The grain growing district of the United States, of dollars. What a difference would it make to meaning that which can advantageously supply grain the people of these states, if, expenses of trans. for foreign or domestic export, may be said to portation, &c. deducted, they received only one have been the states of New York, New Jersey, half of that amount, instead of the pitiful sum now Pennsylvania, Delaware,-three fourths of Ma- paid to them-the price of grain being too low, in ryland, Virginia and Kentucky and half Tennes- many places, to pay for its transportation to market, see. These states and parts of states, with a gross though good roads and canals so much facilitate it. population of 2,500,000 persons, of whom 250,000 But circumstanced as they are, our wheat-growers were slaves, produced 1,311,953 barrels of flour which perfectly understand that a short crop of grain may were sent abroad in 1802, worth 9,310,000 dollars: yield more money than a large one, because of the but the same states and parts of states, with the ad-weakness of the foreign d mand, in consequence of dition of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, (the three latter as a wilderness in 1802), having a gross population of nearly six millions in 1826, of whom about 390,000 are slaves, of their production exported to foreign places only $57,820 barrels of flour, worth 4,121,466 dollars-a diminution in quantity and value of 50 cent. In 1802, the export of flour yielded for each of the people of the states and parts of states named, the sum of four dollars, but in 1826 only seventy three cents-and an aggregate comparative reduction of value in the sum of 13 millions of dollars-thus: per As 2,250,000 of the people is to 9.000.000 dollars, so is 5,690,00 people to 22,400,000 collarswhich should have been such export, at the same rate; and the value of the export in 1802 being de. ducted, the comparative loss is 13 millions And, as 1,311,000 barrels of flour were conveniently spared in 1802, the increased population would as conveniently have made and spared 3,200,000 barrels in 1826, had there been a profitable demand for that quantity in the foreign market. Of this there is no aanner of doubt-and that, if the medium price for flour, ac ording to the British scale for wheat-say 61s. per quarter, could be ob tained, the labour of the farmers in the states named might produce a surplus of more than five millions of barrels for exportation, equal, at the price just given, to the sum of forty-two millions If 560 lbs. be 1s. or 22 cents, 300 lbs. are equal to -12 cents,nearly: and If 560 lbs. be 44s. Sd. or 993 cents, 300 lbs. are equal to 532 cents. the exlusive or prohibitory laws or the natural conditon of things. It is of no importance to us that Bri sh lands must produce a certain money.amount to acre, to pay the rents, faxes, tythics, poor rates, &c. for, if the British people will not receive bread stuffs for calicoes, we must make calicos.t ome, that our own menu.cturers may eat our own food, and our own mer hants export flour, pork, beef, &c in the shape of cotton, woollen and other goods. There is an old saying, that bogs are the best sacks to carry corn to market in," and it is 80, if the market is distant. Thus, the 1,000 bales of cotton goods which were shipped at Baltimore, in one week, of August just past, may be regarded as sacks containing the representatives of 14,000 barrels of flour. It is impossible that the people of the district of country named can consume about $20,000,000 worth of British goods (their pro. portion of the amount imported last year,) when Britain received of the products of their country only the sum of 1,500,000 dollars. The want of reci. pocity is to glaring to be endured. The great states of N York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, will not be trifled with thus, They and others will correct the procedure," with the aid of the states further east and west, which ar quite as much agg.ieved as they. But this is not a local matter-the whole people of the south, protected in their sugar and cotton, have an equal interest in the general system. They will need its exertion as much as the graingrowing parts ever did The wealth which is pouring into the lap of Louisiana, depends upon the pres rvation of it. And it Britain wishes that we sould purchase the products of her industry-she must, yes, must, purchase the products of ours, We do not find gold ready coined in our woods to glut the appetites of those who would compel us to purchase of them, though they will not buy of Were the British port open to the reception of our grain, at a fair rate of duty, the fee of Penn$1 16 cents. sylvania would be worth an hundred millions of dol lars more than it now is, and her 1,200,000 free. men would rejoice while the sweat poured down their manly br. ws, in the fatness of their fields, the capacity of their barns, and just reward of their honest and honorable bor. We do not speak with. out thought. Pennsylvania can supply millions of bushels more of wheat than she does, and the labor and the land is the same whether it sells for 75 or 300 cents the bushel. But, as Pennsylvania can. not command a market abroad, she will demand one at