Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-01-11
A Free Trade Nut.


Massachusetts, has nearly 100000 in
habitants: is rich in labor, wealth and
prosperity-her people are all producers
and manufacturers. They live in peace
and plenty and command the attention
of the people not only of sister States,
but of foreign countries also. Of them,
her people buy the raW material, and
manufacture all they consume, profit by
their own industry. reap the earnings of
those who bow TO their skill and enter
prise, pocket the interest upon all their
own and much of their neighbors' capi-
tai, draw within her borders the cream
of enterprise, talent and learning. and
reward all according to their dues, owing
the world around them nothing. and see
with clear and unclouded vision nought
but success and prosperity ahead.
Why is this? Thus
She paws ST., 25 for bushel of wheat,
and gives in pay 25 yards of brown
sheeting at cents per yard. She pays
so cents for bushel of corn; and gives
in pay yard of super. satinet. She
pays $l2 for a barrel of beef, and gives
in pay yards of super broadcloih'
Now take Western State-llllnols
for instance. She is rich in labor, natu-
raj soil, and heavens elements of pros
perity. Her people are all producers
from the soil, but nothing from manufac-
lures. They live in fear of crowded
corn markets, and accept of the purchase
of her commodity by people Of sister
States as boon of gratuity. OF others
she buys all her manufactured goods cx-
ponds the profits of her own labor in
transportation charges out and in, loses
her surplus capital, wastes her enterprise,
talent and learning. owes everybody, re-
wards none beyond bare living and
hangs upon the future without anything
but hope.
Why is this! Thus
She sells wheat at go cents bushel,
and takes pay yards of sheetlng at 10
cents per yard. She sells corn at 90
cents a bushel, and takes her pay in sat
inets at the rate of ST. so per yard. She
sells beef al "a per barrel, and takes her
pay in one yard Of broadcloth.
Well, what now! Simply this: the
agriculturist in Massachusetts receive 25
yards of sheeting for bushel of wheat,
while the Illinoiians receives but 6; the
difference is, say 800 TO 400 per cent
The first receives yard of good saiinet
for bushel OF corn: tho latter one sew
enth of yard; or difference Of GOO
TO 700 per cent. The first receives 6
wards of broadcloth for barrel of beef,
while the latter gets only one yard; or
difference Of 600 per ceut.
But, says knowing one, the Massa-
chusetts man cannot raise the bushel OF
wheat, corn, &C., to buy the 400, 500,
or 600, per cent, more in difference!-
For the sake of argument, grantit If you
please, that he cannot equal you. Yet
his own family, his son. and his daugh-
ter, receive more profit for their labor IN
manufacturing the 25 yaIds that bought
one bushel of wheat from you, than
you did in growing one bushel for the SIX
Yards you receive. by 200 per cent; while
the difference between the intrinsic worth
of the six yards you receive, and the IL
yards they paid for the same amount of
sustenance in each case, is the real meat
of the nut you have, or soon must crack;
and you will find il in the hands of pol
iticians, spectators, and freight or tran
sit men.
In other words, bring machinery and
customers to tend them, to your own
town, manufacture your own goods, and
YOU, too, will receive 25 yarhs of sheet
inc for a bushel of wheat; for the wheat
will have advanced in price, haang'plen-
Nv of customers near by, while the sheet
inc, having no freight and spectators
fees TO pay, can be sold for five cents
". r Merchants Ledger.
4, IL ;,.x< ~ Snnan Sl1eletQns