The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-30
British Protection and American Pro-
lection.

other summer arrangements.
British Protection and American Pro-
lection.
The principle of protection to the domestic
interests of a country is always regarded by ma
tons. 1t sometimes takes one form and some
times another; sometimes the Legislation con-
nected with it is sagacious and wise, and in
many instances it is blind, narrow, ill-judged,
and hurtful.
When legislation undertakes to connect it.
self with industry, there should not be wanting
an adequate knowledge of the laws of produc-
ton, the countervailing policy of other nations,
the tendencies of trade, and the claims of the
various productive nterests-not the selfish
claims Of individual capitalists or manufacturers,
but the claims of each interest as a national in
terest. Upon no other basis than that Of its ma
tionality, and its freedom from monopoly can
any interest of production claim the countenance
and encouragement of the Government. 1t
must be pursuit founded upon the natural re-
sources of the country, and it must be open to
all to engage in it who may choose to do so.
This, and no other is the foundation of the true
American system. 1t proposes to force no exot-
ics it seeks to acclimate no uncongenia growth;
but where Nature, in her kind prodigality, has
lavished upon us the native products which in
vite industry, and invention, and skill, and in
genuity TO exert their efforts to work up these
crude materials into forms of utility, grace, and
beauty, to answer TO the demands of necessity.
convenience, and taste, we should be unmind-
full of the gifts bestowed upon us, and derelict
| to the trust which they imposed, if we should
fail to encourage the application of domestic
| hands to the further development of these ele-
ments of national wealth
The Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. MERE
DITH, indicates the true principle of political
economy on this point, when he said, in his an
nua report at the beginning of this session of
| Congress, that it was the true policy of a ma
| tion-a productive nation, and an enlightened
| one-to send its products to market in the state
best adapted for ultimate consumption. We
do not quote his words-as at this moment of
writing copy Of his report is not at hand
but the idea is very well set forth by his own
illustrations to the effect that it is better to ex-
still to export cotton fabrics than raw cotton.
| All the enhancements of value given. by indus
| try and skill to the raw material remain in the
country where they are imported, and add to
| its prosperity.
These things clear enough to minds that
do not look at them through partisan or pre-
JUDGED medium. The protection which the
industry Of this country requires to enlarge its
productive capabilities is very different sort
of protection from that which British policy
demands The manufacturing interest in
| Great Britain is now the ascendant interest il
requires no protection in the way of duties upon
| foreign manufacturers but il requires and COM
| pes sacrifices at the hands Of the landed and
the commercial interests of the kingdom, TO
give it facilities for obtaining cheap food for its
operatives, and cheap freights for the convey
ance of its products to foreign markets, and for
the importation of the raw materials which il
needs in its manufacturing processes Il has
required and compelled the abrogation of the
corn laws, the repeal Of the navigation laws,
the removal of duties from raw cotton, and all
drugs, chemicals, dye-stufs, and every article
necessary to the production Of manufactured
fabrics
This is British free trade 1t is not free
trade which consults the interests of any other
nation-not free trade which sacrifices any
thing TO an abstract principle or theory but it
is free trade which is opened and established
because Of the facilities it affords to the manu-
featuring interest Of Great Britain.
The increase Of productions which took
place in England when the repeal of the
corn laws and Of the navigation laws gaye
cheap food to the laborer and cheap freights to
the manufacturer--both results enabling the
manufacturing capitalist to put his goods at
lower rates-operated with disastrous effect up-
4 on he industrial interests of this country
There was one counteracton, however, which.
while IL yielded profit TO our planting interest.
co-operated with English reproduction to in
fct injury upon our manufacturers We refer
TO the increased demand for raw cotton, conse-
quent upon the expansion of the British manufac-
tnring operations, which raised the price of the
article at home and abroad. It was not so
much short crop as the enlargement Of manu-
featuring productions in Great Britain which
has so greatly enhanced the price Of cotton.
The effect Of il will be to check the enormous
growth Of the British manufacturing system;
but, in the mean time, our own manufacturers,
deprived of the home market by the forcing Of
English over production into it, must suffer loss
and possible prostration, unless Congress, in the