210 Of Com- Laws. Bk. iii. 



as in every other commodity, would be the most 

 "advantageous. Such a perfect freedom, however, 

 could hardly fail to be followed by a more free 

 and equal distribution of capital, which, though it 

 would greatly advance the riches and happiness 

 of Europe, would unquestionably render some 

 parts of it poorer and less populous than they are 

 at present ; and there is little reason to expect 

 that individual states will ever consent to sacrifice 

 the wealth within their own confines to the wealth 

 of the world. 



It is further to be observed, that, independently 

 of more direct regulations, taxation alone produces 

 a system of discouragements and encouragements 

 which essentially interferes with the natural rela- 

 tions of commodities to each other ; and as there 

 is no hope of abolishing taxation, it may sometimes 

 be only by a further interference that these natural 

 relations can be restored. 



A perfect freedom of trade therefore is a vision 

 which it is to be feared can never be realized. But 

 still it should be our object to make as near ap- 

 proaches to it as we can. It should always be 

 considered as the great general rule. And when 

 any deviations from it are proposed, those who 

 propose them are bound clearly to make out the 

 exception. 



