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BY HORACE GHEE LEY.
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THE NEW-YORK TRIBUNE
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CHEAP AND FASHIONABLE GOODS,
DliV <i;ood.s
at TIO: OLD E?T?KLlSIIKt) \np WK1.1. slsows store,
215 Greenwich, two doors below Barciay-sL
JASON H. BOCKOVKR A CO. HAVING AGAIN RECEIVED,
by lain arrivals, ? splendid assortmentof dry coous. which
are of she latest styles, con.i?tiH;, ,.f
BROAD CLOTHS, wool-dyed black,invisible green, We.t of Eotr
hud, easstmercs, ,-upcr wool, black, Oxford mixed. London Goii.ec.
do? skin, *ic; also SATINETS for i-. 5s, Be, 7s, Se, and 10* per vard.
VEST1NGS?A Hew style of -.inn. i ishmeret, Valencia, MaiWilles,
Ac., *e.
MQUSSEblN DK LAINES?A new and elegant article, striped,
fifared and plain, blue-block, and likowisi PRINTED LAWNS and
MUSLINS, very rich.
SILK9?Jet and blue-black, Froncb, Italian, pouel de soi, erode
afrique, for 4- 6d, 5s, (u-. 7i. and 9s per yard t and ul-o BOMBAZINES,
jet and blac-black.
PRINTS-. A beautiful stylo of French, English, Bn-tol. Dover,
Manchester, Merriwinek, Ac. Over 10,006 \ nr.i- of \anou- kinds, fur
?d. Sil. lud. Is. Is6d,2s,2s6d, and 3s pot y u I
H9BIERY of every description, black and while English silk for
6s, and 19? per pair; cotton Mac!;, white and eoiorad, both ribbed
aud pi ..a.
Sewing -ilk. mohair, lisle thread, cottonand kid GLOVES.
And rIm numerous articles >-f goods tlist are always kept for sole by
rnerch'oii.s, which will be sold at the lowest rates lor cash.
?SjWfit*,, _ .!. II. HOI KDVKIt A CO.
IV K VT A IVO KICBf ??I?KS Vti ?;ooo.*i.
H& if. ILtLL. 29 Catharine street, coner of Henry, would iu
s farm their Customers and the Public generally that they have
WJtbni the la-t month purrh:ee,i m jnfiMB oearlv S.V.UOu worth
of DRY GOOD?; f-olel*- for Case, many of them for less than half ?
tasir value, which they are positively uovi selling for the foBowiair
low and unheard-of price.- :
CALICOES.
90 e of English Prim-, containing 40,000 yards, at Is per yard.
These Ooods are richly worth I?8 per yard. AI-.?, a good assortment
ofFroueh Print*, from -!s to S?6 per \ .ird. Printed Muslins friin !s<j
to 2?fl per yard.
M&USSELIJS DE LAIPES.
200 ikf?1>? of ihsrk De Laines, I'rsiu 13s to ! I- per dross, ion dress?
es splendid -lam -tripe Cballeys, verj cbonp. 58 Queen's fancy dress
es, (a now stylo of goods.}
SILKS.
Rich plain block and blur slack Silk- -,f every styls and quality.
Also, a magnificent assortment of colored folks, plain and figured.
> IIA WLiS.
. l'i . ho Shawls of the largest size, from 12s, up.
CLOTHS A*W OASSIMERES.
100 pieces Satinet ts, from 3s6 t-> -?. Gambroons, Drillings, and
Summer Stuffs, of every size and pattern.
LWEiVS.
lawiu. Lawns, Diapers, Sie. Sic dec. S00 dozen of linen-cambric :
Hdkfs. fiota !-C Hpwards which is not half the co-t of importation.
DOMESTWS.
SQb.de, of heavy yard wide broSheetings, nt fid per yard. AI-?. 58
osue* ofbleachod Sheetings and Shirtings, from *d per yard upwards.
Bedueks. Furaitaree, Clu ck.. Print., dec.
A ;o->it Msoruneal ofHoisery and Gloves.
Pf. n. Jn.-t received; M pieces of black end blue black B?oiib:i/.i?rs,
from Iis. per yard upwards. aduMw
CIIBAs* DRV ?;o?J??.
"w'-'I H PLACE, of337.Grand-street, wmald respectfully call the
II attention of the Ladies of New-York to his stock of new and
fksiiionablo SPRING GOOD.-5, consisting of Prints, Lawns, De Laines
and mlier articles too uumorous to mention, all of which he will soil at
tkelowest prices. VYM. 11. PI..M K. 387Grand?t
N. 11 Red Back BufTalo Notes taken at n moderate discount a?&lSl
T J I E r, H E A V
42RAND-MT. DKY ?OO? ICMTABI.INIIITIKNT.
\1 H?LSE, 123 GRAND-STREET, respectfully informs his pat
iM ? reu- and the Public, thnl he is daily receiving from Auction a
great varieti ofFanc^ and Staple l'lt\ G?ODS,,of the latest impor
tauon, which he Is oflcrint fsr sale verj' low at Ins Cheap Store, t\i'i
Grand street, (betweeu Broadway and Crosby street.)?Where the
Nimble Sixpence i.s made to t ike the place of UM Slow Shilling.
a?_ Im
cheap AUCTION 4.4>?E?*.
