The New York herald., 1869-04-13
FREE TRADE.

| prominent citizens was held at the brooklyn
Atheneum, Atlantic street. under the auspices OF
the Brooklyn Free Trade League, for the purpose OF
hearing Professor A. l.. Perry, OF Williams College
upon matters relating to labor production and COM
| merce There was also present large number OF
ladies.
The Rev. Mr.. BEEcHER presided. and in opening
the proceedings said-I have been requested TO pre-
side at this meeting and introduce the speaker Of
the evening. 1t is hardly necessary for me, there
fore to occupy your attention, at any rate for any
| considerable time, with remarks of my own and yet
| may be INDUCED with few Introductory observa-
tions. When that very eminent man and statesman,
Louis Coshell, was present in this country in 1852
| among striking things which he said was this,
| that while in Europe all thinking people con-
siderng and discussing great principles he found in
America that men were discussing politics
and not principles. This was in 1852,
which was very near the close OF that
era Of vicious policies under which the mercury
sank as low as II ever has done in
the history Of the country We stood upon the edge
| OF tremendous conflict which might be SAID for
the last twenty years has been eliminating in war,
and in those profound discussions which have filed
all our hearts since the For the last twenty
America hes been busy, not discussing policies but
discussing fundamental principles regarding the
rights OF States and duty of nations After two
decades OF years we are coming back again ques-
tions OF policy. Already we laying down those
discussions which have divided the community for
many years past Men are beginning to tire of
them ana they are beginning to feel for themes,
and they Will ere long arrange themselves in parties
according to new associations. IL was only
IN this way that the great objects Of liberty could
be maintained. He contended that together with
discussing events in relation the civil State the
industrial condition of the citizen should also re-
ceive it's due share OF attention. And this was in
its most brief and succinct term the doctrine OF the
Free Trade League-complete absolute liberty In
UCheera.1
ernment Is allowed TO interfere with individual lib
erty only at the very minimum, for 1t was the doc
liberty, SO while government should protect the
rights OF commerce it should not undertake to med
die with the administration of it, nor with the
great industrial pursuits of the country, ex-
ffp Tae q ss HaRSs o. Agas
one say 81 the tar1n man." but the great ques
to be imposed and the principle on which Z was to
be administered. 1t might be said there were
although there was third party to which he be.
Ionged 1t was mongrel one. (Laughterl One OF
e e 5wo parties must necessarily 60 70 one extreme
ana applause.) The two parties representing differ
ent principles were, those desrous OF having the
tarin 80 framed that IL would tend to the fostering
and protection OF American industry, and the other
party was composed of those who believed that |
for revs1ue PURPOSES and without which they should
not attempt to protect and foster any particular
branch of American industry. He was opposed to |
the interference of government and contended that
trade should be absolutely nee 1t was urged by |
free traders that commerce. and free trSas then
OVID nature progress more rapidly by individual and
unrestricted labor, than by governmental nterfer
ence. He compared the protective system TO pig
while the weakest squealed. Government was the
worst system OF protection. It had no instrument
TO effect the object desired in the way OF free trade
The government could not medde without political
influence and where politics were mingled with
liberty There Wontd be- pernetual 'ur muta. na
tOn. Liberty OF trade wanted permanent not
protective laws. II the government took care OF
trade the result would be very nucfuating policy
Change was damaging TO any trade in lts industry.
1t would he impossible for the government TO do |
what 1t undertook to regarding the protection Of
trade. There must be division. One party might |
succeed but the other would cOunteract ts influ-
ences. Feeble interests and weak voices would sui
fer heavily having no political friends lie was OPP
posed 10 protective tati, because 1t could never be
sufficiently party II high tarlfr prevailed COM
merce was so much crippled. Nations should not
be debarred from trade IN this country. How could
| merchandise elsewhere. 1t was unjust. 1t was
simply sacrificing commerce to accommodate inter-
nal interests. The attempt to protect the country
by prohibitory tarin tended to demoraze the people
and debauch the government. He had been called
To speak very important topics. His name would
doubtless be familiar connected with slavery. But
he had now laid down the black man. Government
| had already put him on his feet, and when man
| once put upon his feet just lie was tnen, could
not stand he must fall tCheers He dilated upon the
tradisnction. He, himself. could not forget what he
was. His grandfather was a sadler and his great
| grandfather was a blacksmith. His father was a
farmer; but finding he not good for that they
| made minister OF him. Now, there was more 10
be feared from corrupt Legislatures and the bribery
| OF capital than from any other source. He then
| strongly animadvered upon the colusion which
generally took place IN consequence OF the complete
| unscrupulousness OF some representatives. Some
| men, weighed as far as their individual worth was
concerned would not sell for five dollars, but send
| them up TO the Legislature and they will be worth
| one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. WhyY Be-
cause one representative held the votes OF forty
| thousand men. The reverend gentleman con-
| cluded by expressing his sincere concurrence
in the objects OF the meeting. Long since he had
| hann xrhin and in Tho fnf aHatnr
| Calhoun and cay had been a supporter of a pro-
tectve tariff but his deas in that respect were
pause.) de did not desire to occupy the time OF
the meeting by any further remarks, as Professor
| Perry would address them on the subject.
Mr.. PERRY was then introduced and proceeded to
give his views upon the subject. Every man
the right to the powers which God had
given him, and to the free exercise OF
use the powers which God had given u.s. so long as
they did not conflict with those OF our neghbors.
He had the right TO take brush and brush his boots
he mad the right TO get shine from the bootblack
at the street corner and give him a sinner for
his trouble, II he had the right to use
directly. He had good a right TO swim across the
river as Leander did the Heliespont though 1t might
| be for a different purpose. He had right to swim
across the East river TO attend this meeting pay
the ferry company two celts TO transport MIN
TO buy and sell, and in fact, paddle his canoe.
Ine nght 70 property was the right to
cept by the right Of exchange. IL was the FACT that
he could give something away for its value and any
interference with the right Of these things was an
fringement on the right OF property 1t was the IN
terest OF the government to allow all exchanges TO
| go Onto promote and foster them. There was n
system which undertook to prohibit these ex-
! changes-undertook 10 say how they should buy and
| how they should sell well az where they should
| buy and where they should sell; and would they
| believe IL they called this protection. lie con-
tended that tue system now pursued was wastei nj
| and destructive TO our Industries Every honest
| trader must come TO the CONCLUSION that cerfaip
| branches OF trade could live. some departments
must fail In order to support the Others we must
| tax our neignbors To carry on particular parts OF
industry Therefore, he submitted, the system N az II
| now stood was wasteful wnen the honest prosecu.
ton OF trade prUntless. our shipping was
getting worse every year. because, In the