The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-10
From the Richmond Times, May slh
THE TRUE DOCTRINE OF FREE
TRADE. x

II n
his very amusing thing 70 witness the
collision Of iaterest and theory, which is
Inow exhibited BY the Democratic journals
lin some Of the Southern States. Hereto-
fore, free trade has been their gospel, and
1 Mr.. Calhoun its great expounder, to ques-
ton whose teachings were to commit the
objectionable political sin. But as the cot
ton fields have grown barren, and the popu-
.llation thinned by emigration to more fertile
soils, the necessity of the case has forced
into existence numerous manufactures,
whose operations are rapidly making mani-
fest the fact, that home manufactures and a
home market are the grand desiderata Of
the cotton planter no less than Of the North
ern capitalist Some Of the Democratic or
gans, to which we refer, have watched the
experiment with an evident inqnietude; and
whilst, in one column, they argue, as stree
nuonsly as ever, that the agrcuturst can
only prosper by dealing with foreign GUS
toners, in another, they demonstrate, BY
simple statements Of what is going on before
| their eyes, that the manufacturing and agri-
cultural interests are closely united, and that
neither can be encouraged without benefit
ing the other.
But whilst the majority of the Democratic
papers Of Georgia and Alabama may he
charged with this inconsistency, not so the
central oracle of the Palmetto economy
The Columbia Is. o. State Banner, true
to the sinking cause Of free trade, has the
courage to protest against the alterations Of
its Democratic conductors, as being little
better than downright Whiggery; very
much as the old .Roundheads condemned
alike the Romansh and the Prelatic here
sizes. Alarmed at the prospect Of busy fac
tories proving themselves more efficient ar
guments than Wing speeches, that mistaken
disciple breaks forth in the following strain
OF mingled lamentation and rcmonstrance:
i 1--WE regret 10 see some Of the oldest and ablest
free trade papers of the South yielding to the plaus
Bile but deceptive notion that the remedy for the South
is to manufacture for herself and to learn to live
within herself We are not disposed 10 discourage
any branch OF mechanical industry which may prove
profitable to those who undertake it, but we cannot
consent at this late day. and in the present advanced
stage OF commercial enterprise and prosperity, to go
back to the old, exploded ridiculous, federal doctrine
OF making every thing we want, and buying nothing
| from neghbors. We can no good reason why
the people OF the South should not be allowed plant
cotton il they make more at that than they can
at spinning it nor why they should not be allowed
to buy calico and axc-handles from their Yankee
neighbors IL they buy them for less than il would
cost TO make them for themselves We see no reason
why we should throw away the peculiar advantages
| we possess tic only country in the world where
cotton can be extensively and successfully cultivated,
to go to manufacturing business only rcsoricd TO In
dcnscly populated countries, where The soil cannot
support the inhabitants
ssJte regard every factory established al the South
tai btotr struck free trade, and II this Is not
also coeef Jioe at the institution Of sldrery ITSELF
rre shall be osrccabiy disappointed"
This is, undoubtedly, bold and frank
avowal Of the true doctrine Of free trade, and
a straightforward acting up to its legitimate
results. We honor the Banner for its can
dor, but must take leave 10 point to its dec
larations as afording the strongest possible
illustration Of the absurdity Of the whole
system of American free trade
That sagacious and excellent Journal, the
Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle makes the fol-
lowing pertinent comment upon the passage
which has elected these remarks:
sThe disciples Of free trade should vote the Ban
ner diploma for its high attanments in the science
Of political economy, taught by that school new-
/ light statesmen. 10 build factory make
handle, in State where cotton can be grown, is to
inhct fatal blow on the partizan dogma Of free
trade, and bring reProach upon the idol Of American
Democracy. The South must raise the most exhaust
ing crop raised by civilized man. and do nothing else,
so long bag Of the staple can be gathered on a
tenacre field The citizens and slaves OF the South
were doubtless created and placed here by Providence
for the express purpose OF rendering this portion Of the
continent less and less productive every year by eS
elusive planting and thus illustrate, for the benefit Of
mankind in general, the wisdom and blessings Of
pamocratic craftsmanship. Although experience has
demonstrated the fact, that mixed system OF hrsban
dry, and variety Of pursuits, embracing mechanical
manufacturing, and commercial, well agricultu.
'ral industry give the largest aggregate product to
any State, and al the time improve its soils, yet
all this goes for nothing with free trade theorists.
4 They have hut idea and no bump place for
1 another.
What il The same amount Of labor and capital that
yields $500 in growing COTTON will give $1,000 in
carding and spinning il is that good Democratic
reason why cotton mill should be erected in plant.
ing State There is treason in the manufacture Of
an axe-handle' anywhere this side Of Mason u
Dixon's line. II furnishes important work Tor 0
South Carolina Committee OF Safety tThe ex-
ploded ridiculous federal doctrines Of making what
we want, rather than running into debt to New oil
Old England Ior the same, to BE paid in cotton, at
such prices creditors may please to give, Is
mt to be tolerated by the Palmetto Banner. 1t tre-
grets to see Of the oldest and ablest free trade
papers Of the South yielding The plausible but decep
tire notion that the remedy for the South is to
acure for herself, and learn to live within herself
/" No Improvement in the application OF labor and
tne USE W Is III lHt State
Having happily reached absolute perfection in every.
thing, is to be done Than kindly invite all out
sders to look and admire the beauties Of her free
trade system Of political cconamy."
4 GEN. TAYLOR AND PENNsYLyANIA.
The unprecedented Wing majority which
Gen. Taylor received in this State---a ma
jority outnumberng that Of Gen. Harrison
by tens Of thousands his great popu-
larity among our people, an evident and
established fact. Ii showed that his char
acter had gained The confidence of the hon.
est yeomanry, who make up the great mass
Of voters, and the course Of Gen. Taylor,
since his elevation to the first place in the
Government, has proved that their conf
dence was not misplaced.
I The selection Of the Cabinet was a matter
entirely within the discretion Of the Presi-
don't He had at that fine no official adj