TOWNSEND & MAC DOWELL, 165 Spring street, ire receiving
duly from auction a large and desirable assortment ?' RICH
OOftDS-?among which any be t'.ue.l?
I'ruuctt Calicoes, handsome styles.
French Mourning Muslins, a beautiful anisic.
Figured and -tripe IV Larihes, of even shade and pattern.
Plain MihIo and blue black l>e Laines.'
Stripe rep. and Mae black Sak-. uncommonly choap,
!M ru h ssKi Shawl-.
Lars? lot of Irish Linen-.
S cases Cambric Hdkfs.
3 dw plant ami ligd Parasol*.
ET ?Jle)lhn? CusMsimcrejn, Ac. at a small idvnuce. aS3 12t*
new 9PRIIVG GOOD?I.
JOHN B. PUDNEYi No. 461 Broadway-, corner Grand-street, has
just opened, and offers for sale, thu following desirable Goods, at
fair prices :
Rich Punted Moo?elm dc Laines.
Plain and Salin Stnpisl do.
Black and Blue bhu k, PI tin an.1 Figured Silk,.
French; English and lincrican Print-;.
Printed Lawn, ahil Muslins.
Silk Shawl, and Si irfs,
Scotch Glaghams, Linen-. Lawns, t on? C]et'i-. Linen Dnmbric
IlasKlkercbiefs, Hosiery, Gloves, Ac. Ac, Ac. vJT Im
GASH SYSTEM.
L E S T E R, b2 ? 5. ^1 a: s ?% <; O.
167 PEARL-STREET,
ARE dailv receiving from Auction and elsewhere constant supplies
of new and fashionable STAP1/K AIV? FA>fV
GOO DM, which I? inj! bought with CASH, are offered to country
and city merchants at unusually low. puces for CASH. The; invite
fJios?- wie. wish in L-.-! a i-.ejt la.uiv CoihIs lor a sxuui sum of money,
toexsmine their present uiie.;n.ill .d Sti?k. a IT if
c> ess a is e> ..v s?.a.3.\<-a?;.
No. Hi7 *4pris?5-ats*eet.
'VXTOULD RESPECTFULLY call the attention ofLADIES to their
? ? stock of Itrv GoooV, comprising as grant ? variety of rich Silk
Good.- as can be found in Rroadway, and at much lower prices. We
will eiuleu\,? to couvitx i all who may favor iu> with a Call, lhai the
abm.i are fat ts worttn ? { attention.
Oar aasortmenl consists in part of the following articles, viz:
Rieh Ck ma Silks
Dama-k do., n*>. v 1 ?
Rich figured do.
Plain, "fall kimU
Black Mid blue-bin i
Bombazines, of every description
Pi mied La? ns. a superior article
lu*h Linens
Table Damask
French, English and American
sat. shawl. Calicoes. Jackoaets,Cambrics,
Silk Scarf, I \r.. \ e.
N. lt.?Ju.i receurd, a .upenor artirle of Uainlirooas and Cruiie
?*a>blc"- _a27 lra
P.,i..s?^,?"M ,,RnTKn 7II SJ.1VM.
BLOWN A Ca469j Broadway, 3d store below Gra.nl street,
? beg to call the attensionof U>e Ladies to a larV'e assortment of
be.vjiitu: pruned Maslins which they hau> ju-t received. Thestvlcs
arenHenUrclyiww( ofthe mosi r!r.-uai designs, andjserfectly Vast
?olor-. I he pi icr>, it w i*! !.u .c,.?. arc remarkaklv low.
Kuh CIish.i pattern?; a bite ground, only ?.!,. per vardL
Coloresl grotsud., very l<*Htif?d style, SsibVL
Splendid coforcd stripes, tnlj 3s
Also, yards new st> to 3Ious. de Lame, Sttly Ss6 per yd. a great
bargain.
3iO, splendid 7-1 and 8-4 filk shawls, only $3 snd S.'iOO.
Au entirely new style of rich Cashmere Shawls, have just been re
cei\ed.
Pi on colored satin striped Challys 4* j e.- yard.
A l?J4.-e lot of.b?autifal esnhrokleyed Challys, oulv Cs per yard. a54 Im
JOll.'V A. i/OKD reepeetfulry informs bis friends and rusj?,?.
ersthat he ha- uow <>n baud a bmuitifal asaor'iucut of SPRING
GOODS ui ?;i descriptions.
Ju-t received; STJw'ysirtJs of French prune.1 Lawn,, uc per yard ;
Lmen :.a<; Linen CasnVric Hdkfs. very low ; Krenrh Prints and I'mm
ei Muaha; BleacVed and Itrown Muslin at all prices. A complete a,,
sofiaient of Bonnet Silks and Ribbons, Laecs, Liases, tngetber with
ererv other aiticle ia tnc niilliuery sine, caeap ai ltkJ Spring street,
oaruer of Thomp.pn. a-'3
l\?*Ak-s. ?s% ^TJI >??. :.-v lot of Brocle ...id K.Kl
" bros&ered Draper) Mu hn, for sale low, at
??if p. GREGORY &. SON'S, 175 Spring-street
fi I ?is.fr: A4 l?5.t> NUKKTlSli, at I., per yard, at
v-'~ * sS3 BIRDS ALL BL'KKOCi.IlS. 159 Grand, cor. Centre.
? ? if I
" I deeire jou to aadoctantl the true p
From the Merchant*' Macnzne ;',,r Jfav.
