The New York herald., 1869-05-11
FREE TRADE.

W. u DTyaute Es ALhlubOu OhMcS DHoOnc
and Others.
Last evening meeting was held at the Cooper
Institute under the auspices Of the Free Trade
League There was a fair attendance and the pro-
ceedings appeared to be regarded with some inter
est. On the motion OF Mr.. David D. Field the chair
was taken by MI. Howard Potter.
Mr.. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT was the first
speaker. He said he was glad to see that con-
course 1t was worthy occasion which called
them together-the cause OF the great mass OF our
population, the cause OF human liberty, the cause
OF national prosperity the cause OF the useful arts,
the cause Of peace and good viii between nation
and nation. All those were implied in the freedom
OF exchanges. We talk of free labor; but what Is
free labor if we not permitted free ex-
change Of the fruits of our labor? One man comes
to another ana says to him. "You shall work only
when and where l direct you, and you shall
work as long as direct YOU" That is naked
slavery; it is justly detested and we get rid of it
as soon as we can; but under our present COM
mercia system set OF men come 10 us ana say,
"Well, you have got the products OF your labor
In a shape proper for sending them to market;
now you shall only sell them where we direct, and
for prices which we dictate, and II you want goods
for them you. shall take the goods OF US ana
at our prices" That Is the sum and substance
Of the protective system, the plain English, the
long and short, the proper Interpretation OF the
laws which the protecttonists have caused TO
be enacted for us to live under. How much better
s that system than the one which denies leave to
work where and when we please me same prin ii
shoots from the same balelul stock. But they VINO
guilty OF that usurpation of our rights tell us
that we are paid in British gold Now, he asked
those present, were they paid to come TO the meet
ing Had they British gold IN tnef pocSeasf ,o h ne
made the charge. He might retort by saying mat
those who have imposed upon the country system
which has destroyed our shipping interest and made
American products too dear to be exported, con-
diton of things greatly TO the advantage OF the Brisn
trade-are far more likely be corrupted by British
gold than any other class OF men In this country
but he did not say that. The speaker then alluded
to several who had supported the cause OF freedom
Of trade, including Henry Ward Beecher, WIN. Lloyd
Garrison, II snry Clay, in 1882. They all remembered
how proud they were OF Beecher when, during our
civil war, he went to England IN order to enighten
the people OF that country IN regard 10 the nature
OF the great struggle which we were making TO pre-
serve the Union He went, fearless, lmperturbable,
eloquent, master of his subject, took J0hn Bull by
the beard, tanned one noisy mob alter another
and made them listen to the brave and true
words he uttered. Was he receiver OF British
gold or had all the Kingdoms OF the
world wealth enough to buy GarrisonY He
honored Mr.. Clay for his magnanlmlty IN proposing
that trade measure more than for any other act
Of his public life. He had TO make painful sacrnce
Of the pride Of opinion TO renounce OLD preudlces
TO dsappoint attached friends, to admit practically
that the protective system was not the proper policy
for country He made all these SACRIFICES these
renuncations, these admissions cneerfnlly and ike
| an honest man. Was Henry Clay paid by British
| gold9 Win the detractors TO whom he mad referred
say much and offer such an insult 10 his memory
| Was there any man audacious enough to bespattei
his monument with the dirt thrown so freely at US
| (Appause.) The time had come to follow his exam
Die. The protective zystem Will be cause OF bitter
dssension In this country long as Is allowed to
exist Its essential element Is injustice, partially
monopoly, unequal legislation. and II cannot last.
| 1t makes dear provisions, dear garments, dear
| household utensils and farming implements, dear
fuel, dear houses and high rents. 1t lies heavily
upon us after we get into our graves, for the very
| wood Of which our collins are made Is burdened
| with the lumber duty. tApplause.l
| Mr.. EDWARD ATKINSON, OF Boston, next addressed
| the audience at some length, referring chiefly to
| what he considered the injustice OF the present
tariff. He contended that infhe present posture OF
affnirs there was an antagonism between the capi-
alist and the laborer. AS the law now stood there
| was no protection whatever. There could be no re-
equality in the law there must be an inequality
| In the tax, and the profit Of one man must come
from the unjust taxation OF ms heavier Surdenea zen
spread universal benefit. The speaker cited several
proofs in It's favor; among Others that OF thirteen
| hundred thousand operatives nearly one million OF
| them were injured by the protective system. The
| people, he thought had suffered long, with Ignorant
patience from that system, while 1t greatly mpeded
The industry of the country This present movement
| was simply freedom. Free speech, free soil, free
| men, free trade-those were the four corner stones
| upon which they would stand erect upon the broad
platform Of Justice and equal rights for every man
| in the community, and then, ana only then could
they rghtfully claim to be the leaven among the ma
| tons OF the earth. Appause.)
| A vote OF thanks was proposed TO Mr.. Bryant, the
| last speaker, and unanimously passed.
| Mr. JAMES BROOKS said that Congressional com
mttee would shortly consider the subject OF the pre-
sent tariff and any information relative 10 It would
| be gladly received, as the committee would report
| TO Congress at the opening IN December There
was every hope that a good and acceptable tariff
would be reported. In conclusion. he observed that
| II was great day for America when the great way
was opened to san Francisco, distance OF ovei
three thousand mites, under one form Of govern
ment and one series OF laws. He thought II not In
| opportune TO move the following resoluton.-"Tha
the opening of the great Pacific Railroad to-day
connecting New York and San Francisco, be recog
nized as pledge not only for one country, one con
| stitution, one destiny, with q due regard TO TN
revenue but for the freest sort Of trade with al
countries and all continents" (Applause.)
| Mr.. LIEBER followed, in some remarks upon TN
| present protective system, which he condemned o.
| unjust and unsatisfactory.
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