silks from our own, labor Is
forced in both countries into Il productive pursuits, aud
both parties have sustained loss International tariffs
diminish the value OF the profits of labor 10 the
extent of hundreds of millions OF dollars year, and
re luce correspondent the wages OF labor 1t would be
most useful to eXamine the tariffs of all nations, and
tain how much labor each is thereby diverted into less
productive pursuits These tables have yet been col
ected but If of the thousand million people OF the EARTH
the labor OF two hundred millions is thus rendered less
profitable to the extent of cent day for each, the
annual loss would be six hundred millions OF dollars
Man was commanded 10 labor; but he permitted by
his Maker to employ his industry in each country in
those pursuits for which it was best suited and where
his labor would be less and better rewarded But
the laws OF man. by high duties, diminish the products of
his industry thus augment his hours OF toll and deprive
him Of the time designed by his Creator for the acqus
ton OF knowledge These laws, a So whilst diminish
ing the wealth OF nations produce dscord between tAem
eacn by high tariffs procalming war upon the industry
OF all others Under free trade. each nation Will prot
by the labor OF every other; each Will employ It's lnus
try in those pursuits for which is best adapted and the
surplus OF each be thus exchanged with the other by
reciprocal commerce beneficial TO all parties. The true
industrial interests OF nations are identca and IN ex
changing with each other the products most cheapy pro-
duced by each labor everywhere benefits labor his
brother and nations each other; and their only
tagonism is introduced by human legislation. The doc
trne OF Tree trade IS the petition Of labor to employ itself
everywhere in those pursuits best adapted by nature to
every country and yielding therefore in each the largest
products ana highest wages. 1t looks upon our race
and united in interest and destiny Rightly understood
there is perfect unity of interest between and man,
and nation and nation, and between capital and labor.
We the benefits of reciprocal freerade among all
the States of this Union: although their wages, products,
and fabrics various those OF separate nations
yet all the States find it to be their true interest to admit
freely the products OF each. The benefits OF this unre.
srcted reciprocal commerce. constitute the great bond OF
interest constantly augmening, which keeps together the
various parts; but the protective doctrine be true, 1t
would be the real interest of each and OF all these States to
impose duties upon similar products In Others Tor the pro-
lection OF the people OF each State Yet clear as Is this
proof of the benefits of reciprocal free trade between the
States OF this Union, the principle as question OF po
cal economy, is the extended to other States not
united with us under the same government. The dit
ference in their political institutions affect the
great principles of The local laws of Ohio
and Louisiana, of Mississippi and Massachusetts, are
more variant in some respects than those OF many other
States beyond the limits OF the Union. Now, whilst we
acknowledge the benefits Of reciprocal free trade between
these four States, thus differing their local Institutions,
and products the proteconlst deny that 1t would
be beneficial to establish reciprocal unrestricted com
merce with other States beyond limits, Yet variant
forms of government make no difference as to the
reciprocal benefits OF commerce II Tree trade be bench
ca among all republican States, might at least be eX-
tended TO them, ahou ,h monarches were eXCudei but
viii maintain that nations should restrict their
with each other because they der IN Their form
Of government Although governments may differ, we
are one throughout the globe; the tong millions
who inhabit have one interest; and question OF
political economy, the benefits of Tree trade must be the
saae whether extended to States within or beyond the
limits OF the government; and each State tholgh
separated hereafter by catastrophe IRON every other
State, would be alike still benefited by reciprocal free
trade among the whole, for their commercial interests
would not change with the separation from the confed-
eracy.
Congress representing the several States OF this
Union perceive how injurious would be the effect of a
tariff by any upon its Interest,". and that OF all the
States Now trade is not geographical or political and
hi congress of delegates from all nations were assem-
bled, they would soon perceive that commerce was
unit that local, but International and that
tariffs. by nations, on the prodncts OF Others
Just Injurious to each and TO all nations, "a
would be tariff IN State upon the productions OF all
the other States of the Union If, then, m such
gress OF all nations, reassembng IRON tune to Tune,
their several tariffs discussed, and their injurious
effects upon each and every other nation demonstrated
the whole protective system throughout the world would
tall before the light OF such investigation. whenever
the laws of nature beyond the reach of man, there is
perfect order under the direction OF Almighty power but
whenever man can disturb these laws, dscorl and
trpu 10 Iho o,rtb fha mi