REMARKS ON ?FREE TRADE.'
bt h. gbjcklzt.
[In reply to Mr. Arnold'.- Essay in our litt.]
The article entitled 'Free Trade." in the number of the
Merchant's Magazine fur .March, seems to require some no?
tice at the hands of the advocatei of discriminating duties, of
whom I am one. Embodying, a* it decs, all the plaQsiblebut
often delusive cmmonplace> by which die interest -if British
manufacturer have hitherto been sustained in ourown countrv.
at the expense of the welfare of American farmers an..? arti
siins, it would be difficult to touch every point on which ob?
servation is desirable; without extending thi- nrtiele t. <ta
unacceptable length. I: ..lead of answering it in detail,
therefore; I shall endeavor to grapple with it* principles, and
show wherein they are at variance with the true interests of
the country.
the writer wholly mi**ta!es, and. probably, misconceives
the principles and view* of the advocates of the protective
policy. To prevent a recurrence of this misapprehension,
let me briefly SCI forth the grounds on which we stand.
I. We who advocate protection maintain, that manv a
branch of industry for which the country i* admirably adapt?
ed, may yet, in its infancy, and in thcahsenccof information
or experience with regard to it, and of proper implements
arid facilities for its prosecution, afford an inadequate reward
of itself to those who engage in it, exposed to an unequal
competition with the lone-establi-hed. vastly productive, and
prosperous rival interest* of older countries. We hold that,
in such cases, the government may often confer a vast ben
efit on the whole nation by extending to the struggling infant
it- fostering, protectivg aid, by mean- ,,f a discriminating
duty on the importation of thp foreign article. We insist
that, though in such case the cost to the domestic consumer
may for a short time be enhanced, vet it will vet', soon be re?
duced bolo? the price a: which it hail hitherto been afforded,
and thus a positive saving, even in tha narrowest view of the
question, be effected.
Need I illustrate this general proposition f Who, that un?
derstands the origin of the sill; culture in France?long since
the discovery of America?and its grow th under the foster?
ing influence of high protecting duties, until it now needs
them no longer, can ask for demonstration ' Nay, the origin
of tic- cotton culture in this country is substantially, and that
of the cotton manufacture is directly, in point, flach was
unprofitable at the outset, and only sustained bv duties on the
foreign competitor, or the still more stringent protection of
embargoes und war. Vet. now both culture and manufac?
ture may safely defy the world is compete w ith then, on per
fectly equal term*?taking into account''the relative cost of
labor in thi* and other countries.
Is the application of this principle exhausted ? Bv m>
means. I firmly believe it might a* well Ik- applied to the
culture and manufacture of *ilk now as to those of cotton
forty years ago, and that a discriminating duty on imported
silk,'sufficient to induce mir people ts embark with energ}
in the home production, would diminish the actual co*t of
the *ilk* worn in this country, even within ten year-. Do
not recorded facts justify this expectation ? But?
II. We contend that the high, invidious protecting duties
offjlC nations with which we principally trade, and of nearly
alfVie countries of the civilized world, absolutely constrain
us'to take care of our own producing interests. Wc assert
that, waiving the question of th<? policy of protecting duties
per ti . in lie actual condition of thing*, and in view of the
legislation r.nd policy of other nations, we must stand by our
own producers, or permit them to be trampled under the
ruthless feet "f British and French interests.
Let a- illustrate this point. We now take some thirty
millions' worth per annum of the silks, wine-, and spirits of
Fiance, at very low rales of duty. She takes in return our
COtton at a low rate, because -he must do .so or ruin her man
ufucturers by exposing them to a disadvantagcbiu competition
with those of other nations; but nearly all our staples are
taxed exorbitantly on entering her ports: tobacco about a
thousand per cent, and most other American products so
high as to form a virtual prohibition. The effect of thi* m ed
not be stated.
So in our intercourse with Great Britain That country is
kind enough to send u- ship-load- of treatises and reports,
showing the incomparable excellence and policy <?( free
trade: but she taxes bur productions all average of fifty per
cent on their cost, while we tax hers twenty. The inevitable
consequence.j> a continual and increasing indebtedness on
our part, and a haughty commercial ascendancy on hers. Our
merchants .and banks often stand at her mercy; a turn of the
screw in the Bank of England bow ls them all clow n in a
trice, and fills the whole land with disaster. The price
which, our great staples shall bear, and the oXent to whish
our interna] improvement.* shall be prosecuted, are kindly
settled for us ill London. Now, 1 am well aware that oilier
influences enter into and modify this state of lliings ; but the
fundamental evil consists iu our buying more of our stepmo?
ther than we sell to her. under the operation of her higher
rates of duty.
A recent writer on India, who had no reference to the
question 1 am now discussing, corroborate* these statements
entirelv. He is considering the poverty, misery, and decline
of India, ami tracing their causes. The primary and great?
est he unhesitating!) declares to he the discriminating duties
.'f England, by which country her trade is mainly monopo?
lized. He say* that the average impost on British goods
sold in India is fire percent: t?n the productions of India
exported to England, nearly or quite one hundred per cent.
