The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-04-02
IPOt he Daily Dispalch.l

nave seen proper 70 Mdkes respecting tne last
article of mine which appeared in the Inqui-
rer lido not wish to handy words with a
person who is disposed to catch at everything
that does not exactly correspond with bis
ideas and he held upto ridicule for express
ing what perhaps he does not or will not un-
derstand, Blu. when sucha person Happens
to be the conductor Of a public Journal, sand
is the acknowledged organ Of political par
ty. and has the ear Of the public, it becomes
necessary to turn aside from the straight for
ward course which had worked out for my
self, aud give him change in his own coin.
They say ! have a very poor opinion Of
the iron business because they consumed but
fifty thousand bushels Of corn out Of the hea-
Wy crops Of this corn growing region.
made that statement TO show how little de-
pendence could be placed on any one inter
est to furnish market for our agricultural
productions. know the iron interest is a
very important one but will not admit that
ii is paramount to all others. l am very
much Obliged to them for the information
that the iron makers are not "hogs" but con-
sumo great many other articles as well as
corn. Isuppose what they consume Of 9th
CT articles bears about the same proportion 10
the whole amount produced as the corn they
concuyoa boa -, t,, III 1ba no.,, ..,l; Il
which is probably one twentieth. They cite
me to the advertisements of our business men
for information as to the importance of the
furnace trade. If the editors of the Tribune
& Clipper consider the furnace trade of more
Importance than all the rest of the United
States, then in their eye it must be Of vast
Importance indeed. No doubt but our busi-
ness men are doing thriving business with
the furnaces, and the Tribune & Clipper get
some subscribers and advertisements from
that quarter, which in all probability is of
vast importance to them; yet all that does
not prove that the whole legislation of Con-
gress should be directed to their particular
benefit. will inform those very wise edi-
tors that ! am not fighting for British inter-
ests at all, and have discemment enough to
convince myself at least that the true Inter-
ests Of this country can best be promoted by
a free and unrestricted exchange of products
between this, and all other countries whatey-
er; and The best way to build up the true in
terest of any country, is 10 let its citizens
exchange its commodities for whatever each
Individual may suppose most conducive to
his own particular interest or benefit, and
that natural we'll conducted government
has no right oimpose any restrictions upon
the exchange of products, if such products
are of themselves harmless. You may well
say that rejoice at the information contain
ed in Gen. Taylor's letter, that no alteration
is likely to be made in the tariff at this ses-
sion of Congress. You say the iron business
is greatly depressed, and, would ask what
.depresses it2 Is it because the people haze
quit using the article Of iron? think you
will hardly admit that. No gentlemen the
answer is continued in the fact that all other
kinds of business has become more profita-
BILE. Iron makers cannot now command la
borers 10 work for seventy-five cents day in
scrip, when all other branches of business are
paying a dollar day in cash. Corn, and
pork, and beef, and other articles which en-.
ter largely into the production Of iron are
high in consequence of other and better mar
kets being found, which is an evidence of the
general prosperity of the country, This gen.
tlemen is what depresses the iron business
And | do rejoice that there is no probability
Of Congress disturbing this state of things
for the benefit Of any particular interest. j
am not opposed to the iron interest by any
means, and hope to see il flourish and do
well, which it can do with proper manage
ment, without the protecting arm of govern.
ment. But do hate to see any set Of high.
minded, honorable and enterprising men no
matter what they may be engaged in, wheth.
er making Iron, or any thing else petitioning
Congress 10 pass special laws for the benefit
Of their particular business, because am as
well convinced that government can not in
terfere in the business operations Of the coun-
try, by restricting trade without doing more
hurt than good, as am Of any fact whatever.
This doctrine ! have on every proper occasion
advocated for the last ten or fifteen years,
therefore why should not rejoice at the pros.
pect of democratic Congress sustaining the
principles of the party. What do l advo-
cate those principles for if it is not in the ex.
pectation of seeing them sustained? Do
you take me to be such fool as to hold to a
certain set principles and then not be glad
tosee those principles carried into operation?
/ can tell you gentlemen that my living
does not depend upon the favor or affection
OF any particular interest, or party, or set Of
men, and shall speak out fearlessly whatey-
er my sentiments are, Notwithstanding your
advise to the contrary. lam very much OBJ
liged to you for calling the attention Of your
readers to my articles for thereby they will
probably be much more extensively read
One word as to asking the votes Of furnace
men and ! have done. believe have new
er on any occasion held forth any doctrine