Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-05
From tie n. Y. Journal Of Commerce.

Before the close of the last calender year there
was large class OF uneasy persons who were Dor
rowing great deal Of trouble about the falling off
in The government revenues, aud the noticeable de-
crsSse in tie foreign trade, and predicting gener
Al state of bankruptcy in both official and mercsn
tile circles during the year nov present They ar
gued that no consdera bic increase in the imports
could be expected, AID that the treasury deficit
would be sufi ,ient - sugnent the national debt
nearly or quite one hundred million dollars Con-
,rary TO their predictions the imports did increase
rapidly and the revenue was fully up to the most
sauRuine estimates. Then they took the alarm
the other hand, and for a series Of mouths we're
ringing tie changes upen the large imporiations,
prediciing Iuu in the direst form as consequence
Of the very revival Of trade whose failure they lad
feared and deprecated Now they are very much
exercised lest there should be large imports and no
corr responding exports, and they are anxious to
know What will become Of US If We import four
hundred millions. and only export three hundred
millions The CLEAN Of brightness in this gloomy
hypothesis lies 10 the very suhtunctive itself n
man, spending four thousand dollars per annum,
should only have an income of three thousand, his
financial c ,ndition would become dangerous,
But the Ouy danger lies 10 the contingency that Is
not ely to happen The presumption is, that IL q
mans income is cut down there will be SONS CORES
pending decrease in his exPenses. This compsnsa-
lion is one of the natural laws that would regulate
our foreign trade, If government were not tempted
to be wiser than the Creator, and TO interfere with
HIS prerogative. All the wisdom now eXtans in the
world would not suffice to establish BY municipal
ordinances such regulation of the supply
of meat, vegetables, and fruit, for the iRhabi-
tauts of this great metropolis, without waste and
without want as that now furnished by the laws Of
trade A board Of three hundred experts could not
adjust tbs proper orders. and surernend the requi
SITE production for the supply Of single article OF
daily produce now sold in cur markets. How much
less can inexperienced legislators control the I'M
ports Of whole nation 10 the matter OF human
food how nicely is the production Sd isted not Cny
to the necessities of lfe but 10 the very capriees OF
taste. Hos quickly any little surplus sffeess the
price, and how naturally that upon
the supply, so that, except Ehen some grand Pne-
nomenon, like famine occurs, there Is eeaniafal
regularity throughout the entire system Even In
cases Of total or partial failure Of some CROP IN r.
Is provided by the Law Of compensation CORES
ponding excess in another branch Of production 10
prevent or alleviate the consequent suffering The
same rule holds good in regard to our foreign con-
merce The nation will not, one year win anotner'
import more goods than can conveniently pay Tor
There will be occasic al mistakes, from disapPon-
meat As singleinhsbitant, in vieE Of en- expect
ed income not realized, may overtask his purse 50
whole nation may in q single instance meet with
the SEINE reverse. But even here there Is com