The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-17


such instances. labor 10 suddenly Withdrawn from d.
vesty OF pursuits and driven TO the production in linn
ted sphere this again brings an oyer-suppy, OF what
ever may be produced by the common employmenls
while in the end leaves the market of the ar,i.
Gle, whatever may be, the production of which has
been abandoned al home. at the mercy OF sup
The result in the end to the consumer is invariably
rse in the price OF such article, and there being com
session Of the market. and. Of course, supplies j at
the highest price which the demand will give him
His prices and profits unchecked by competition in such
Cases, continue to rise with the increased demand and
diminished home supply
The operation and effect OF these laws OF labor and
trade. is believed have been frequently and papaby
exhibited the history Of our couairy II lis from such
experience that the general principles upon which
tariff laws are based have become the common opinions
our country prevails, that in assessing duties foreign
merchandise, such discrimination should be made will
have the effect o producing all articles which can be
manufactured al home in such quantity possble to
raise up two markets for the home and the
foregneach competing with the other, that he may
not be left TO the mercy OF one, and that the foreign one
alone.
The happy indirect effect OF such legislation upon the
labor and consequently on the permanent prosperity oi
the blessings coners By giving diversity to the
cupatons and industrial pursuits Of the people, labor is
hs ABILITY q h osgn a.
en entirely nPoa duties collected upon foreign imports
are amply eupped
While the great end--,hat OF competent revenue--s
ports is al the same time obtained towards paying for the
required imporalions
are made mainly OF cotton, rice, tobacco breadsuhs
and provisions These the products Of the SOIL and
are shipped TO foreign ports without more labor as an
ket in their first and simplest condition Our statistics
disclose the fact also, that breadstus and provisions,
of which produce larger surplus than any other
people, form comparatively small addition to our
ports. particularly in years Of plenty abroad These
lices in the production Of which large and inel est
nAfo aaxaI nd n
market abroad such prices the farmer afford to
rcceive except when famine or war creates foreign and
In is47-a year OF famine in Europe-we exported Of
breadstufs and provisions, without premoniton OF the
calamity which created the demand $6s,70l121. This
supplied put beyond doubt ability supply Of these
articles surplus lar exceeding the ability OF any other
country, provided market were found which did not
exhaust the value in the expense OF transportation The
extraordinary demand OF 1s47 not due to any legisa
ton OF own, OF foreign nations II was the result
alone Of the famine in Europe Since that time the oper
alton of the British act of 1916 has wholly
moved the duties upon such foreign agricultural products
used for food and enter into competition there
with those of other nations This free passage through
British custom houses has not, however. increased the
British demand; for find our exports diminishing in
proportion the effect of the famine overcome BY the
and provisions in ls47 SOS. 7ol,92l; in 1s4s,
$37 ,47a Isl; u ls4e, $as,l555o7; and IN 1880,
lsee satement OF these articles ,227
in 1s41, $l7,196,l02; and at the ratio of decrease
exhibited ls47 will, in 1881, but little exceed the
The exports Of rice in 1927 amounted $ass3 .sos,
in 1887, to 2309a79 and in lS4s he year after the
famine to $233i ,s24 in 1880, to 1851 5o7 Estate,
meRt -.) These dates embrace period OF high and
low duties, of comparative free trade at home and in
the principal market abroad These facts disclose the
falacy Of the principle SO frequently urged that BY in
ducing heavy mportsons under system of low duties,
we necessarily create large corresponding demand
abroad for our own productions.
Whatever truth there may be in this principle, as sp
plied tn fhe trad hetw oil
in consequence OF the relative nature oil their poduc-
tons and manufactures il has not the same application
the United Siaes from the simple fact that nearly all
the supplies which the latter furnish foreign nations
consist of articles OF necessity, the consumption OF
which is limited 10 actual wants, and cannot be forced
beyond that demand BY adventurous circumstances
When high degree OF prosperity exists IN the UHlted
States large increase In the consumption OF
most foreign productions which may be generally cassea
under the head Of nxures but have such class OF
articles tempt foreign nations in like manner to extend
their purchases from US, in recprocaton for extended
No nation will purchase from u.s. no matter how pros
porous may be her condition. larger amount OF bread
stns than the deficiency in her own ability to supply
will require, though we buy from her double or
treble the Of her productions So IN like manner,
when her crops fail. she not only will but mssf, take
from other countries what the wants OF her population
req ure even though il be three tenfod what they
This principle was fully exempfed in the famine year
Of ls47, when immense supplies of breadstuis to
Europe caused sach heavy balance our favor,
though did increase imports from the very cause al
ready alluded TO, OF creating such degree oil prosperity
in the country extend desire and ability for the
consumption OF such articles Of foreign luxures as we
could not supply ouselves and the opposite result is ex-
hibited at the present time, when making exces-
sve imporaiions, not only without an equivalent extra
demand but on the country. with diminished one from
Europe far below what she took from us when our TN
poriatons were 80 much less than they now are
The foregoing statements show that the farming popu-
aon OF the country, without any extraordinary stimulus
produce supply equal TO TO meet any
urgent demand OF foreign marketan amount more Than
equal to the average value OF the export OF cotton IRON
this country. m
But we lind this sum OF nearly sixty-nine millions,
which rewarded the toll Of the farmer OF the country In
ls47 dwarfed down in 1850 TO the comparatively inslg
ni6cant amount of sac 05 ,373a falling Oh in the re.
wards of labor OF the farmer alone in two years OF
$40 650,54S.
When Il is remembered that very large proportion OF
the citizens OF this country engaged IN the business
OF farming and how much OF the permanent wealth and
true glory Of the republic depends their and
selshness as well duty OF patriotism, so to mould,
possible the laws regulating trade and revenue as to
furnish for them at home permanent market with re.
muneraing prices. As no such market can be found
abroad may well suggest the inquiry whether leglsla-
op in providing OF necessity for revenue shall not by
encouraging a diversity OF employment In own coun-
try secure the only sale and market for farming
productions which can be obtained.
The policy here suggested is strengthened by compar
son OF the value and amount of the home as compared
with the foreign market II has been estimated that our
consumption OF food, raiment, furniture, &c, aoost
Sl00 for each individual OF this sum, from 70 10 W
las shown by statement ) OF foregn producuons
which, say at pc so per head wond require an mpol,a