Under the operation of this monstrous inequality, India i
drained of her specie, and impoverished day by day. No
country, he bluntly-, but ?. ith obvious truth, observes, could
withstand the ruinous influences of such a disparity. But
the simple man had no knowledge of our American 'free
trade' theorist*. They would have told him. that poor, de?
pressed India had only to receive the product.- id" othei na?
tions free of duty, and let her own products take care of
themselves; and all would go on swimmingly with her. Ala*!
that logic could not feed the hungry and ciothe the naked !?
what an excellent thing it would be!
1 will try to bring this matter home to the understanding
of my opponent, if the self-complacency with which he re?
tails the dicta of Mr. ('ondyllaguetv. il! permit him to be?
lieve that a protectionist can reason. I will take the case of
two islands, which, isolated from the rest of the world, have
been accustomed to trade largely with each -ther. One of
them produces grain in great abundance'; the other has a
soil primarily adapted to glaring, and its suqdus product*
are cattle and l utter. But the former, for reason* of it
own, impose.- a duty of fifty per cent on all imports, nnd
now cattle can be reared on her soil much cheaper than they
can be imported. She take-no more from abroad. But the
cattle-raising isle, unheeding the change in her neighbors
pohcy, or profoundly enamored of that system of political
economy which assumes the designation, ? free trade,' still
buys her grain where she can buy cheapest?that i*. abroad.
What will be the necessary result I Who does not . that
all the Specie and other movables of the ? free trade' settle?
ment, willjbc drained away to pay the constantly increasing
Italance of trade in favor of its ! protecting' rival.'
?? Well." savs ? Free Finde." " thi* will regulate itself in
the end." Ye'*, truly ! w hen the wh.de generation of traders
and purchaser* in the devoted island shall have (seen swept
down by the disastrous r.-vulsion. and two thirds of their
1 property has gone to pay a part of their debts in the ' pro
! leering' isle, and the other third to satisfy law expense-, prob
; ablv prices will have fallen so low here that any tfc'ng i- pro?
duced cheaper tints it ?an be imported. Foi a time, there*
! fore.-he docs not run in debt, and her condition appears
j more tolerable than it has been. But this is merely the ? Seel
of an unnatural and temporary depression of prices ; thej
wul n ;c ox the first appearance of prosperity, arid the whole
j tragedy be enacted over aguia. (See the history of the I'm
j ted Stalk-, passim.)
! Allow me one more illustration, to bring the matter more
i directly home to commercial reuders. I?ill take the caso of
'? navigation. We of this country are willing to admit the shir*
, of all nations to our ports on terms of perfect equality with
I our own. Very good. But all nations are not willing to ?
rintiples of the Oorernment. I wi?h (beta carried
WE W-YORK. SATURDAY, HAY 1, 18
ciprocate. Many impose a heavy discriminating tax on die
foreign :?? favor th<?;r o wn vessels. Mow, Set us suppose thai
Great Britain were to tax all soods. Sported ir. foreign vessels,
five per rent. more than when imported in her own -hips, w ink
we mad- no distinction. Does not every merchant know thai
our vessels wauld i-o driven wholly out of the carrying-trado
between the two countries?that it would be entirely monop?
olized by our rival ? What, then, is to be dahe ! " Counter?
vail tKe exaction," says Protection, "and your rival will soon
be gla.4 t? n:--et you oa a footing r>f perfect equality." But
what -ays 1'ree Trade 1 She stands w ith her fingers in her
mouth, mumbling over her eternal ?ommonplaces, hex. spe
? cious flimsinesscs,about' the laws of trade.' ? regulating itself,'
and capital and industry seeking, if uncontrolled, the in*s:
profitable employment. Yes. most sapioat maxim-vender!
hut why vi ill you not see that the proper channel has been
damned by the policy of a foreign nation, and that /;cr inte?
rests must be touched before she will free it ? Your school?
boy flippancies do not reach the practical question, or reach it
to make against you. Preach 'free trade' to Groat. Britain
to eternity, and she will give you back precept for precept,
and all the time consult her own interests in defiance of the
whole of them. Counteraction is the only argument that
'will reactt her practical course; and that is the method we
: have tried by unanimous consent ia regard to navigation.?
. We have tried it. too. with entire success. The principle
. and the act cover the whole ground of protection.
III. Protection contends that ;'::?? simple facts that an ar?
ticle, if produced in this country, is sold at a certain price.
: while its foreign counterpart is sold at a lower price, do not
I by any manns prove that the imported is. in truth and essence.
the cheaper. I have plainly illustrated this proposition in a
1 former number of the Magazine: and, as it is one of the
strong points of the case. I marvel that my opponent does
! not deem it worthy at least a notice. He never allude- to ir,
but constantly takes it for granted tliat, if a certain broad
cloth, of our own manufacture, costs fiva dollars a yard,
while an equally good British article can l>e purchased for
? four dollar.,, it ii demonstrated tint the foreign is one fourth
cheaper than the domestic article. .Now, so far is this from
being a self-evident truth, that we of the protective school
qacstion it* general soundness, while in many instances we
assume to know that it is contradicted by facts. And. for a
first illustration, I will repeat in substance one before used,
which my opponent has kept cionr of.
The town .if Londonderry. Neu-I lamp-hire, i- stcictly
agricultural, and in 1820 used broadcloths of Briti-ii. manu?
facture. It now uses mainly the manufactures of the neigh?
boring town of Lowell, which has since sprung up under the
I auspices of the protective system. I believe these cloths
arc even nominally as cheap as they were in 13v.O, or would
be now, if we hud no tariff ami no domestic manufacture;
: Inn no matter; I will assume that she then bought 1,090
yards of the British article at .* 1 and now bay-.1 similar
I amount at $5. Here, says ? Free Trade.' is a clear loss ot
$1,000 every year to Londonderry from the protective sys
: tcm. Stop. Theory, and let Eact saj a word. The compar
j alive account is truly given as follows:?
