New-York daily tribune., 1849-03-23
Barhydt,s Industr iaI Exchanges.


even Mr.. Dav. Parish Barhydts would suffice 70
knock over most Of the men of straw he sets up
and labels arguments in behalf Of protection
Bot afte- wandering through a wide Sahara Of this
inauity, we come at length to one genuine Pro-
tectionist argument. The novelty is so refreshing
that we cannot do less than quote it. Hear
at ls assumed by the friends of Protection that with
the increase Of Manufacturer nuclei of factories and
manufacturing towns would be formed throughout the
country, wherest neighboring farmers would fad mar
kets for their products and receive cOmmOditles In
exchange with saving to both parties OF rAnspOrta
ton"
'Assumed', do you say, Mr.. Barhydtl No, Sir
1t is not assumed but in the first place seli-evi
dent, and next sbundanty prored Look into Mr..
sesman's Essays, Pitkins Statistics, Carey's
Past, Present and Future, &c. but especially the
hrst named and see there the statistical evidence
sbundantly adduced See what Cora, Oats, Hay
Potatoes, Eggs Chickens &c sc will bring IN
Vermont and in North Carolina respectively
what they are worth from year 10 year in Lowell
as compared with Indianapolis, and how the
gro xth Of Manufactures has affected their market
in any portion Of the Union where such growth
has become vigorous Inland Pennsy lvanls some
spots in Maryland and Georgia, ditto in 4 asst Ten.
nessee, throw valuable light on this subject, and
you can fnd the facts in most unequvocal black
aud white in Mr.. sesman's book. But in truth n
man who has eyes and brain needs no long array
OF statistics and figures The truth demonstrates
itself to those who have observed and are not in
capable Of reasoning. Gen. Jackson did not state
the case too strongly when in his letter to DR.
Coleman, he affirmed that the employment OF
about twenty.fth of our population in Manu-
iacturos would give farmers greater market
than all Europe afforded them
But the extent OF the Home Market afforded by
Manufactures is by means its best characters
tic. IT Is steady England will take Ten Millions
worth OF Flour this year and next year (hsving
good hsrvests) require but half so much and the
fact that the demand is diminished at the same
time pulls down the price, although may be
buying more of her fabrics than before. But Low
el Providence and our Manchester require Just
about so much year after year no matter whether
crops be light or heavy in Europe, or even at
home. SO it will be with the future Lowols Of
the Great West.
But again The Home Market pays better
prices. A manufacturing village in our owl coun-
try requires millions of dollars worth of Wood
Timber, Brick. Coal, Milk, Poultry, Vegetables,
ropo and making Cloths or Cutlery for our con-
sumption would never take OF us. The American
iumbermen, brickmakers ard coal diggers are all
large customers of our farmers the British are
not The difference to our Agricultural interest
is immense. A Free Trader even ss acute as
Secretary Walker does not scrupe to say. There
are only so many thousands engaged in Manuac
tures in this country, and they can only consume
limited quantity of Agricultural products We
respectfully answer You do not seem to under
stand or have not csndidy stated the facts. For
every thousand persons actually working in the
mills there are tens of thousands cutting timber
blasting rocks burning brick, building dams aud
mills making machinery &c. &c. all of whom
with their families are consumers OF Food 10 an
extent unknown in Europe. The City Of Lowell
alone, with those she employs and pays, will con.
sume the entire surplus products Of an Agrcul-
tural population of Half Million, and half of it
will consist OF articles almost without value while
our workshops Were in Europe Plant manu-
featuring town as large as Lowell in Tennessee or
Illinois tomorrow, and If it does not increase the
total value of the Agricultural products of that
State at least fifty per cent We are willing |
20 be accounted mad or idiotic, at the Free |
Traders option. few great staples like Flour |
not heng entirely consumed in the States might |
not advance to that extent but the greater part |
OF the farmers time would be devoted to Vegets
bes, Root-crops, Grass &c. &c. yielding far bet
ter return FOR Labor than Wheat growing even at
fifty per cent advance on the present prices in II.
nois. And herein is the whole gist Of the con.
troversy between Free Trade and Protection.-
Admitting, for the arguments sake, that owing
to cur relative inexperience and higher prices OF
Lsbor, our Illinois farmers would for season pay
twenty five per cent. higher in cash values Tor
their Cloths and Wares than they wosld under
Free Trade dispensation, still hold il as plain
~ any controverted statement can be that they
would be largely gamers by the Protection which
irew the manufacturers TO their own soil. Yet
Ar. Barhydt represents il as 50 much tax upon
hem, and an enormous subtraction from the pro-
iuctiyeness of their labor Is it possible that
linking, practical men can be duped by bis asser.
ions
We have quoted the one Pro,ectionist state
nent which Mr.. Bsrhydt has given with tolerable
airness, and shown how much vigor and virtue
here 10 in it-now let US see how Mr.. b. answers
!. Here 10 his rejoinder
"ln order that the advantages assumed contingent
pom tsis state Of things suppcsng II TO be obtained
ould be reaped would be necessary that the farms
lould remain ~ before. OF small sire and disposed
nons great number OF propresors Such would not
the eass With the growth Of the manufacturing I
wos the numerous sman farms about them would .
osolidsse into few large ones The small tracts Of
I'd would be gradually thrown up BY their occupants
ho would scek In the promising business of the towns
ose pursuits which would st hrst offer better spps
ut opportunities for improving their fortunes. AZ
ey we're thrown up they would be gathered into the
ads OF fewer number Of prsprietors," &C. &c. Il
is there any truth in these assumptions And o
true are they pertinent Compare the size OF K
. farms in MsssachGsetts. Connecticut and y
,ode-lsland. all dotted with msnufsctories with c
sir average sire in South Carolina, Alabama and
lnois, where as yet there are scarcely any &C