Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-17
ssFree Trade as the Solution of the
4C Problem

The Ne,o York Euening Post is sostrong in
its faith that the concession of Free Trade
to the insurgent States would furnish
basis of honorable settlement between the
Federal Administration and the States in
rebellion, that on the 18th inst, it devoted
another editorial in which it enforced the
propriety of the concession with force. In
this editorial, as in the one from which we
Yesterday made liberal extract, promin-
ence is given to the idea that it is necessary
that the "North and South" should "be
brought together again on terms of equal
and cordial good will;" it, therefore, gives
its advocacy to "the adoption of the princi-
pie of FREE TRADE AS THE UNIVERSAL AND
PERMANENT POLICY OF THE NATION" This
Is the view 1t takes Of the efficacy of such
concession:
ssrhis principle might be taken as basis
of settlement, involving no dishonorable
compromise or concession on either side,
and promising the most lasting benefits to
both sides.
1.-The statesmen of the South have long
been the earnest supporters of this principle
they have contended that it was absolutely
essential TO the prosperity of the South I;
that by the adoption of it the slave States
would keep pace with the free States, and a
main cause of political dissatisfaction and
rancor be forever removed. If they are still
of this mind-and we know of nothing to
have changed the essential truth of their
position-they may at once, by the accept
ance of this policy, restore the sources Of
prosperity in the South which have been so
fearfully disturbed by the war. The mar
kets of all the world would be opened to
their staples, and the ships of all the world
employed In the transfer. More than this
the South could not attain by the complet-
est independence, while it would lose the
advantages of strength and dignity that
proceed from the Union.
cat the North the eventual gain would
beno less. A few protected and privileged
interests might suffer in the transition,
(Which would, however, be gradual,) but
the great body of the community-the Ia
boring classes especially-would be i'm
mensely Benefited. Our industrial policy
would be brought in consonance with the
great underlying ideas of freedom which
shape our Institutions. With free men and
free soil we should also have free labor; and
the republic would stand forth before the
world-haying trampled down the anarchy
of secession and purified itself from the
stain of slavery-as fabric of consistent
polity, in which freedom was woven from
turret to foundation stone." lt
rasThe Nep York Times having taken issue
with The Ereaiag Post on this question, it
rejoins:
..T'he Times does not like our suggestion
as to the possibility of making the princi-
pie of free trade basis of cordial reunion
between the North and South. 1t calls it
'farcially absurd When we projected the
Free Soil movement years ago, it was met
in very much the same terms. But since.
then that movement has cut a pretty big
swath.
"As for reasons, The Times gives none, ex-l
cept that q large revenue will be required
to pay our national debt, and that the peo-'
pie will prefer indirect to direct taxes. But
how does The Times know? The people are
now paying nearly ten times more in the
form of direct taxes than they ever paid in
the form Of customs, and so far from COM
planning, do IL willingly and even with
cheerfplness., That fact alone ought to put
an end to the stale and puerie notion that
thepeople will not do what is most to their
advantage, as soon as they are shown the
y sAs to the future popularity of this prin-
ciple, we have such faith In justice and lib
erty that we cannot doubt It."