home; and her rich hills, whitened by sheep. shall make up the reduced value of the products of her luxuriant valleys. She has been the Atlas of this policy and will support it with all her strength. She has prospered by it, and will not give up the interest which she has in the millions on millions which are at stake on the success of internal inprovement and domestic industry. Other states are not less resolute than Pennsylvania-but she has been the pioneer in the "system," and deserves precedence for her steadiness of purpose. Pennsylvania well knows the truth of what Ander These are the first and last items-the latter duty exceeds the first cost of flour in the sea-ports of the United States.] The paper just above mentioned has given the following exhibit Prices of wheat per bushel of 60 lbs. in various parts of the world, in May, and June, 1827. America, Norfolk, Va. May 90 90 50 44 $1.79 1 21 North of Europe. London, June 20 Antwerp, May 30 87 Bremen, May 81 Dantzic, May " 76 Settin, June 15 Copenhagen, May 31 73 South of Europe. Nice, June 15 Milan, May 31 Santander, Spain, May $1 31 France, June 30 1 17 1 05 1.03 Civita Vechi, May 31 90 Naples, May 31 88 Trieste, June 15 83 Odessa, on the Black Sea, May 49 us. zon on Industry says, that—“No earthly method remains for encouraging agriculture, where it has not reared up its head, that can be considered in any way efficacious, but the establishing proper manufactures in those countries you wish to encourage." The following items are of importance in considering the effect of the British corn laws on the agricultural and commercial interests of the United Statés. In May, 1817, flour was selling at Liverpool for 17 doliars per barrel; and it was thought that 1,000,000 barrels had been received in Great Britain during the year which ended on 1st Sept. weighing nearly one hundred thousand tons, and giving employment to 166 ships, of 300 tons each, making two voyages a year, and steadily employing 2,500 seaman-our pride in peace, and glory in war, to bear our starry flag around the world. On the 30th Sept. 1817, flour sold at Liverpool for 12 dollars. west, have no market in England-though from the time of the closing of the British ports to the pre. sent day, the average price of grain in the U. States, has been one half less than its price in Great Britain. Some of our fellow-citizens of South Ca rolina, have lately been much excited about the "wool bill," which, if passed even in a prohibitory form, would not have excluded near so large a va lue of British goods as Britain has excluded of Americau flour, wheat and corn; and in discussing it, they have used language of fearful import and dangerous tendency We shall not speak of them and their proceedings as it has pleased them to speak of us and ours-it is to the reason, and not the passions of men that we would appeal. We have no party political object to accomplish but urge the further adoption of well known measures, built upon long entertained opinions Nor shail we dwell upon the power to support or oppose those measures, or become so negligent of the duties which we owe to our Gon and country, as to suggest an exertion of strength except at the polls, for or against that which we regard as of essential importance to the prosperity of these United States. In deed, we feel wiling to submit the whole ques The ports were shut on the 15th Nov. 1817, and the flour then on hand advanced to 70 shillings, or $15 40 per barrel; and an advanced price of grain being continued, that of wheat rising to 86s. 4d. per quarter, the ports were again opened on the 21st Feb. 1818, with a prospect of re-closing themtion to the high minded and generous, though aragain in Angust-but on the 1st July, the fixed av erage price of wheat was 83s. 2d-3s 2d. over the prohibitory valuation. On the 30th August, 1818, the price ranged at 95s. But some time after this the ports were shut, and, if we recollect rightly, they have, except partially, remained closed ever since dent, and (as we apprehend) prejudiced people of the south, in a consideration of the following pro position-and which will have practical operation before many years; for the cultivation of cotton may be extended to almost any amount, and the people of many countries can make it cheaper than we are able to do. Suppose that Great Britain, supplying her manufacturers, (no matter how ), with cotton at 20 cents per pound, were to exclude South Carolina cotton, though it might be furnished at 10 cents per poundwhat would a' citizen of South Carolina think of a British agent who should recommend the consumption (in South Carolina,) of British cotton goods? We know what our warm-hearted countrymen would say-they would pronounce the British agent to be an insufferably impudent fellow and perhaps do something more. And so they ought-for Pharoah wa was as merciful and as just to the Israelites, in requiring them to make "bricks without straw," as would be the British to the people of South Carolina in the contingency stated; and which is really applicable to three-fourths of the people of the United States The farmers of Pennsylvania, are deprived of a profit of several millions a year, because of the exclusion of their Hour. We have said