The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-24

heretofore been grown through slave labor. In
the East, such is the difference of the social
condition, that free labor is as indispensably
necessary to the successful conducting of the
same branch Of industry, as Slavery has been
supposed to b. with US. This is a result no
less fortunate than happy. At the same time,
the argument is important, as it goes to prove
that the public might be supplied with cheap
and tree-born sugar. At this time, some mil
lions worth of Southern produce-sugar, rum,
coffee, cotton, indigo, cocoa, &c.--the growth
of slave labor, are annually imported into our
country, which, but from our own absurd and
iniquitous policy, might be had cheaper by
good deal, and more abundant, by the honest
labor of freemen.
Ii we would extend our trade with the Eastern
world, free trade in sugar is Indispensable
In truth, no great commerce anywhere can ever
be carried out without it. 1t would be as IRA
honal for nation to expect a beneficial trade
with Poland, that refuses her corn; with Eng
land, that refuses her cottons woollens and hard
ware; with France, Spain, and Italy, that OBJ
ject to their wines, oils, or silks; or with
China, that makes special exception against
teas to talk of helping your neighbor, and
then throwing obstacles in his way-id est,
crushing out free labor, and pDitng in slave
and thereby monopolizing. No rational being
can well deny the vast advantage the trade from
the Eastern World has always been to US. What
greater staple or necessary of life do we need
more than sugarp The honest free labor of the
oriental people furnishes it in great quantities.
Why, then, will we not take it from them, in
stead of paying the price of blood for it at home
The advantages conferred, by West India con-
nection, on our commerce, manufactures, and
revenue, have often been dwelt upon, in terms
most extravagant, vague, and ignorant. There
are levied upon, in this country, duties amount
ing to many thousands, chiefly derived from
sugar, rum, coffee, &c. These people say that
they pay this duty. In the present days of po.
htcal economy, 1T is enough to point to the
fact that the consumers pay the duty; and what
the West Indians feel in the shape of a dis
comfort an annoyance, and which, it may be,
they confound with paying the duty, is the dim
mutton OF demand, arising from the diminu-
ton OF consumption, caused by the increased
price to the consumer consequent upon the tax.
And, again, we might as well expect TO see the
Virginia planters and their allies insisting that
1T Is they who contribute the thousands which
England pays into her Treasury, on the con.
sumption of tobacco-the Emperor of China
and the East India Company making a Joint
claim on our gratitude for the thousands which
we pay in the shape of duty on the consump
ton OF tea. If all the produce of tropical
America was cheaper than it is, and there is
not the slightest question but that it ought to
be, and it certainly would be, if we had neither
Louisiana nor West India planters, Islands or
slaves, then it is clear to demonstration that
we should consume more Of all those commodi-
ties, and equally clear that we should have
more trade, more shipping, and more revenue.