The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-06-28

and thus it is that by notwithstanding ,
causes, over which we have no control, |
the American manufacturer, contesting at
such great odds with the foreigner, is
eventually driven out 1t is protection
against these extreme Quotations, produced
by the operation of financial causes abroad,
and often, by deliberate design, to break
down our weak establishments, and give
the field to the foreigner, which we seek
through the instrumentality of specific
duties.
But, sir, whilst specific duties are ac-
ceptable to us because they are protective,
they are opposed by the enemies of the
bill, for the same reason. We suppose
that in the exercise of the power given Us
by the Constitution, to impose duties, and
to regulate commerce, We should SO impose
| them, and SO frame our regulations, as to
protect and foster our native labor in the
development of our almost limitless re-
sources, against the shocks to which it is
exposed from the fluctuations Of foreign
commerce. The public welfare demands
| it, and to effect it is within the legitimate
range of legislative duty; but the theory
Of government entertained on the other
! side of this House is, that in the imposi-
ton of duties we have no other functions
to perform, but to provide the means to
! pay for armies, and navics, the civil and
diplomatic service. When the soldiers
and sailors and offce-holders are paid their
salaries, the great purpose Of civil govern
ment, in their estimation, has been per
! formed, its mission ended, and its powers
| exhausted. We are told that we must let
trade alone; it Will take care of itself; it
will be regulated by the mutual interest
| of producer and consumer, and protection
| is but restriction on individual freedom,
and arrangement of the natural order of
| things. think, Mr.. Chairman, that there
| is a seeming Inconsistency of conduct in
| those who advocate such opinions, for they
find no difficulty in advocating the inter
ference of Government In thousand ways,
differing only in form, but identical in
principle and purpose. On what plinci-
pie are those regulations to be justified,
which in every conceivable shape are to
| be found in legislation restrictive in their
character? Why suffer the State to in
wade the freedom of the domestic relations? ?
! The advocates Of the let-alone policy should
| object to the restrictive laws which regU-
late the relation Of parent and child, hus-
band and wife, because the mutual senti-
ments Of affection, duty, and interest, all
combined, will be sufficient Of themselves
to produce harmony and order; butif they
are wanting. then why should Government
step in to enforce an unwilling union, and
subiection Sir, the advocates for free
trade and free love need not stand far
apart, when demanding the adoption OF
the "let-alone" theory. On your statute
books you have your quarantine laws, your
prohibitions against the import Of adulter-
ated drugs, for the protection Of health
by prohibiting that which tends to injure
it; if that is a legitimate function of Gov.
ernment, may it not be exercised to protect
labor, by prohibiting, or, at least partial lly
restraining the operation Of agencies thai
will injure and destroy it There is q
bill now on the calendar regulating the
number of passengers to be allowed OF
stoam-going vessels. Why not apply the
principle to that measure, and trust to tn,
interests of owners and passengers, anC
the natural order of things, to regulate til,
evil intended to be cured! If protection
is to be excepted from the operations ol
Government, there can be no other forth
putting Of its powers, and society Is resolv
: | ed into anarchy. ne NuOlS 4Edlilt- NOIE
, and life of society is itself but the out
growth of artificial legal restrictions
. adapting themselves to the changing con
ditions, interests, and wants of mankind
Without them, labor, capital, and exchang
of products, can have no existence. A
unrestricted, unregulated domestic or in
| ternational commerce is incOmprehenslble
, as the world now stands. Perhaps, whel
the millenGial era, of which the gentle
man from Vermont Mr.. MORRILL) spoke
/ shall appear, the ''let-alone" philosophers
, now so far in advance of a world whic
? doth not comprehend their light, will sc
' their theory in the full tide of successfr
t operation.
Mr.. Chairman, human wisdom cannC
5 devise tariff at all approximating tn
e wants Of the Treasury that will not b
D protective, to some extent, Of some inte
L ests. If you should provide horizont;
, tariff of twenty or thirty per cent, or
0 any given rate, on all imports, it woul
5 in some instances be protective, and
l.. others prohibitive or if there be ditfe
i ent rates of duty, and they be fixed /
lot on the different imports, even then, 81
f there would result protection to some il
5 terests, in various degrees. Then,
there be some branches Of industry whiC
e will undoubtedly be benefited to some e
0 tent, even though left to the blind arb