The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-01

WE acknowledge the courtesy of the
State Journal in responding SO promptly to
some Of our questions on the tariff question.
We have read its article with somewhat of
admiration for its ingenuity. But we must
be allowed to say that, unless we are in
error, that journal has evaded the point
which was at the bottom of all our interro
gatores. = We want to know
whether if the Confederate States had
gained their independence it would have
been wise for them to have established
protective tariff? Would such measure
have proved beneficial TO Virginia as one
of those States? OF course such tariff
would have had tendency to exclude
northern shoes, hats, etc.-Di$patch.
With equal frankness and candor exhib-
tied by the Dispatch, we answer to both
the interrogatories put, most emphatically,
YES. Had the South succeeded in estab-
fishing an independent confederacy of their
own, the same 'politico-economical doc
trines" applicable to other nationalities,
would have been applicable to theirs. In
fact, the necessity of their application
would have been greater for their gov
eminent would have been weak, and pow
.erless to cope in manufacturing industries
with most of the civilized nations Of the
earth, and just in proportion as they were
weak would they have needed protection.
The fact of its excluding "Northern shoes,
hats, etc. ;" would have been the identical
feature of the policy for the most tearing
secession journals to applaud, in their adj
vocacy of protective system. Have we
''evaded the point" at the bottom Of the
Dispatchs interrogatories, in this unequiv-
ocal answer?
Our contemporary should not complain
that we gave only partial answer to its
many interrogatory points. We had de-
signed to take up some Of the other in
quiries made, but no one knows better
than the Dispatch the necessity Of limiting
its editorial columns to short disputatons
and sharp inquiries, in touching the current
topics Of the hour. Neither its own nor
our columns will admit of such discussions
as we might both desire to indulge in at
times, even if the necessity Of preparing
the whole of one side of our newspaper
within few hours time, did not frequently
devolve upon single editorial pen.
The reasons why a system of protection
would have been necessary to the South,
had the events Of the war resulted so dis
aslrously even to this section of the coun-
try as to have secured new government
for the Southern States, would have been
the same general governing ones as those
which prompted the United States, imme-
diately after the war of 1912, to adopt a
protective policy for the whole country.
The mastery arguments Of Calhoun, Clay
and the other great political lights of their
day, in favor of protection, completely ex,
hausted the subject Of inquiry, and it is
safe to say that their positions have never
been successfully shaken by any suisse
quent logic. Even after Mr.. Calhoun be-
came an -protectionist, he never
effectively answered his own invinciblt
argument. The Dispatch must be familiar
with the discussions of that day; if not, by
reference to the State Library, in which
the Journals of Congress are no doubt
preserved, it will find the subject exhaust.
iyely handled, and will need no further
enlightenment at our hands. 10