that the fee of that state would be worth 100 millions more than it is, were the British markets for breadstuff's kept open. We believe this, and more: for if by the increased demand abroad, the price of flour should be advanced, as it certainly would be, that advance would be obtained on all the surplus products of all farmers, whether for foreign or do. mestic use--and the small addition of one dollar up. on a barrel of flour, would cause several millions of dollars more of profit to the agriculturalists of that state. By reference to that faithful work, Es. caville's "Baltimore Prices Current "for Jan. 1817, $41,632,000 This difference in value, ten millions of dollars a year, was not caused by over production in the United States, or any other fair business-matter, causing a reduction in the value and quantity of our exportsbut by reason of an absolute prohibition-British wheat being less than 10s. sterling per bushel of 70 Ibs We hear much of the distressed condition of the cotton planters, because of the present low price of their commodity, and sincerely sympathise with them--but the market is, and always has been, open to them, and they have had the good with the bad-either through the unforced operations of trade, or on account of a spirit of speculation which cannot be controlled, and ought not, perhaps, to be interfered with-as the following statement will shew; and also demonstrate the important and imposing fact, that large crops of cutton are no assur ance of profit to the planters. Thus in 1818, ninety. two millions of pounds produced one-fourth more than two hundred and four millions in 1826-and 28 millions less of pounds in 1825, yielded eleven *We speak advisedly. On the 21st day of March, millions of dollars more than the export of 1826. 1826, (about the middle of our "treasury year"), Exported 1818 92 millions lbs; worth $31,000,000 the price of wheat at Liverpool was 9s. 6d. to 10s. 1825-176 1826-04 36,000,000 say 9s 9d. ner bushel, of 70lbs. more than three 25,000,000 cents per lb. Our exports for the year ending 30th Sept. 1826, shews a value of $38,676 for 45,165 bushels, at the ports of shipment, or at the rate of one on an half cents per pound, the bushel being rated at 60 lbs. But a much larger number of the people of the United States have their great products excluded the populous manufacturing and navigating states of the east, and grain-growing states of the middle and The duty on tobacco is three shilling per pound; on bacon 6 cents-beer $12 44 per barrel, candles 55 cents per lb German glass 45 dollars per cwt. oil 177 dollars per tun; powder for the hair, if perfumed 60 dollars, if as starch 42s. per cwt. ships (to be broken up) 50 per cent. ad val. soap 20 dollars per cwt. rice 15s equal 333 per cwt. hides or pieces of hides, dressed 75 per cent. cider 93 32 per tun, &c. These are offered as specimens. we observe that flour was worth 14 dollars per, millions of dollars, paid by the consumers as a direct barrel and whiskey 72 cents per gallon-the Bri- protection to the land holders! It is thus also, in tish ports being open; but in Jan. 1827, Hour was meats, butter, cheese, &c. which are at much less only 5 dollars and whiskey no more than 32 cents*-than balf the British price in France and Holland, the British ports being shut: and although there within a few hours navigation-but these also may has been some revival of value in the lands of Penn.not be imported! sylvania since the tariff of 1824, because of an increased home market, yet farms, that were fairly sold for 150 dollars per acre, in 1817, would not fairly fetch more than 60 or 70 dollars at the present time. Such has been the effect of British prohibitions on Pennsylvania, and the same has happened to N. York and other states. We ask our brethren of the south, how they would submit to such griev ances as to their cotton? Would they not feel com pelled to decline purchasing of those who refused to buy of them? And shall the farmers of the Unit. ed States, be thus treated, that the British nobility and gentry may obtain double prices for their grain and cattle, and sheep and hogs, and whatever else their land produces or supports? No-certainly not. But we would not build up this grester interest at the sacrifice of the smaller one-for, while our helief is, that the partial success which attends do. mestic manufactures bas much increased the pros perity of the east, middle and west, it has not, to say the least that we can, bad any injurious operation upon the prosperity of the south. And no one will pretend to believe that Great Britain uses the cotton of the United States out of the affection which she has for us--seeing that bread is refused to her half-famished people It is computed by British writers that the con sumption of Great Britian is 55 millions of quarters of grain, and that the price is increased an average of least 10s. per quarter, because of the exclusion of foreign grain This, surely, is a moderate e-ti. mate, but the aggregate is 27,500,000 or 122 *We knew not the amount of whiskey made in Pennsylvania. It is thought that more than 40,000,000 galls. are distilled in the United States, which is probable enough, seeing that more than 2,000,000 are annually sent for sale to Baltimore only. If this number be nearly right, it is presum ed that Pennsylvania makes one fourth of the whole, or 10,000,000 gals This we think is a moderate allowance for that state's proport on, 10,000 000 gals, at 72 cents is The same at 32 cents Difference 87.200,000 3 200,000 4,000,000 Four millions in whiskey alore, because of the shutting of the British ports, and the reduced price of grain in the United States Cotton goods can no more be made without the subsistence of persons, than without corros. The first as well goes into the value of the cloth as the second. By the late custom house bill, staves from the United States, which heretofore paid 7s. 8d. are to pay 13s rising according to size until those measuring 72 inches in length are to pay 41. 