58 



their usual mode, proceed to rectify one error 

 by committing another. They have a beautiful 

 scale of gradations regarding home and foreign 

 prices, whereby they relieve nature of her cares 

 for man, and take into their own skilful hands 

 the adaptation of his wants and supplies *. As 

 prices are forced doxn by the stoppage of the 

 distillery, the duties on importation are forced 

 iLp> and the discouragement of our home grow- 

 er is compensated by the equal discouragement 

 of the foreign grower. This plan, therefore, 

 proceeds on the grand principle of the mer- 

 cantile system, the advancing ourselves, not 

 by a just protection of our own industry, but 

 by repressing that of others. But, like all the 

 feeble and meddling devices of that policy, it 

 will produce the mischief Without the good in- 

 tended. The foreign grower will be injured, 

 but the home grower will not be relieved in 

 the same proportion. The free vent of distil- 

 lation will not nearly be made up to him by all 

 the rise of duties on the imported corn. He 

 will raise less than he did ; less will be im- 

 ported than before, from the additional duty ; 

 the prices on both will rise, and the general 

 supply of the country will be diminished. 



* In arranging tins scale our landed interest have too much in- 

 ierfered, and have set an ill example, which is now turned against 

 themscho. 



