The New York herald., 1850-11-16

divisions were taken points directly or remotely
involving the merits of free trade, and, thosgh the
advantage IN every case remained with the anu
monopoiisis, th~ maJorlties wero narrow 10
create considerable easiness in the prsduciag
States, and 10 the attention of all to be fast
ened on the appr osching elections To the utter
selves, the principle Of free trade has been affirmed
by the very electors whose inveterate hos,ity 10
everything connected with it had been taken for
granted. la adjusting the balance OF votes on this
quesnon, the cotion growing States OF the South
have been usually set against manufacturing New
England; while, New York remaining about equal
Iy divided, and therefore virtually neutral, OHIO
and Pennsylvania have been assumed as the natu-
ral counterpoise of the csrn-raisng States in the
West, which at present find outlet for their pro-
duce at New Orleans. But here are Pennsylv inia,
with her coal and iron, and Ohio, populated 0y
New EDgiaDders and over. ridden by New Eug.
land ideas, shifting the whole of their influence
TO the sid of free trade. Most undeabt-
edly the incidental advantage given to the demo
Gratis by the change of feeling on the slave conuo-
versy, has had a share in speeding their progress
TO victory and it seems certain that, in PenASyt
vania at least, the triumphant party has gone all
lengths in / s advocacy OF popular reforms But
these considerations, after all, only partially explain
the result and large margin of pref udice subdued
must be set down to the sturdy Judgment of the
Pennsylvsnia farmers, which neither the interested
the captiyaiipg cry Of "America for the Amer.
cans" were potent enough to suhdue. We may
add that in Ohio, the election seems to have been
an unnxed triumph OF gosd sense and enllghten-
ment.
But, whatever were the efficient causes Of these
events-whether the re turn Of the democratic can
didates was achieved by fair means or foul-Ame-
rca has serted by it her line of commercial policy,
and has embarked, with all sails set, on channel
which must shortly conduct her to the open sea of
free uade. In the United States, as in England,
every month gained by rational system is an ad
oitional assurance Of security. Before the verdict
OF the country, which has just been taken, can be
sppealed against, the principles OF tariff reform viii
have laid firm hold on the minds of the people
multitude OF interests. created under its influence,
will have surrounded il with impregnable bull
warks, and the operations conducted by its sane
tion will demand room for further enlargement.
The method and direction of these changes are
even more easily apprec,able in America than ia
England. The Valley Of the Mississippi IS the pro-
gressire section of the Unifed States. Every year
sends thousands upon thousands OF fresh advenur-
TO share in its exubeTan tributes of cotton aud
sugar, end corn. Every man who enters it be-
comes free trader from his circumstances, look
ing to Europe as the natural market for his pro-
duce, and to the manufactures OF Europe as the
natural return for it, From part of this vast re-
gion, except the half-assimated State of Louisiana
dt It's foot the high tariff party ever succeeded
in obtaining single Congressional vote, and, of
course, the chances of retaining il in dependence
on the Eastern seaboard diminish with the aug
ntaon of its resources Before the result of the
recent contest to be felt, that state of things
will have commenced in which the accumulations
of population east of the Aleghanies will become
so many mere cantile communities, competing for
the export trade of the great valley, and high
tariff will have become obsolete in America as
it is in England.