Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-25


do do 30, 1o52-. 25o37,027
These plain and simple figures will suffice
without argument or explanation, to expose a
favorite fallacy of the so-caed free trade party
When the tariff of 1916 was enacted were
t,ld that the effect of its operation would be to
create an immense market for American bread
stuffs. beyond the Atlantic; that in consideration
of our admitting her manufactures, under low
system of duties, Europe would Y,ke our wheat,
-Ia,iian corn &C. in great quantities. 1t was pre-
dicted that the agricultural interests of this
country would be benefited to an almost incalcu
liable extent by this anticipated operation of Mr..
Walkers free trade tariff. In the year 1847, the
value of our exports in breadstulfs and provisions
suddenly arose to unprecedented amount, and
great was the exultation of the free trade De-
mocraey in consequences thereof. They pointed
with a triumphant air to the fact that during the
first wear following the passage of the Tariff
of 1916, our breadstuf exports were nearly
trebjed. and congratulated themselves on
having opened and valuable market
for the surplus productions OF our teeming
soil. 1t was 10 vain that the Wings argued
that this sudden aud extraordinary demand for
American breadstuffs was accidental and Temporal
ry in its nature-that it was caused by the famine
then prevailing in Europe, and would cease with
the return Of abundant crops The Democracy
persisted in the idea that the result was brought
about by their new tariff and they unhesitatingly
claimed it as one of the legitimate and happy
fruits of free trade policy
They averred moreover, that the experience
of 1547 was merely foretaste OF what was to
come and that under the continued operation OF
the tariff Of '46 the European demand for Amer
Jean breadstulfs aud provisions would go on in
creasing to an indefinite extent. The utter ground
iessness and absurdty of these expectations were
.,ouclusiyelv dsmonstrat by the Wings at the
time, but the Democracy would not be convinced.
We presume, however, that the statement pub
lished above will compel the free traders to ad-
nit that thew deceived themselves and the agri-
cultural community Of this country in respect to
this matter. By scanning these figures the
reader will perceive that after the famine year,
of1a47 our exports of breadstuffs experienced
spdden and marvellous declension, just the
Wings predicted. For the last five years
they. have been growing small by degrees
and beautifully less, until they have actu-
ally fallen below the point at which they stood
when the tariff of1s46 was enacted SO that nos-
withdrawing all the glowing anticipations and
Vaccinations of the free trade prophets, Europe
IA n worse market for our agricultural products
,,o,y than she was when their favorite scheme for
Improving that market was put in operation
Exnerience has signally verified the predictions
oftbe Wing party and as signalIy faIsified those
of the free trade Democracy. The following
extract from Mr.. Corwin's report forcibiy Illus
trates the comparative insignihcance OF that for
efon market for American breadstuffs the impor-
lance of which was so great magniied by the
,oartizans of free trade few years ago:
The striking difference between the magnitude
-,d ;ronortance of the home market and the for
zion one, is to be found in the statistics OF ex-
norts of what is Familiarity called the famine
year of 1847. There was some oi'hcu.y at .nat
lime in procuring sufficient shipping, including
horh American and foreign, to convey our bread
cuff to the furnishing nations OF Europe. and
vet our entire exports during that year OF the
two principal articles of food-lndian corn (maize)
and -four were only about three per cent OF the
farmer and about ten per cent OF the latter est,-
mated on the whole crop produced in the United
states: leaving nnety-seven per cent OF the ln-
dian corn and ninety per cent. OF the wheat
cron for the supply of the home MARKET where 1t
was actually consumed. Our exports OF bread
,rff. at Dresent are only about one-thlrd OF what
fhaV were during tue aoDso Jcai u """'oo' Nv
,naod exhibiting in a still more striking contrast,
.ha immense difference between the home and
fara;on markets in favor of the former
The mere tolls collected by the canals and rail
roads ON the transportation OF merchandise tor
the internal trade OF the country, exceeds IN
amount the total value OF all the breadsoifs pnr-
chased from us by foreign nations
The annual value of the crop OF Indian corn. OF
what and of hay. each respectively, Is fully
,al r. the entire value OF our productions OK
,,drted TO foreign countries. The annual amount
r. tbe manufactures 10 the States of New York or
pannsvl,ania in either of those States. greatly
a..aeds the yaIue Of such exports, and even those
offbe comparatively small Suite of Massachusetts
i; fully equal to all the productions OF the country
consumed by foreign nations.
The latter State probably consumes oreaostu"s
that are produ ced 10 the middle ana western
States to a greater amount tnan Is shippeo 70 al.
Fnrooe. with the great additional advantage oil
.h;s HANG n regular and uniform demand not de-
nsadne on European crops or the capr'ces oil To-
ra;gn Governments In the regulation oil their COM
,,,arcs and the assessment OF arbitrary aud ever
varying ,Iutes according to their own actuai
,yants and circumstances. Yet all these Immense
agricutual, mineral, and manufacturing Interests
which are almost exclusively connected Win the
5atsrnai trade ofthe country and the nome mar
ket receive greatly less attention AMI co"s'aera-
ZION from lie community than the comparatively
email amount uf our foreign commerce. =