The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-03-30

Gloomy Picture !-.lIhcct OF .hc fioF-
rili s'arfG--The Government Unable to
Enforce its Laws, &c.
The New York Times (Rep) draws the
following gloomy picture under the cap
ton Of Breakers Ahead
The enactment of highly protective
tariff on the heel OF the last session Of
Congress, without the least provision made
for It's enforcement, and ct the very time
when secession was so fully matured as to
Indicate its character and purpose, was an
act Of reckless folly unparalleled IN our
Legislative history. The measure is equal
" bad in every point in which 1t can be
viewed. 1t is not a revenue tariff Its
object was to discourage importations. 1t
cannot be enforced on more than three.
thousand miles of seacoast, and fifteen
hundred miles Of interior line We treat
the seeding States as q portion OF our
Confederacy ship may lawfully enter
their ports and put its goods in warehouse.
In seizures for condemnation, the case
would have 10 be tried in the United
States Courts, and before local jury.
No such courts exist. Ifthey did ii would
not be difficult TO tell how the jury would
decide. The President has no power
whatever in the premises His guides are
/ well established laws which contemplated
nothing like the present state OF affairs.
The spectacle of q greet nation unable to
enforce law enacted with all due solem-
nifty and upon the observance Of which
the exercise Of all its functions depend, is
humliating TO the last degree.
Whatever may DC the ultimate aims of
the seeding States, present advantage
is Of the utmost Importance as lever for
future operations \ tariff is highly I'm.
popular in the Border States. The one
lust enacted is the strongest argument yet
addressed TO them TO 20 with the seeding
ones, and it is telling with great effect
No matter how absurd may he the state
mentssnd arguments used they none the
less effect what we would avoid. We dc
not at the present moment wish to give an
opportunity to draw an ill-natuFed picture
Of the Northern capitalist seeking by le
sislation to add to his gains by increasing
the cost Of everything the poor man uses
No step could have beet taken So well cal
culated 10 a.ienate the Borde. States, a
the very moment It Las been our policy t.
couciliate them.
The seeding States have Us at eqda
disadvantage IN the foreign Courts. Ih'
= nation Of Europe with whom we have tA'
most intimate commercial relations az
earnest advocates of free trade. ct q
sympathy aud c. operation we insult iaei
l convictions and strike the scyerCet I.o'
4 in our power al their interests. The seCC
q ding States Wi! take instant advantage O
4. our blundor, and viii make every e1grt {
. secure their good VIII, if no, an actual =,
couui,ion, by adopting commercial pole
in harmony with their own. 1t was 70
this purpose, undoubtedly, that the euac
j mcut OF the new TaT.A was postponed, I
await the report Of the Commissioners jp-
sent abroad
. At home and abroad we arc alrcad
J. feeling the elect of our gr4tuitous foil
Both Enclis h and French journals al
t ,eeuiu. With Ill natured and uuiavorabi
d remarks: with contrasts either openl
:, stated or implied in favor Of the secelin
= States.
Never WAS a nation il greater cmbarras
: ment. We confess our inability TO eLtotC
( the most important law we enact. and :
" pa-siyely down and see them violate,
( without raising finger How can ~
maintain any national spirit under sue
Au.ui,ialioul We take the I % Of 4
u others most calculated 10 ALLEVIATE The b
u der States and foreign nations. We G..
IS neither collect cur reTcuUc nor afford II
e. lection. Who, under suaL e.-eui.-taucs
u would dare - embark u any euteI...-l
How much revenue can lie coll ctei
&c Northern paets2 10 orc can aaswa. tho.
Il questions l. not sucA uncertainty Il
e greatest &C all ,yls2 : state ci w7g y.ltl.
- almos; preferable. i would be the /
Ls. ginning Of an end Thus far wc sec n
e je without direction CT purpose, or {,
q means Of enforcing or purpose, if 3
I Had any.