The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-28
PROTECTI0N-BRITIsH FREE TRADE-NEW
YORK TRIBUNE

Soils and climates mems wants, capacities,
and circumstances, vary, giving rise to diversi-
fed forms of industry and production. Hence,
Division of Labor, and interchange of its prod
ucts, or Commerce.
All men are not equal to all things-all soils,
adapted to all productions. One man has more
activity, or more inventive genius, or more ex-
ecutve force, than another. One region is
adapted to planting, another, to farming, an
other, to manufactures another, to commerce,
while another may possess all these advantages
Educate men, and they will find out for what
pursuit they are best qualified, how the natural
resources at their command may be best de-
veloped in what way their skill and labor may
become most productive.
The duty of Government is, to aid individual
enterprise, where necessary, not TO supersede
1t; to secure to the Individual the fruits of his
Industry, not to attempt its control or direc-
ton. Justice, Security, Help in establishing
cheap and intimate Intercommunication, where
individual enterprise is insufficient and means
of General Education-these are what Gov
eminent owes to the People but to them, not
to 1t, belongs the management of the complex
business of Production, Distribution, Consump-
ton. Generally, Legislation designed to modi-
fly productions, regulate distribution, or re-
strain consumption, is impertinent and mis-
chievous. The time will arrive when Bounties
and Tariffs will be regarded as no better than
Sumptuary Laws.
The early Colonists of New England during
the first few years of their settlement traded in
peltry, and confined themselves to agriculture.
Immigrants, constantly arriving, were their
customers, and supplied the circulating me-
dunn of the Colony. Soon, immigration stop
ped-they found that they were raising more
breadstufs than they could sell-labor was not
remunerative-prices went down. What did
they do? Common sense was their teacher and
protector. They diverted a portion of their la
Dor and time to other pursuits. They began to
build vessels they turned attention to the fish.
cries; they carried fish and slaves to other
countries, and brought back wine, sugar, and
dried fruit; some cultivated flax and hemp:
some brought cotton from the West Indies
manufactures of linen, cotton, and woollen
cloths were started. In this way, without en-
enlargement from the Government of England,
under disabling restrictions, against the compe
tltion of the ample capital and trained labor of
| the mother country, were laid the foundations of
the commerce and manufactures of New Eng
land. What was done by those enterprisng
Colonists, may be done at any time, anywhere,
by intelligent enterprise. Men, enlightened and
industrious, need no legislation to direct them
how to dispose of their capital, or skill, or la
Dor, to the best purpose. If they raise more
corn than they can eat, sell, or exchange profit
ably, they will soon raise less and devote a
portion of their time and energies to the pro-
duction of other articles. If there be an excess
of all agricultural products some will become
mechanics, some, tradesmen, some, fishers, some.
manufacturers, some, merchants, some, shippers
1t was thus, through the workings of natural
causes, by Intelligence, quick to appreciate the
means at hand, by Enterprise, prompt and wise
to use them, that the Colonies of this country
gradually grew in population, wealth, and pow
| err exhibiting all the varied forms of Industry.
without the forcing processes of hotbed lepis-
ation, In the teeth of the competition of Eng
| land, under severe restrictions imposed by Mo-
| nopoly, until they became strong enough to as
sert and make good their independence. Hav-
| ing achieved all this, without protection, while
yet In the gristle, to us it seems simply absurd,
now in our firm maturity, to call upon Govern.
ment to secure us from being impoverished and
ruined by Foreign Labor!
| These remarks will serve as Introductory
to brief reply to the Political Economist OF
the New York Tribune, who has challenged us
to discussion of the subject of protection. He
| asks us to reprint in the Era his article, prom.
| Using in return to give our reply place in the
| Tribune. Two weeks since, we inserted in our
| columns an editorial of the Tribune on our po-
sition in relation to the Eastern War, and pro-
| posed to that paper to republish our reply. 1t
paid no attention to the request, nor has it yet
seen proper to plead guilty or not guilty to our
arraignment. Does this conduct betray a con
sciousness of weakness?
| But, we can afford to be generous. The arti-
Gle the Tribune desires US to reprint, so as to
give our readers the privilege of reading both
sides OF the Question, appears on the first page
OF the Era, and We shall now expect the Trib.
ane to fulfil Its part of the arrangement, by re-
printing this reply.
Discussing some time since, the position of
that Journal on the Eastern War, we remark.
ed:
at will puzzle the farmer to comprehend
how he is injured by England admitting his
breadstuffs to her ports, duty free; and our