The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-04

For ths Union.
t..s.,tisn 10 establish American Tasim AAa sys-
i ~ OF Trade
To sstablish wen-reg ulated system OF trade with
,or.ivo nations 10 attended with much perpexity as
v question submitted for the action OF Congress and the
sxscniye department OF the government Notwthsand-
;g 40 much has been said and written upon this subject
10 ana out of Congress by some OF the ablest heads OF the
connrv vet propose TO add few observations. under
,he mnresson that al time they may be regarded OF
some importance Although this is The age of progress
all, all innovations introduced TO effect change in long
established usages usually regarded with more or less
di.tfust; and as am about 10 propose somewhat rad
cal change in the Hodus oPsrandi OF establishing our
foreign trade may be pardoned for asking for il an at
teniiye perusa
First, LEI me premise that il should be of the first
objects of every nation TO become possessed OF all the
means Of independence, which the llustrous Jackson
stated TO be food og, iron, steel, copper, poiUder,
and lead" With a sufficient supply of these, any nation
NAV be regarded possessing the means OF ndepend-
enee In view OF the fertility OF soil, the great
versatility of our climate, and the unbvunded resources
Of eur minerals few nations OF the earth highly
blessed with such abundance Of the means of indie
pendence and hence il only requires the application OF
skill and industry to render us, as nation, independent
OF the world.
But we should never lose sight OF the fact that man
is formed for a social being, and that ii is, believe an
admitted philosophical fact that the people OF any nation
who exercise the greatest commercial intercourse with
other nations become the most INTELLIGENT PEOPLE If
this proposition be true, should il not be OF The first
objects of wise legislature to extend commercial
intercourse 10 all the world, far at least, as the
same be done upon lair and reciprocal terms And
does not become question of some importance whether
the United States should not TO keep up CONNER
cal relations with a nation that would refuse 10 deal
with upon These RECIPROCAL TERMS!
II is held philosophical principle that is the
plus productive labor of country nation that cons
its wealth, because whatever is consumed in the
country does add TO its wealth Taking that for the
criterion it will be found that ii is the agricultusts,he
tlers OF the so-that contribute at least forty-nlne
6ftieths OF the wealth TO this nation That all other
business and interests in the country dependent upon
and sustained by the agriculturists, Intelligent man
will deny Let us suppose that husbandman held
great manorif may be allowed the of such term
in this republican land-and he should find all his inter-
ess were dependent upon one specific branch OF his
industry, and that yielded the greater amount OF his
wealth would he not intelligent and prudent man.
cherish that interest," keeping all other interests as mere
auxiaries to preserve the means of his independ.
encel So, for example, let suppose these United
States great manor-the ITS PRoPalEToRs,
the President and Congress their stewards should
they not faithful stewards foster and sustain the great
staple interest upon which all others essentially de.
pend and which is the OF wealth of their LORDS
teests auxlares to preserve the of their indie
pendence Although these propositions alegorical,
they easy OF solution, and must be regarded
il appears to me, axomatical by every intelligent
reader.
shall take il for granted admitted fact, without
the abduction OF any proof that all other interests are
greater lees degree dependent upon and sustained
by the success OF the agricultursis. Every person OF
experience knows that if agriculture becomes Ianguid,
all other business that OF the merchant the manufac.
urer the sea arng man, and c-langushes with
il and taking for granted that the surplus productive
labor forms the wealth OF country, II must be admitted
the agrcutusts entitled the credit Gas before
stately OF furnishing forty 6ftiehs OF that wealth
To foster and sustain this great and predominalng in
teres not deemed necessary TO pass prohbitory
tariff to prevent importation of like articles from coming
in competition with the agricultursts such
is not needed desired But great stewards (the
general goyernmenD should enter into conventional
ransement with all other civilized nations, to open
market with the WHOLE WORLD for those articles fair
and reciprocal terms. With England, France, and their
dependencies the present commercial arrangement may
approximate to reciprociy but the proposition of the
President in his late message in relation 10 the FREE
TRADE with Canada may be regarded rather problem.
acal-as the with which the long line separating
that province from this government could be crossed
might possibly offer too great induce ent for snug
Cling foreign merchandise. But in regard Spain and
her dependencies will be found, superficial
examination mat The advantages are entirely against the
United States. For example, admit her coffee from
Cuba Of her staples, free OF duty, while she taxes
stapes-breads,ads and provisions enormously
This should not be so. We should say 10 her Msiesy's
government II you viii not trade with upon terms OF
reciprocity We will tax your coffee equiyaenty.
With China trade is equally disadvantageous.
While receive her principal stapleea-ee OF duty,
she does not believe take from solitary article OF
great staples This is not rght it is far from it.
We should say TO her. II you will not take our bread.
stufs, cotton. tobacco, rice, whskey, sugar, and
asses, such OF these articles you USE upon terms OF
reciprocity, shall tax your tea for revenue, which
will raise the price OF that Article in this country TO
greatly reduce the amount consumed know il is said
in common parlance-and / not quite sure that the
expression, with other similar ones, has not found
its way into Congress" that be careful,
or the old women will pull hair they being the chief
consumers Of that article" There need be no appre-
hension Of that consequence.
We Immediately preceding and during the revolution
denied ourselves the beverage rather than be unius,y
tributary And any person understanding the policy OF
England in regard to China knows that, although our
trade is directly with China the profits eventually accrue
TO the British The English find in China market for
their opium and manufactured articles; we find there
market for nothing-as regard TO manufactured arii
cles. we cannot compete with pauper labor, and our
staples they do not receive There being no reciprocity
of trade, nothing but gold and silver will supply their de.
mands.