The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-02

and those VINO mlneu the coal ana the ore,
would have consumed treble the quantity
that we exported, and the price would have
been so high that we should not have sent
to the s'foreign markets." so much desired
by the Secretary, single bushel. We
should have had but one market at high
price, instead of two at low one. We
recommend our friends of the Union to
examine carefully these facts, for they
may rest assured that the day is rapidly
approaching when they will have to give
some reason for the failure of their per-
formances to realize their promises.
In conformity with this idea of the ad-
vantage of two markets in which to be
compelled to sell, is that of similar adj
vantage of having two in which to be
compelled to buy, because of the insult
ficiency of the nearer one to supply the
demand. Common sense teaches direct
ly the reverse. Every man knows that
when the home production of food is suf-
ficent to meet the demand, he obtains it
cheaper than when we are compelled to
import even the smallest quantity from
abroad, and infinitely cheaper than he
could have it if we had to import the
whole supply. Equally does common
sense teach the farmer that he obtains a
higher price when his customers have to
look abroad for part of the supply, than
when he is compelled to go abroad to
look for part of the demand. Why,
then, should it be otherwise with iron, or
cloth, or coall
That it is not otherwise, we have evil
dence in the tables accompanying the an
nual report of Mr.. Secretary MEREDITH.
In all the articles wholly supplied at
home, the reduction of price has been far
greater than in those for which we still
look abroad for part Of the supply; while
in those wholly supplied from abroad the
reduction is trivial even where it exists
at all, and in many. cases there is none.
In illustration of this, we give the fol-
lowing facts:
Among the articles ,oholy supplied at home, are
the following, with their prices for series of years.
Of which give few as specimens:
1885 Cut nails, 6 cents per pound axes, SIS
to $40 per dozen; hoes, $s4 to SIS per dozen
ls3s-Cut nails, cents per pound; axes, BIB to
SIS 80 per dozen; hollow ware, $75 per ton !;
hoes, SO so to SIS per dozen.
1S45-Cut nails, Al cents per pound; axes, $40 so
IN q nor dozen hollow are. o. In ce60 nor
ton hoes, So % to So so per Dozen
lS49-Cut nails, cents per pound axes, SIS to
$40 per dozen; hollow ware, $50 to $55 per ton !;
hoes, $2to So so per dozen.
Articles supplied partly at home and
partly from abroad.
ls35-Pins, 81 l2s per pound; 1888, 80 cents;
lS45, As cents 1s49 45 cents. In the last two pc
RODS importation had ceased.
ls3s-Wood screws, 40 cents lS45, 35 cents ;
1S49 "a to 81 cents. In the last period importation
had ceased.
Articles sOholly supplied by foreign pro-
duction :
ls35-Files, So 81 per dozen; closet locks
81 II.
ls3s-Files, SO 80 per dozen; closet locks,
s Sc; vices, 81 cents per pound wrought iron
pans, ITO cents per pound; Bajou's Paris kid
gloves, q francs.
81 SO per dozen; vices, s, cents per pound !;
wrought iron pans, 81 cents per pound; Bajou's
Paris kid gloves, 81 francs rs confines.
Is4s-Files, SO 10 per dozen; closet locks,
s. II per dozen; vices, 8. cents per pound !;
wrought iron pans, Z s-l0 cents per pound Ba
jou's Paris kid gloves, % francs so confines.
The prices of this latter article are given,
because it is one whose quality has been
preserved perfectly uniform. The import
ing house which furnishes it states as its
opinion that "all silk manufactures of
France have only varied in price by the
variation in the cost of the raw material.
We give these few cases as specimens
of the vast body of facts furnished by this
valuable document, every part Of which
proves the truth Of the idea that we some
time since copied from The Plough, the
Loom, and the .Anvil-a work that we
should be glad to see in the hands of every
farmer and planter of the Union-to wit:
"That when a nation is capable of sup
plying itself, other nations, desiring to
sell, must come to them and sell at the
lowest price, and then consumption is
large; but when it cannot supply itself,
it must go abroad to seek supplies, and
then consumption is SMALL"
The annexed note from the Hon. Jo-
sEpH CASEY, announcing his determine
ton to retire from public life at the close
Of his present term Of service, will be read