The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-07-03
From the philadelphia Ledger.
The Tariff Question.

# wv lootCluuy ICdN I'LL TtiCl III u mOrUln0
paper, implicitly ~euloglstic OF a high tariff
and condemnatory of free trade, as the wri.
ter is pleased 10 style the present revenue
policy of the government a policy, by the
way which yields the government some fifty
millions of dollars annually, and which
steadily favors the inc,ease of domestic pro-
duce, the exports of last month being over
100000 more than for the corresponding
month of last year.. Still. the high protec-
%tionists will insist that the country is laboring
under all the evils of free trade, and that the
evidences of wonderful prosperity that every
where, all over the country, show themselves
are SO many signs Of bankruptcy and ruin,
only deferred TO the present by the interven-
ton Of the "Irish famine" Why all these
misrepresentation! We have no free trade.
nor Is the country Otherwise than prosperous.
II is true there are some manufacturer who
are making less than they desire, and they
would have the law compel those engaged
IN other pursuiis-the farmer, mechanic and
laborer, at whatever occupation-pay TO
them such profits as would insure fortunes
in a few years. There are some manufac-
tories too, PShaPs, worn out or having in uso
machinery that cannot compete with others
enjoying the most modem improvements,
that may lose on their work. But that is no
government affair, nor is it any proof that
the same description of goods cannot be
proftably produced in this country. Indeed,
such goods are produced daily, and new
preparations for their creation are daily ma
king in almost every section of the Union.
So much for the facts-~now, a word for the
sheer at free trade? | have corn and | want
pork. My neighbor has pork and wants
corn. We exchange: that is free trade
That is the thing which the pro,ec,ionisls
sheer at and ridicule. They say to the far
mer, your free trade is a very bad thing for
you do you just lay the government a third
of the price of the pork you get from your
neighbor, and let him pay the third of the
price Of the corn he gets of you, and 1t will
be much better for both of you. That is u
tariff of protection. Which is best for far
mers and all other laborers who have this
description of tax TO pay? The shoemaker
makes shoes for his %neigAbors and takes
their grain, meat and potatoes in payment.
This is free trade. Would it be better for
hsm and his customers to make him pay the
governments The value of one third of all he
gets in exchange for his labor? That is the
tariff poltc-:. So it is with all other classes
of society. Free trade permits everybody 10
sell what they have for the best price they
car get, and 10 buy what they want as cheap
as they can. A farmer drives his wagon 10
market, gets the best price he can for his
load, buys what he wants, and is or his re-
turn home. 1t is free trade thus far; but at
the boundary of his county or his town,
there is a little dollhouse, the keeper of
which makes him Fay 10 the government a
sum of money equal 10 one third of the val
ue of all he has in his wagon. Is this better
than free trade? Better than carrying home
the money he has lefta Would it be d good
thing to have these toll-houses at the lines
of all our towns, counties and cities, to take
a third of all that comes in or its value in
money, from the farmers, mechanics and
other laborers, who are always carrying the
products OF their industry TO and fro for a
market? Would it be better than free trades
Our constitution establishes free trade be-
tween the States. Would it be better for
our farmers and others if toll-houses or Gus
.om-houses were erected on every road, riv-
er or canal, where it crossed a State line, to
take from every passing cart, wagon or boat,
for the use of the government, one third of
all the products and goods transported in
them or their value in money? Would it
have been wiser in the trainers of the con-
%stitution 10 have given us such a system, in
stead of the free trade that they have estab-
lished Few there are who will maintain,
that it would be a good thing for farmers to
be taxed on the road 10 their neighbors, or a.
the town, with the products of their farms
or The goods or other produce they have pur-
cased by their sale. What difference does
it make whether The farmers or mechanics
sides of a stone fence or of the Atlantic
ocean? What difference does it make
whether the articles coming in exchange
for the farmers products are taxed at the
gate as they enter his yard, or at the Phila-
delphia cuslom-house, where they enter his
country? Is it not the same 10 him? Is it
better for him that they should be taxed at
either than that they should no; be taxed at
all? Is it better that the tariff should deliv-
er them, taking fIom the farmer one third of
their value at the same time, or that free
trade should deliver them without taking
from him anything So much for our
neighbours sheer at free trade.
Outrage--Narrow Escape.
AS Constable Johnson, of Wilkesbarre,
was conveying a negro barber, named Ma
sou, to jail, on Wednesday last, the negro
drew a razor which he carried concealed in