Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-10-07


necessary 10 our manufactures, together with
specie, bullion, and the metals. This trade
Is founded upon the natural principles .. re-
ciprocity; the barter CT the excess OF tIe
productions Of one country for similar ex-
cess Of different productions of another, ana
must necessarily be as secure, as free from
fluctuation and as permanent as any COM
merce can be, because il proceeds upon the
eternal principles Of justice and humanity,
SO pithily and truly expressed by the honey
adace-'sto live and let live As south
America becomes more settled and her re-
sources better developed, and as her mighty
rivers are brought into nearer contact with
US. by the aid Of steamships this trade with
her must be greatly augmented. And our
new possessions on the Pacific opens TO us
the means Of communication with China and
the East Indies, which must exercise an IN
huence now incalculable, upon our exports.
There are also some articles of northern
production which will find European mar
ket. such as Indian corn and meal, and but
ter. cheese and lard. These have lately IN
creased very much, and will probably con-
tinue-o increase, as they can be produced
by us more advantageously than in the coun-I
tries Of Europe. And these will enable us
to pay for those foreign fabrics which fash
ion, luxury, or in few cases, necessity may
induce us to consume.
Still your agricultural products dou! less
will require other markets. Furnish them
al home. Employ portion Of your labor
and capital in the manufacture of the raw
materials with which you are so abundaniiy
favored With iron and with coal 10 fabr-
cate it, with wool and cotton at your door,
and the pow er loom and spinning jennles TO
convert Them into articles Of usefulness and
luxury, with wafer power and the steam en-
CINE 10 drive your machinery, with the finest
ships and steam vessels to float on your riv-
ers and lakes, and canals and railroads to
difiuse the products among twenty millions
of your own people, how can we hesitate to
pursue the path so ysibly marked out BY the
hand Of Providence You VIII thus not
only prevent the ruinous excess Of agrlcul-
tural products, BY Withdrawing from that
branch of industry the hands which it does
not require, but you will provide CONSUMERS
for that which is raised, at remuneratng
prices.
The difficulty in pursuing this path arises from
The sparseness Of our population, IN comparison
wifi the extent Of our territory. Labor Is scarce
and high, and is made more so, by the attractions
ofagrieulture, arising from the eheapness Of land,
the little skill which its culti alton is too generally
supposed 10 require, and the independence so con-
genial 10 iTeemen which its ownership confers---
Hence the necessity Of counteraclng influence TO
invite labor to other pursuits his Is to be done
only by the hope Of superior or nc least equal re-
Enumeration. But this remuneration cannot be
had in manufacturing or mercantile pursuits, SO
long as the labor Of the crowded population of
Europe-reduced TO the lowest point that will in
sure subslstonce--is employed IN constructing fab
rics for our consumption The alternatives then
before are, whether we shall sustain the labor
ing poor Of other countries, OF whether shall
insure our own prosperity by dlyersiiyng our Ia
Dor and bringing it into competition with that Of
other nations, by equalizing It's price? This can
be done only by the imposition OF duties ON the
importation of such articles as we ear ourselves
manufacture, which will enable employers 70 pay
their worlmcn higher wages. I hus duties on
foreign fabrics are in reality premiumsto our own
aborers. They also bring INTO use the labor OF
young persons, the ininn, and females and thus
increase To a vast extent, the productive wealth
Of the country. The labOr-saving machinery which
i used IN manufactures, and the application Of
steam power in endless variety to similar puTpos-
cs, also add Incidentally TO the same productive
wealth So TINT without establishments for their
use these elements Of prosperity must be enjoyed
by other countries and lost to US; and we must
sink they rise in comparative wealth and
strength.
An objection to this policy here; fore urged that
the prices Of the fabrics upon which duties may
be imposed, would be eNtravagantly enhanced,
has been eheetualiy disproyed by oar experience.
For il IS well known ihat prices upon such arti-
ces have been reduced ~ competition among
our own citizens 10 one hall, one third and scme-
times one hith their cost before we commenced
their fabrication. An eitectmI prevention aud
correction Of any abuses by the imposition eff du-
ties beyond the necessity Of Tie case, in respect
either to the articles themselves, or the amount
levied upon then, will always be found IN The
hands cf those who must be the FIRST 10 suffer from
them. The cvorbitani price Of an article oi
prime necessity, will soou put nmoiicn the known
shrewdness # those who are obliged 10 pay IT,
and the hail0t-boN viii promptly rehul,e the wrong
Ailer all this objection rests On the fallacy that
power which may be most heneiicay exercis-
ed within proper limits, must not be eAerted, be-
cause il may be abused. 4 iallaey that would
precludc alI legislation.
An idea prevails, as Vet 10 very limited extent
that the plan al deriving revenues from duties CA
imports. Is dangerous because il affords no pgJc-
teal restraint upon the expenditures ofgoyemmcrt
And the restraint is supposed 20 fail, on account
Of the Ignorance Of the people Of the amount thus
eNacied lfom them, fths idea were adopted,
Il would. Of course, onnihilate our manufactures
aud drive US Co absolute dependence upon foreign
markets. lor our produce, IL proceeds upon tac
surrosjon Of the inability Of the people TO ftel
when they are riuched, Or their inc0paeiiy Is de-
tool the ha'a1 that pinchos them
ihis superstition cannot be discussed cons
sisten,ly with the respect due TO ~ Ameri-
can audience. And ia behalf &c as 'iculiure,
protest against the idea of ~upporting gov
eminent wholly or chiefly hy direct taxes.
They reach the visible snd tangible subjects
in the possession Of the Farmer aud the
Mechanic their lands, their houses and their
shops, and their chatiels, while moacd cap
ital and credits being Out OF sight aud un-
known, are never estimated az their value.
Il has always been 50 in an countries, and
always viii be So. The ingenuity Of our
most able legislators aud public officers has