1820. The to"* of hmdonderry Da.
By 1,000 yards of Broadcloth, at S4.'..St 000
Contra. Cn.
, By 4,000 bushels of apples, at lit*cents_* 500
By 1.000 barrels of cider, at SI. 1.000
By 1.000 cords of wovd, at Si. 1.000
By 3,000 bushels of potatoes, at 3." cent*. 500
' By r.000 turkeys, at 50 cents. 500
By 1,000 bushelj of corn, at 50 cauts. ~>fH
Total. si.eoc
Account balanced.
leMO. The tnvn of Londonderry Da.
By 1,000 yards of broadcloth, at S5.S.'.OOfl
Contra. Cr.
By 1.000 bushels of apples,at 35 cents.Si.00 )
By 1.001) barrels of cider, at S3. 2,000
By 1.000 curds of wood, at S3. 3,800
Bv 3.000 bushels ofpotatotcs at 37} cents.. 750
By 1.000 turkeys, at SI. 1,000
By 1.000 bushels of corn, at T? cents. 750
Total.S-i.?OO
balance in favor of the town..'..83,500
Here the town has paid twenty-rive per cent wore ttomi
. nally than she would Lave done in the absence of a tariiV,
while she has really- obtained her cloths seventy per cent
cheaper than ? five trade'would have afforded them. Pro
lection has created n market for her productions in her neigh?
borhood, rendering man) of them twice as valuable a.s they
before were, or otherwise would have been. I have eadcav.
ored to state the prices in each case fairly, according to my
knowledge and recollection. But no error in:thc items can
affect tbo principle, thata community may buy good* ai a
nominally loicer price, yet really pay a sreat deal more
for them than tinder 1: different p-.'icn. 1 be2 ? Free Trade1
to consider this aspect of tin- general question. The wheat
growers of Gcncscc, and the lumber-men of Chaxralain,
have understood it well these many years: they know that
the country must so shape its policy as r? provide a ready
und Steady market for its sui^-h- products: the question is
not, with them, how many dollars will buy a gives amount
of cloth?but. how much lumber or flour will procure such
; amount: and bavins; solved that question, they stand up for
protection with their whole souls. Yet. hero are political
economists who do not deem it ncccssarjto risk any question
beyond??Can the desired g wds !?? purchased with the few
' est dollars of Btrmihgfaajn or Lowell.'"?and having answered
that in favor of Birmingham; they decide that we should
Luv our cloths of her,?passinc over the collateral probe m
of ? How. und in what, shall we pay?' as of 11 > moment
whatever. I.- not the oversight deplorable '
i press the question home on ? r ree Trade;1 arid I ask him
to answer categorically?'Are we t" 1 nothing ia oonnter
action of foreign policy inimical to our interests V Suppose
all the nations of the earth should impose prohibitory duties
on our productions, shall we still receive tln-irs on the most
favorable terms * And doe? not this policy provoke impost,
tion ? I abhor war. and would avoid it whenever possible:
but if England invades us. shaii we not repel her ? ff she
confiscate and burn our ships, shall we nut retaliate ' If -Ik
embargo our commerce, shall we continue to court and fos?
ter hers ' I want a practica: solution of practical difficul
! ties. Every word of ? Five Trade's' es.ay as-urrvs false
premises?supposes that all the nations of the world receive
our nrodiieti<sns free of duty, and that we wantonly innovate
on the universal practice of mankind by protecting. The
contrary is well known to Im- the truth. Protection is the
. general law; free trade the rare exception.
IV. I think I have already indicated that I do not consider
discriminating;duties?much less any duties?injurious to the
general well-being of mankind. Each partiru'ar irrr.ost must
' be justified or condemned by the considerations which in
'? -'.ticed. and the consequences which flow frnm it. I'n
' doubtcdly. there are imposts, levied by this or that nation,
: which operate injuriously, ami ought to be taker. ?;}'. (Ithers
', are productive of op-at gaedj 3:'d ought to be continued. I
should, probably, be willia-z to-day to abolish all imposts in
: common with ail aiher nations of the earth, ?rovwed an
I equally cheap. e:tsy. and voluntary mode of accomplishing
. the ends of taxation could be devised. I should not do this,
j without serious doubts of its wisdom and beneficence. If I
i were a citizen of a newer sountry, whose people and insti?
tutions were ju-r emerging from barbarism, ami making
npid progress in the various arts of civilized life. I would
' not do it at all. For I hold it demonstrable, that even real.
genuine ? Free Trade' between n barbarous and aa enlighten?
ed, a rudely agricultural and a renned manufacturing and
I commercial people; will almost infallibly impoverish the for
1 mer and enrich the latter?that the balance of trade, indebt?
edness, and every advantage, will be invariable found on the
side of the latter. An active commerce bet ween a nation
producing rl-mr. pork, cotton, and other rough bulky staples,
on the one hand, and one which exchanges for them silks,
wines, cloths, toys, ornaments, and manufactures generally.
