The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-21

uca'o'fiS W escape ltou5h, pe 70 WiHnS "
see the U. States direct their federal legisla-
ton so as 10 stimulate France to follow their
example. He would see the American Con-
yress provide for the welfare OF France, BY
its Legislation upon the twelve articles named
above, and leave to the French Congress
the duty Of providing for the welfare of the
United States by similar Legislation upon
our sailed provisions and animal products
Such the sum and substance Of this free
trade proposition. Indeed, all free trade
resolves itself into this result. The free
trade between the States Of the American
Union, is the result Of distinct and special
surrender of the taxing power Of each State
to general Government, and Of an express
provision establishing such trade. The COM
pensotion to the several States for the sur
render Of the taxing power and the estab-
lishment Of free trade between them, is the
enjoyment Of general Government com
posed Of the powers surrendered But free
trade between countries, under independent
and separate Governments, is attended by
no certain and ascertained compensation. 80
Each is at the mercy Of the other
But, admitting that the policy advocated
by the writer of this free trade letter in the
Cincinnati Chronicle, could be and were
successfully carried into effect, let US inquire
into the benefits it would confer upon the
United States. Would they be as great,
as the Chronicles Paris correspondent would
have US believe they would be Its bene-
fits to France, we do not propose to inquire
into They may be estimated, when we
come to know what they will be, which the
United States may derive from a free trade
in the twelve above cited articles.
From these articles, the United States,
under the present tariff, il we remember
Alright, derive an annual tax varying from
two to two and half millions Of dollars
Exactness Of figures is not material to the
inquiry. II we surrender this source Of
taxation, It is obvious, we must seek an
other source adequate to the supply Of the
deficiency. Whittier shall We go to find
that source According 10 the doctrines
of the free traders, a revenue tariff, capable
Of producing the largest amount Of revenue,
must not be below twenty-five per cent. ad
valorem, nor go above thirty-fve per cent
ad valorem. By the present tariff, which
is boastingly styled by its authors, reve-
nue. tariff, par excellence, the rates Of duty
range, on an average, from twenty-five to
thirty-fve per cent. ad valorem, and it in
cludes nearly every article Of any value in
commerce, except tea and coffee. It is
barely possible, that the deficiency, above
alluded to, might be supplied by a distri-
button among the other articles Of the
tariff, minus the twelve now proposed
to be admitted free, but whether this may
be achieved or not, or whether it may
become necessary to tax tea and coffee to
make up the deficit, it is evident the tax
will fall upon classes Of the population, in a
large degree, different from those who buy
the twelve enumerated articles. What
is this operation but a burdening Of the
consumers Of tea and coffee and cloth
and other taxed articles, for the special ben
eft Of favored few' Such free trade
would be the very worst Of monopolies, Of
unjust and partial legislation. But, this is
not all. II the duty on these twelve arti-
ces were repealed and France should, in
return, admit the sailed provisions and animal
products ofthe Western States free Of duty, the
annualtax Of two millions which we should for
90 from these twelve articles, would be moth
| ing more nor less than bounty paid by the
whole American people to the producers olsal-
ted meats and animal products in the Western
States. The benefits from such free trade
would be confined to few at the expense Of
the many. Such benefits are no benefits at
all Indeed, they are injurious to the gem
eral veal But we contend, that, thong
the producer Of provisions may get better
prices for his commodities, by the French
trade being thus thrown open to him, the
benefit is only apparent The condition
upon which he realizes his increased price,
will force him to pay an increased price for
the ordinary articles Of consumption, in COM
mon with the producers Of other things, and
thus his profits would be lessened by the
very operation to which he looked for their
increase In no view Of the case, do we
see that the public interest would be bene-
fitted by the adoption Of this policy. II
evil would flow to the country from free
trade in twelve articles Of commerce-and
that il would we think we have clearly shown
the reader will readily be able to appreciate
the consequences to result from the adoption
Of that system in all the articles Of trade.
The whole thing in part or entire, Is a
fallacy. 1t involves the surrender Of one Of
the highest powers of the federal Govern