4s. and those above 72 inches, 4l. 16s. Od. Duties upon lumber. ARTICLES. On timber, per load, fir and oak Handspikes, under 7 feet From Bri- From the tish posses-U. States sions. and other parts. 10s. Od 55s. Od. 28 0 2 6 40 0 5 0 80 0 25 0 272 O Do. 7 feet and upwards Deals, above 7 inches in width 21 above Ditto, above 16 feet and n 900 80 19 6 299 6 40 0 380 O 440 O Ditto, 8 inches and under 12 The British people pay a million a year in extra duties on Baltic and other timber, that colonial lumber may be protected, yet the preference for the former is The average price of wheat in England, from So great that the latter is not chiefly used in the "royal 1803 to 1803 inclusive, was 7/8 6d from 1809 10 old cannot be exchanged for new, except on proof of dock yards!" Copper, except British, is prohibited— 1814 inclusive, 98s 64-1815 to 1820, 718. 2d-origin; yet British national vessels, we are told, are 1821 to 1826, 558. 9 Average of the first 12 secured with foreign copper! To force the consumprears, 858. 4d. of the second 12 years, 648. 11dtion of sugar made in the West India colonies an esThe least average is equal to 153 cents for the Ametra duty is levied, by which the people are compelled rican busbel. When wheat has been 663. at Len to pay about six millions of dollars more than they don, it might have been bad at Dantzi, Enden and would pay if sugar was admitted at the same duty from Amsterdam, for 208 8d. to 25s Sd. These facts are the East India colonies, and all other sugars than these from returns made to parliament. But as to the two are as prohibited* We have no comments to protection designed, Mr. Huskisson, when talking about his "free trade," declared, that the British corn grower must be protecud against the campetitiontain was as followsof the foreign farmer, WHO CAN RAISE HIS PRODUCT British possessions in America and Mauritius 27%. AT HALF THE EXPENSE THAT FALLS ON THE BRITISH per cwt. ditto in the East Indies 37s.-all others 635. AGRICULTURALIST."-It is enough. or 14 dollars per cwt. duty! *The duties upon sugars imported into Great Bri make upon these things, and many others of like character that might be offered. scarcely bespeak the disposition of the committee to they shall be found not inconsistent with the protection of countenance the principle of these proposals w far as The manner in which British manufactures have been built up, is shewn in these extracts from Mac-our own industry pherson's "Annals of Commerce" Let them be applied to the American trade! We ask Here are the principles of British "free trade." no more. |TION. We ask less-not prohibition, but PROTECStates, and those immediately interested with them, Yet the growers of bread stuffs in the United three-fourths of the whole people, are asked to consume 20 millions of British manufactures, while Britain will not use one dollar's worth of their great product to feed the wretched makers of these very goods. Exceedingly modest, and perfectly reasona|ble! 1336 "King Edward, in the midst of his efforts to subdue Scotland, and preparations for subduing France, was not inattentive to the more rational project of establishing the woollen manufacture in his dominions." 1337 "The parliament ordered, that after Michaelmass, no man or woman, of whatever rank, in England, Ireland and Wales, and that part of Scotland subject to king Edward, except the king, queen and their children, should buy any cloth of foreign manufacture, under the penalty of forfeiture of the cloth, and arbitrary punishment. All merchants importing cloths after Michaelmass, were also subjected to forfeiture of the cloths and arbitrary punishment. And all foreign cloth workers were promised the king's protection to live in any part of his dominions-together with FRAN-17, 1827— CHISES TO THEIR FULL SATISFACTION." trade of Great Britain, which prohibits the importaThe following interesting summary views of the tion of our bread-stuffs and meats, is taken from Mr. Mallary's speech in the house of representatives, Jan. The illustrious Pitt, though a friend of freedom,sent, in all her productions, to Russia £14,000,000; In six years, ending with 1822, she [Great Britain] would not have allowed us to "manufacture a hob to Holland £12,000,000; to Prussia £6,000.000; to nail." France £7,600,000; to the United States £38,333,000. Before 1819, all woollen cloths imported paid a duty of Il. 14s. per yard=$7 55. The pith of the whole of Mr. Huskisson's famous