1 is. in the nature of things, sun- to enrich the latter, and
i bring the former in debt. The great disporitv in weight to
! be transported, operates as a discrimination: and, w hile the
cost of one dollar per hundred pounds for transpurtatiin will
not materialh affect the trasmtssion of watches', trinkets,
osrt?I omU nothing mctw."?Uahrisov.
11.
laces, and gewgaws, m one direction, ir wiljseriottslvdepress
that of com. beef, ami cortex, the other way.
Let us suppose a settlement, equal to tbeStateof Missouri.
wer'1 now in existence on the Oregon?it* rude, bolf-rivilized
inhabitaMti engaged wholly in ligri culture, clearing. Sx,?a:;J
a good rood led from St. Louis to its capital. Trade i
brisk enough in one direction t silks, jewelry, ?pico*, finery
? and foo-cry of all kinds, are sure to be constantly on the
way over. But what there t? coma back f They have
mountains o: grain, beet", wood, and all the substantial.* of
life: but none of these wili pay a tenth the cost of brineing
, them to St. Louis. The settlement is constantly plot;* iug
deeper in debt and em')arras;ment. Eventually, through
revul- on, calamity. a:;d depression of prices, it will arrive at
? the manufacture of whatever it shall want; but if it could
have reached this end more directly by the imposition of a
*trong tariff, it would have aroided much disaster and suf?
fering.
Sue: are some of the views which lie at the basi* of the
Protective *r AmericaniSystem.
I will odd a few comments on three or four points made
: by my opponent, which may not be fully reached by the tore
going.
? Free Trade' assert*, that it i* the doctrine of protection?
ists that, if sugar can be produced in Jamaica for three cents
a pound, while its production in Louisiana must cost *ix cents,
then it is the duty of eur government to lay an impost of
three cents on die imported article. This statement does
no sort ot justice.to our views. We have never contended
that because the production of any given article c<i*ts more
in our country than elewkere, it should therefore bo protected,
or that <r.V article*, which might he produced here, though at
a greater co-t than elsewhere, should be made thi- subject of
protecting dudes. What wc contend for. as I have already
shown, i* the protection of such producing interests as give
assurance or reasonable promise of ultimate perfection and
thrift among us, though unable to withstand, in their infancy.
th? competition of the older and stronger rival interests of
; other countries. We contend that it may be and i* neces?
sary to countervail, generally, the high imposts of other na?
tion*, or suffer the' embarrassment, depression, and evil, to
which a heavy and always augmenting balance of trade
against u.-?in other words, a crippling foreign debt?must
subject us. I think *?gar may be produced nearly or quite
as cheap in Louisiana a* in Jamaica. 1 would, therefore,
protect the sugar interest of the former; but if a fair trial
prove this bcliel to be mistaken, and Jamaica is trilling to
reciprocate a free trade, I w ould take off the duty and buv
*i:gar of her. But if .-I.e. while abundantly willing to supply
us with sugar, shall refuse to take ?ur flour, our timber, and
our products generally, in payment, but insists sn having the
free trade all on ono side, I would s.ny to her?' Hold 1 We
shall tax your sugar out of our markets, until you take our
productions in return.' And, Mr. Editor, you would find
that my policy would secure a nearer approach to absolute
? Free Trade' than thai of my opponent. Von do not always
sc iure immunity in thi* selfish world by proclaiming to even
one your meekness and non-resistance to injustice and im?
position.
My opponent's assertion that protective duties are unjust
and oppressive, would have more plausibility if only one in?
tcrest wen; protected, and that for the sake of that interest
'. alone. But the reverse, in both point*, i* notoriously tho
: truth. And any man. who has seen what theso eyes have
[ closely observed of the effect of protecting the monufactur
1 ing interest, fot instance, upon the prosperity of all other
produktive interests within die sphere of manufacturing ope?
ration*, can only regard such sweeping assertions as the
? melancholy evidences of a wandering from the paths ofprac*
tioal knowledge in the erratic pursuit of air-spun theories.
? Free Trade' objects to protection, that ' it offers 11 bounty
? > --niggling ami fraud.' This objection, so far as it has
; any weight, not only applies to all imposts, but to all taxation
, whatever Tax gold watches heavily, and the owners will
often conceal them t-n invade the payment. Tax real estate.
I and land-owners will sometime* resort to artifice and kna
. very to have it undervalued in the assessment. Nay. more:
I the legal appraisers of a particular district or country will
sometimes systematically appraise too low. in order that
their friends and neighbors shall bear a -mailer portion bf
the general hardens. My opinion decidedly i*, that custom*
afford tin: very cheapest, most equitable, least onerous, and
least demoralizing mode of taxation that can b-? devised';
that, though they may give ri*e to greater rngueries, they
make infinitely fewei rogues than a more direct and compul?
sory imposition <>C national burdens. Yet. 1 am ready to ad?
mit, that imposts may be so exorbitantly high as to tumpt to
systematic smuggling; which is a serinus evil. But is not the
prevalence of this evil exaggerated.' Probably, the average
impost on American tobacco throughout Europe exceeds five
hundred per cent: and what proportion of it is smuggled '
I think not a twentieth. But so long as the advocates of
protection in thi* country do m>r ask for any duties exceeding
thirty per cent, I submit that this argument of my opponent
lueks force.
