190 AGE OF THE ORISKANY SANDSTONE. 



country without paying duty, additional taxation must be laid on to 

 supply the deficiency. Protection and revenue are in this case di- 

 rectly opposed. Where a duty begins to encourage home production, 

 it has already ceased to yield revenue. Revenue depends on free con- 

 sumption. Tax as many things as you can, but always moderately, so 

 as to interfere as little as possible with the use and enjoyment of the 

 article, — and the revenue flourishes, not indeed without a certain 

 amount of evil, yet without causing any suffering which is greatly 

 felt, and probably at the least expense of injury which is attainable, 

 except through that grand resource which can only be employed by 

 an eminently enlightened and virtuous nation — direct taxation on the 

 whole property of the country. 



I know well in what various lights this subject might be put, and 

 in how many forms the prevalent fallacies might be arranged, — each 

 of which might, without much difficulty, be exposed in its weakness 

 or selfishness ; but I believe I have essentially proved that restrictions 

 on commerce have the effect of monopoly, in enabling a class to live 

 by a tax on the rest of the community, added to the fair natural price 

 of the commodity, which is to prove that common justice, as well 

 as wise policy, requires the utmost attainable freedom of trade ; and 

 that the natural laws, according to which the products of industry ex- 

 change, are essential and irreversible: hence if we understand them, and 

 act in conformity with them, we derive the benefit of our knowledge ; 

 if we ignorantly or obstinately resist them, we invariably suffer the 

 consequences, — the whole body being injured excepting the few who 

 fatten on the plunder of their fellow-citizens, and would gladly con- 

 found their own with general prosperity. 



AGE OF THE ORISKANY SANDSTONE. 



To the Editor of the Canadian Journal. 

 Deab Sie, — To determine the relative age of a formation may 

 appear to some persons a small matter and easily accomplished ; 

 such is the case in most instances. When the agencies which have 