projects is developed in the following extracts from his speech Take woollens. The whole export as estimated by the chancellor in 1925, was about 30,750,000 dollars. The United States received about 10,716,000 dollars, or one third of all which England sent abroad. Again: take hardware. In 1919, she sent to Rus After stating the case of the silk manufactures, Mr.sia £67,000; to Germany £7,000; to Prussia £9,000, H. observed, to the United States £460,000. In 1824, to Russia £20,000; to Germany £74,000; to Prussia £3,000; to the United States £488,000. Imports and exports. Imports, 1824 £40,412,300 From the U. S. 5,459,756 1825 41,737,609 "If a protecting duty of thirty per cent. was quite sufficient upon the only branch of our manufactures in which we were in some respects behind hand with foreign countries, it became the house to consider, in respect to other branches which had long flourished and maintained a superiority in all parts of the world, whether they would continue to preserve a system of USELESS PROHIBITORY DUTIES, which only placed the trade of those articles of foreign produce in the hands of Exports, 1824 56,234,663 smugglers, instead of the legitimate merchants of the country." "Useless prohibition!" But we shall soon see what is meant by useful prohibitions "He should be quite willing to adopt any method necessary to prevent the fraudulent* mixing of the Unit ed States' corn, with the corn of Canada." 82,149,909 1825 63,225,272 119,459,935 3,925,608 9,395,344 6,141,450 7,141,285 13,282,735 In favor of G. B 37,310,026 Against U. S. 3,697,391 In his famous speech of April 28, 1825, propos "If, upon the average of the next five years, it was found that 100,000 quarters of corn were imported annually from Canada, he should be prepared to suspect that it was not Canadian corn, and disposed to adopting a slight modification of the corn laws, Mr. methods for the prevention of that fraudulent mixture | Huskisson saidwhich such an average would establish.” "Mr. Huskisson said, that with a view of removing releasing the bonded corn, which tad been wure. "The government had come to the resolution of all cause of alarm, and giving an adequate security housed six years, and of enabling the owners to against the fraudulent introduction of Canada [Ameri- bring it into market." can] wheat, he should propose as a clause, by way of rider, that there should be the same certificate of origin as in the case of sugar." "The protecting duty which he should propose against the introduction of American corn into this country, would be precisely the same as that which already existed in the Canadas " eratum in this important question, was to provide "He had always understood that the great desidfor the steadiness of price, and guard against ex. cessive fluctuations of it from the vicissitudes of trade." "In requesting the attention of the committee, while He said that a "national bankruptcy" was talked I state the alterations which I propose to recommend of in 1922, when corn was as low as 38s. per in the duties levied upon the importation of materials quarter."-(say 90 cents for the American bushel.) employed in some of our principal manufactures, and also in the prohibitory duties now imposed upon the manufactured productions of other countries, I need *Fraudulent-to permit the consumption of New York or Pennsylvania flour! We are then "fraudulent" to ourselves if we allow the use of one yard of British broad cloth! Mr. Huskisson, because of his words, is a great favorite with some politicians in the U. States-but his sayings, if good, must "work both ways" How does he "bandy" the word "fraudulenta" "In two years the price of corn had varied from country; but every other country can grow corn Many further like remarks might be added-but these are sufficient. The "free trade" of Mr. Hus Britain extends her principle so far that the working of the iron mines in Nova Scotia, was forbidden in 1825-the crown claiming the whole of them! The new "custom house bill "as it is called, con templates the prohibiting a variety of articles an entry in British ports, except in British ships, or ships from the country from whence the goods are imported, and the London papers say- tection to manufactures the exporter 25 per cent. bounty; ours charging the importer 25 per cent. import duty, it thence becomes duty free. At the present duty of 15 per cent. the importer has a clear profit of 10 per cent. after paying our duty. This is, certainly, left-handed proHence it is, that, without enquiry into the cause, we are told, you are unrea. sonable; no duties will satisfy you. The great resson why many of the present ones are incompetent is, that they are checked and rendered unavailing by this artful and masterly system of bounties and drawbacks. It is the true secret by which to account for the immense wealth and power of a nation whose population but little exceeds our own. She is too wise to trust to imposts as the sole source of revenue--commands her own consumption, draws the chief support of her government by an excise on her manufactures-they afford materials and open new sources of commerce; her system of bounties enables her artificers to undersell other nations in their own ports, while