Of the truth of the general proposition that judicious pro?
tection increases production, I fear I shall hot convince my
antagoni-t. Yet 1 think 1 should have no difficalty in con?
vincing ninetv-nine out of every kundrcd individuals of good
sense had formed no opinions on the subject. To do this, 1
should begin by exhibiting a statement of the annual products
*f die protected industry of England as compared with tho*e
of an equal population in any ? tree trade' country I would
then eontra.-t the present annual products of Massachusetts
w ith tiiose of any community of equal number- whose great
producing interests have never'received legislative or other
equivalent protection. I would compare them ii*-< with
what thevwereip m 131?? ro 1824, rader a comparatively
? Free PradV system; From these and *imi!r premise* I
should endeavor to convince the tribunal that a communirA"
pursuing manv dirVeronr branches of industry; especially such
a* minister to it- own want* and necessities, will produce
' much more, and srrow rich faster, than one which confines its
exertion* nwinlv to the production of one or two great sta?
ple*. One principal reason of this is the comparatively great
cost uvd disadvantage at which a comnmnity which purchases
most articles of its domestic consumption must always pro?
cure them : if a fam-eir bought and paid for th'? products
w hich he consumes,be w ould generally fall behind at the ''tid
of the year. But a ?tili greater disadvantage under which
the community which i* confined to the production of one or
two staples r:iu-t ever labor, i* th?* inability to employ all its
industry. Ii. no country, prol ably; i? the aggregate product
of its labor one half what it might be if all hand* were folly
employed and ail efforts wisely directed. In my view, the
great end bf all poli: economy is to provide each indi?
vidual constantly wi:h tie* employment best suited to his ca?
pacities', and secure to him an adequate reward. New-Eng?
land has greatly profited by her manufactures, mainly from
the amount of female and juvenile labor, before nearly or
wholly unproductive, which it has enabled her to turn to
good account. If some philanthropist could devise a new
branch of industry, which would give agTo. nfllc and perma?
nent employment to the twenty thousand idle and suffering
females of thi* city, and enable them to earn fifty cents each
a dar. h'? would be a greater public benefactor than Adam
Smith or a regiment of Coney Kaguet*. I know thai Maine
was for a long period almost entirely a lumbering and ii-hing
district, and that she was then a proverb through New-Eng?
land for poverty and thriftiessness. I know that, sinte *he ?
has ereatlv diversified h-?r avocations, she has rapidly incres -
ed in wealth and prosjienty: I have full confidence that the ,
growth of two millions of bushels bf wheat in 1?'? did nor
subtract to nearly an equal amount from her other products. I
have no doubt that an adeqaate protective duty on foreign
silks would lead in a few years tu che production of twenty
millions' worth per annum in our own country, and tblS
w ithout subtracting ten miuW worth from the aggregate
which would otherwi.-e he produced, because the labor of
women, children, aired a*d infirm persons, not now prodnc- j
live, would ro a great extent Ik> employed in this new pur- j
suit.' I say J am confident that I could demon-trato those
truths 10 the satisfaction of t.varly every unprejudiced person;
but I am not at ail confident of satisfying my opponent.
Mv opponent argue*, that if we produce cotton a: nine
OFFICE NO. 30 ANN-ST
VOL. I. SO. 19.
? stems a pouod, we could moaorsphxe the market of the world
? ' !** ? we *!?td it iriven sprite out of it. I
do net aJratt that protection increase, the general tost of
home products, but the assumption abore itated is rtatlv
coaoadieted by notorious tacts. Dwring the but five yeara.
the price of America*, cotton has ranged flU!1, ,1X eiAteeo
tents a pound, with scarcely a perceptible effect on the
amo?ut required tor foreign consumption.
But. In truth. I perceive ho labor* under the fundamental
error of supposing that protection is only required to raise
the price of the domestic product, and would otherwise be
useless This he directly asserts on page 236. Bet that
this is very far from the truth. I will stop a few minutes to
demonstrate. I will suppose that broadcloths, tor example,
?an hc produced at precisely equal cost in France and Eag
lan i. But France becomes a convert to ' Free Trade." and
abolishes ail duties on imports, while England adheres to
. ?protection.' and taxes French cloths fifty per cent. New
the practical operation of this conflicting legislation will be,
that the English manufacturers will enjoy the exclusive mar?
ket of their own country, and divide that of the rival nation.
"1 hey can keep the home market pretty uniformly good ; a?d
. w benaver, from any causa, there occurs a glut and a stagnation,
tie y will -hip all their surplus stock to France, rattle it oil"at
auctions immediately, (better lose twenty-five per cents on
it thaa depress the home market.1 and thin restore a quick
demand, good prios. nay. a temporary scarcity, in iiugland,
whenever they desire it. Three weeks will repay their
!??scs on the quantity exported. Bnt where will Ik1 th?
French manufacturers' Bankrupt?ruined beyond hope.
So iggling before against a glutted market, and w ithdithcalty
maintaining prices, the heavy British importation and forced
sole at once kn?-?.-k? every thing down fifty per cent, and in
fact -tops sales altogether. They cannot retaliate: the
? wretched policy of their government invites and insures a
repetition of the attack on the very first recurrence of a
plethora in England, ami they are powerless to resist it.
fheir utter ruin is as certain as the destruction of a band of
men which goes out naked and weaponless tu battle with an
equal number armed with muskets and bayonets. Twenty
years will finish them utterly, and transfer their business to
the hands of their rivals.
