The New York herald., 1869-05-25
BROOKLYN FREE TRADE LEAGUE.
NEeetInR Last Niaht at the Athennn,n.

fseetinR Last Night at the Athentpuyu.
The first mass meeting under the auspices OF the
Brooklyn Free Trade League took place last night at
| the Athenaum. The attendance was not as large
as the many posters, large and small that have for
| days disputed with show bills the possession OF
| the fences and curbstones would reasonably have
| led one to suppose. The audience, however, was
| for the most part made up OF thoughtful and
| weighty men, whose influence, If enlisted in the
cause will make itself felt. The President OF the
League, Rev. Dr. Joshua Leavitt presided.
The President In opening the meeting, said that
was the first presentation OF the Brooklyn Free Trade
League. The meeting few weeks ago was held
under the auspices Of the American Free Trade
League. 1t was thought that the third city OF the
Union should have free trade organization OF its
own, not only for its own advantage, but also for
influencing public opinion throughout the country
in favor OF the emancipa alton Of commerce from un
just restrictions 1t was proper that he should cor
rect very common Misrepresentation in regard TO
the principles and aims Of the free trade league now
spreading through the country. 1t had been
diligently inculcated by the opponents OF free
trade that free trade leagues opposed in principle
TO custom house taxation for the support Of the gov.
ernment They say that free traders are aiming to
abolish custom houses and thus DESTROY one
Of the principal resources Of the government
for the means OF meeting ITS expenses
and paying its debts. II was urged thai the
aboshment OF the custom houses would inevitably
speaker entirely denied this charge. The freedom
OF trade was the proper complement OF the freedom
OF LABOR. Freedom OF exchanging the products OF
labor was an essential appendage OF the right OF a
man 70 direct his own labor. II was the exchange
OF It's products that measured the value OF his
exchange was so far TO curta and restrict the free
dom OF labor ITSELF IL was never argued by sane
men that freedom OF labor involved freedom from
isesio@ OF upon szmD ~ @ o. feaer hs prS Gld
ducts OF trade from taxation for the sup
ade League Ssd om the besnnns recos
nized the right TO tax the products OF trade
as resting upon the same foundation as the right TO
tax the proceeds OF labor The freedom OF the one,
Ike the freedom OF the other rested upon the inal-
ienable rights Of man given him by his Creator and
an encI2acnmept upon the one was wrong OF
precisely the same character as encroach-
who claimed the privileges of citizenship was
port OF the government. All taxes imposed with
the intent TO restrict and repress freedom Of trade
government Should impose taxes "OSH' az taxes xes
| and for the sole purpose OF raising revenue
fSF fSonTs is snPene sssna ppaq ne
| reduction OF cost 1t was argued, increased con-
SUMPTION; The principle was illustrated by the re-
ducton Of the rates Of postage In Great Britain from
an average OF eight pence TO the uniform rate OF n
| penny. This reduction caused an increase In the
40 oOOOo 600 to 900 per year the reduction OF
cost seyen.elghths Increased the consumption ten
| fold.
Alter Or. Leavltt had concluded Mr.. Alfred wioss
read letters from Mr. s. b. Chittenden and Professor
Amasa Walker.
Mr.. James B. Hodgskin was then introduced and
! gave very long and elaborate address, his sub.
| Ject being free trade and cheap food. lie COM
menced his address by advertlng 90 the fact that
the ancestors OF all European people, as lsr
| as known, either by tradition or the more
Trustworthy Investigation OF modern science came
originally from the east. The ancestors OF the peo
pie OF Eastern Asia came from the west OF Southern
| Asia from the north, OF Northern Asa from the
south. The centre from which all these different
| tho, -
Himalaya Mountains. What was true OF this region
| for Europe and Asia was tfue OF Mexico for
| North America and OF r,u for south America
| This fact the speaker accounted for on these
grounds:The climate CT these table lands in Asia
| aud IN North and south America were remarkable g
for dryDess. In consequence the expense for hous-
ing Is far less tbpn In damp climates. The tempera
ture was mild and even and the expense for clothing
was also less. Food OF all KINDS was easily grown,
| and therefore cheap. The conditions which
| he'd made these localities so popuous
4 would tend TO the prosperity OF any
| country possessing them. In the proportion that q
country had them II would thrive. Lessen the hours
Of toll necessary for getting food ana the time saved
would De seen in the increasing intelligence, wealth
and virtue Of the people. All progress, the speaker
| affirmed, was based on leisure and leisure upon
cheap food, which was the basis OF national
| progress. New York was nothing New England
was nothing the South was nothing, until the open
| ing OF the canals made more easily accessible the
food 80 cheapy. grown In the West One would
think no one could be opposed 10 cheap food. Ye,
there was an enemy Of cheap food, and cheap shel
| ter, and cheap clothing-an enemy, in consequence
| OF progress, and wealth. and re1nement and virtue
and tnat enemy is protection. the speaker went Or
| the country. He cited the manufacture OF Iron ai
| one Of the onerous burdens which the people were
| called upon 20 bear. When the speaker had con
Guided o vote of thanks was moved By Mr.. Luthel
] Wyman, which was slven. 4.