The republic., 1851-10-30
rr.. r,nds Prosperitx.
The New York Erening Post inserts the
following extract from private correspondence,
without note or comment:

The New York EreRing Post inserts the
following extract from private correspondence,
without note or comment:
"JoNEsvILLE, MIcHIoAN, October -.
The times in Michigan are dull and hard.
Wheat here, only seventy-hve miles from the
Lake, brings forty eight TO fifty cents, and only
costs ten cents to transport it there Few will sell
at these rates, and the farmers borrowing
money at from ten to twelve and half per cent,
rather than sell their wheat Potatoes here are
nearly failure. They sell for two ehillings six
pence bushel, and by spring will bring dollar
a bushel, and il looks very doubtful whether there
will be enough for seed. The 5rops-wheat and
far lees extensive than usual. They
reported very large, but it is a mistake.
They are not large, and the low prices paid make
times quite hard"
Unfortunately, these "hard times" are not
confined to Michigan. They embrace the
whole grain-producing region of the northwest,
and are felt, though perhaps with less severity,
in many other States.
Does it not strike the Post that its own YER
sion Of the facts tells very strongly against It's
cherished notions about free trade? And can it
explain when OF how the farmers Of the West
may expect to have any better state of things,
so long as the prevailing commercial policy
shall be adhered to2
The repeal of the corn laws by England was
hailed as the harbinger OF an era of unlimited
prosperity TO the American agriculturist; and
yet, with English ports open 10 our grain, the
Michigan farmer can realize but fifty cents per
bushel, while in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
even lower prices prevail. Make any allow
ance you please for the comparatively trifing
cost of bringing prairie land into cultivation
place the western farmers expenses at the low
est possible mark-still he will be unable to
live as hard-working man ought to live, while
his main crop is worth, on an average, no more
than forty-five cents a bushel. With such
prices he is doomed to almost hopeless poverty.
The mischief is, that an enlarged production
of wheat is yearly taking place in this country,
concuTently with a diminished consumptiVe
capacity Of the English market. We do not
mean that England needs less grain, but that
the wheat-gTowers of northern Europe yearly
gain ground in her market, and are enabled in
the same ratio TO exclude American produce
We have not at hand the means of ascertaining
the exact quantity of land brought into cultiva-
tion in the Western States, on an average of
years, but il must be enormous; and there is no
probability of any diminution in this respect so
long as the tide of emigration from the worn-out
States of Europe continues as at present, and
SO long as an antiprotectlve tariff restricts the
opportunities for profitable mechanical or man
ufacturing industry in the Eastern States.
1t is to be hoped that experience of this ma
ture will shortly open the eyes of the Western
farmers to the error they have committed in
clinging to the sophisms of free trade. Such
season as this ought to convince them of the
folly of relying upon foreign demand, aud of
the exPediency of sustaining policy calculated
10 promote the development of home industry,
and home market. We notice that the Ger
mans of Wisconsin have declared their adhe-
sion to the principle of protection, and we be-
lleve that their example will be gradually fol-
lowed by other adopted citizens, as they be-
come acquainted with the shallow policy Of the
so-called Democratic party.