I have a light t.i Le surprised that my opponent should
argue that our ".rent interests were not unussndly prosperous
from 1824 tu 1334,because i?ur exports per man were groater
in nominal value from 1703 to 1803. Who does not know
that the latter-named period was one of general and tremen?
dous war in Europe, when our products were in great de?
mand, and commanded extraordinary prices ? I do uot by
any means admit that the exports of a nation afford any
reliable criterion of its production or prosperity ; but if they
did. wo mi:-: consider circumstances and prices far more
than the mere money value.
My opponent's concluding flourish, eulogistic of freedom,
? unrestricted freedom,' I must be content to admire without
attempting to imitate it. It would certainly have delighted
me more extravagantly if it hud been apposite to the subject
matter. But it ks precisely.as much to the purpose as a noo
, resistant's culogium on the blessings of Peace, and hisda
nunciatioM ef the horrors of War. To the enthusiast I make
answer, ' Your doctrines are wry good so far as 'hey regard
the intercourse of men governed by your spirit: but the
world is full of formidable evil: may I not resist it? If a
pirate attack my vessel, shall I not defend her if I can, es
pccially it' all 1 hold dear are involved : If an army invade
US with tire and sword, may we not repel them ? Allow nw
to love peace as well as you, without proclaiming in advance
my willingness to submit meekly to every injury, and tha*
; inviting aggression." So I say to my opponent, Will yv
abolishing all our own protective measures, gieu us fro*
trade with the world. Will Great Britain abolish her pro?
tective duties, because we hive done so? Ynu kiaiw she wiQ
not. If she ever does it at all, she w ill be induced to do it
by opposite measures and considerations. Then why call
this one-sided reciprocity?this casting of our own interest,
bound, at the feet of our erent rival, by the abused name of
? Frei- Trade '' A cause intrinsically solid would not uoodL
the of so gross a perversion.
Oku Cmivie, Si u'inr.s.?Hon. John C. Spencer, Secnc
tary of State and Superintendent of Common Schools, has;
made a long and able Report upon tho management and gov?
ernment of the Public Schools of this City, with special re?
ference to tho petitions for a change in the existing system,
presented to the Legislature, and thence referred to the Sc
? rotary. Mr. Spencer, on a review of the whole ground,
comes to the conclusion that a change is advisable, a?d jira
poses tliit following modifications:
1. Tho election of Commissioners of Common Schools im
? ?iieh Ward: to form a Board and bo aided by a local Super?
intendent w ith an adequate salary.
2. The extension to the City of the general school laws of
the State.
Tb? Commissioners to adopt and take under ihoir joris
diction the schools of the l'ublie School Society; and tho other
n i.Is now receiving the public school moneys, leaving tbeic
I immediate government and management to their respective
trustees and directors, in the same manner and to the same
, extent as the school districts of the State are controlled by
their trustees.
1. The Commissioners t? Organize schools in other parti
of the city w here they may be required an/1 whenever a sufli
cieut number of inhabitants are ready to establish them, as,
di-trict schools, with the usual officers, to be chosen by such
inhabitants, and with the usual powers to those oflicor* to
hire school-rooms, provide teachers, and defrav expenses by
i rate-bills.
5. The public school monies to be paid directly to tha
Commissioners by the chamberlain : ami after defraying tho;
necessary expenses of a clerk and city iuporintendont. to bo
apportioned to the different schools under their jurisdiction,
in proportion to the number of children attending each school,
to be ascertained in the manner particularly described; and
i to he applied exclusively to the payment of teachers' wages.
A sufficient -urn to be apportioned in the first instance t?
each school, to compensate for the indigent children what
. have been exempted from the payment of etiargo*. Such
Idrcn t'. be ascertained in the manner punted oat in the
report. If the funds an.- not adequate, then to be distributes!
in proportion to the number of indigent in each school. The
surplus, if there be any, to be apportioned according to UsB
: actual attendants in each school. Provision to be mad?ta
j detect and prevent improper exemptions.
Fr.oM VALPARAISO.?A letter from Valparaiso, by the ship
II sage at Philadelphia, states that uJI kinJs of American pro
i ducts are very low there. New-Orleans Flour, f 7? a barrel.
Some political disturbances are said to have occurred in.
! tiie interior of Peru, but we are without the partieulars.
Am vrican Ships *n the Coa.nl.?At Valparaiso, ship Natcb
; ez of New-York, to sail for the (I. S. in a month; Henry
Lei it' Boston, do.; brig Canada, loading bark at Arica, do.;
i brig Grecian, at Callao.
Fb.? Fr.op.iDA.?An arrival at Savannah brings dates
thence to the 21st alt. A post is about to be establishes!
fifteen miles north of St. Augustine, on North River. A num?
ber of Indian tire- have been seen near New-Smyrna, sixty
miles ?outh of St. Augustine.
F->rry Bon! Sunk.?The ' dry bridge' over die low part of
East Hartford meadow, oppo-ite Hartford, Ct.. having beea.
evriied away by a late freshet, the meaJow is passed duriag;
the pp-sent inundation by means of a scow. On Wednesday,
the scow being heavily laden and drawn rapidly across, the*
bow ran under water and the boat instantly sunk, whereby
Mr. Wm. Clark, a butcher, was drowned.
2Cf A meeting of the citizens in favor of domestic msnis
facturus is called in Mercer County, Pa.