her political economists mislead us by their speculative and ruinous theories. The article of linen fully illustrates her policy.Though her taxes and expenses are enormously op "Here then is the preference given as it ought to be, to British ships, or ships of the country from which the goods are imported. Here is a proper and vigorous blow dealt to the foreign carrying trade. This is a return to the old, wise, and salu-pressive on the people, yet the makers of linen tary system under which the country so long flou rished. We have not the slightest doubt but that Mr. Huskisson will be compelled to retrace his steps in the same manner. and to return to the former principles of trade in every respect, except as to high prohibitory duties, which offer impediments to trade, and encouragements to fraud and sug. gling, we have always been foremost in praising him." The operation, will be that if we export flour to Peru and there obtain some of the articles which Britain is pleased to take in exchange for her goods, we must send it thither in British ships, though cur cost for freight might be one half less than the British. The whole annual proceeds in Great Britain of the manufactures of cotton, wool, fax and leather have been estimated at 85 millions of pounds, of which the cost of the materials was 22, leaving 62 milhons for labor and profit. If Britain imported that amount for one year, what would be the situation of the country? In 1925, French goods to the value of l.1,790,561 were imported into Great Britain, the duties on which amounted to 1,605,796. The British duty upon steel is 20% or 888 80 per ton, but on bar iron required for making steel, only 30&. per ton. While American rice pays a duty of 158. per cwt. duty, that from the East Indies pays 58. or two-thirds less. But, while Britain thus restricts the importations, she does quite as much to encourage exportations. by drawbacks, bounties, premiums or allowances. Mr. Baldwin, in his speech delivered in the house of representatives, when the tariff bill of 1820 was under discussion, speaking of their drawbacks, &c. said "It is somewhat singular that our system of im ports, which is avowedly for the double purpose of revenue and the protection of our own manufac. tures, should have overlooked this provision, which is indispensable for the latter. The house will at once perceive that if the foreign export bounty equals our impost duty on the same article, the duty is only a tax on the consumption of our own citizens -the foreign article comes into the market on the same terms as the domestic; this is fully exemplified in the article of linen, The British government pay pay none,-no excise on their materials or manufacture; to encourage this fabric, which unites the three great interests of agriculture, commerce and manufactures, she wisely apportions the bur thens of her government so as to leave this unembarrassed. This accounts for the cheapness of the article at home, and added to the enormous bounty on the export, gives the true reason for underseking us. Let the British abolish this system, let an article pay the same price for home consumption as for exportation, it will then be seen there is not much difference between manufacturing here and there. One article pays an enormous excise, another none-let them be equalized and neither have an export bounty-in the aggregate it will be found that we could meet them in market, if not without any, with a small rate of protecting duty. Let cottons, woollens and linens pay the same excise as glass, beer and spirits, and cost to the consumer in this country as much as they do in England-you would be called on for little further protection to our industry. The manufacture of these articles pays no part of the expenses of their government, is burthened with no taxes-because they are the sources of their greatness, the machinery by which they draw to themselves the resources of all nations who purchase them; retaining us, their com mercial, naval and political rivals, in a state of colonial vassalage. It would be right and fair to aim at once at this system, by adding to the ad valorem specific duty equal to the bounty paid and drawback of excise allowed on the exportation. Then our duties might be called protecting ones, and be said to afford eficient protection to our manufactures; then the competition would be, on national and individual grounds, a fair one; but the committee, aware that this is the first attempt to introduce such a principle into our code, that it would not ba prudent to attempt too much at once, only propose to consider the bounty and drawback as a part of the original cost on which the duty is to be assessed. To exemplify this-on linen a duty of twenty-five per cent would only counteract the bounty; we recommend the addition of only one fourth of that It is not to introduce a war of legislation, amount. but in some measure to countervail the association of their system; increased duties will be inoperative when they are evaded by increased bounties. I hope these principles will meet the approbation of the house; if they do not, all our laws will be in vainwe had better say at once to those who want protec tion-"let things regulate themselves." |