WEST INDIAN FREE-TRADERS.
IF the Protectionists would but look beyond their own narrow circle, they would everywhere discern symptoms of their moral isolation. Except themselves, every person sees that the age of restriction and protection has passed away ; that whatever a man may think, he must act on the assumption that free trade, where not already, is on the eve of becoming, the law of the land. The onslaught on Scotch entails meditated by Sir David Baird and the Marquis of Breadalbane—adverted to in another column—is one symptom. The able report of the Acting Committee of the West India Planters and Merchants to the half-yearly meeting of the general body, on the 11th instant, is another. To popular apprehension, the West India body has long been regarded as a prop of the protective system only secondary to the English landed interest in weight and devotedness. The West India body, however, have moved with the age. So far from wasting their strength in unavailing opposition to the Ministerial measure, they frankly acknowledge the justice of its leading principle, and only ask that in their case it may be more fully applied. Their only complaint is, that while restriction where it tells in their favour is to be relaxed, restrictions which operate against them are (k facto aggravated. They avow their belief that "the best protection they could possess would be ability to compete." The last three paragraphs of this remarkable document are worthy of attention. ' "Prom the existence of differential duties in favour of their products, the co- lonists have been long regarded in the odious character of monopolists—as seeking peculiar privileges at the expense of their fellow subjects. But no imputation can be more unfounded; for it was proved in the Committee's report last year, that with respect to their relations in times past the charge ought be entirely re- versed, and the sum of their present claims is merely to be allowed the full benefits of freedom.' To the people of the Mother-country the preference shown to Colonial products is obvious, while the restrictions and disabilities for which it has been but a bare equivalent are forgotten, because from them they suffer no inconveruence. This bystem is certainly not calculated to be permanently advan- tageous to the Colonies, for the best protection which they could possess would be ability to compete.' But, after being forced into an unnatural state, and es- pecially after being deprived in a great measure of their labour, time is requited, as well as the removal of every restriction, in order to attain to that independent "When it was announced that her Majesty's Government had determined to abandon the general system of protective duties which has so long prevailed, the Committee naturally expected that, with a view to the general application of the new policy in doe time to every interest, arrangements would be made to confer upon the Colonies that 'ability of competition.' They have, therefore, been grie- vously disappointed to find that, instead of any relaxation of the various restric lions of which they justly complain, these are, by the measures now in pro . to be greatly aggravated. The differential duty on sugar is to be further retfnced before they have bad an opportunity of availing themselves of additional labour.
The distillers are henceforth to obtain corn from all parts at a nominal duty, are thereby to be enabled to produce cheaper spirits; but they are, nev to enjoy the same 'protection' they now have against the competition of rum. The distinctive duty in England of Is. 6d. per gallon—equal to the whole cost of corn spirit—is to be maintained without abatement; while the prohibitory differ- ential duties in Scotland and Ireland are also to remain unaltered. The products of all corn-growing countries are, without exception, to be freely admitted into the distilleries and breweries; but the sugar and the molasses of the British Co-. Ionics are still to be rigidly excluded, not only to their disadvantage, but to the great prejudice of the consumer. Thus fettered, they are required to encounter new competition, and to rest under the imputation of being the objects of peculiar and unmerited favour.
"The Committee seek no privilege for the Colonies, for which they do not ren- der a full equivalent advantage. They believe that, with unlimited freedom of in- tercourse for the purpose of procuring free labour wherever it may be found— with reasonable time to reap the fruits of this accession—with the abrogation of the Imperial duties which restrict their supplies from other countries—with the admission of rum at the same rates of duty which may be chargeable upon spirits distilled in the United Kingdom from foreign grain—and with the free use of their products in any manner which the people of this country may find desirable—the West India Colonies would spring into new life, and rank again among the most valuable possessions of the British Crown."
The West India interest may therefore be regarded as having adopted the principle of Sir Robert Peel's measure in sincerity. The modifications of detail to which they point, are proposed in good faith, not with a view to impede or endanger the great mea- sure. They are applications of its cardinal principles, which, owing to the habitual neglect and ignorance of Colonial affairs that pre- vail in this country, have not been made in it. Except as a pre- caution against panic, the three-years reprieve granted to the land- owners of England is of questionable advanta,cre. The West India planters are differently circumstanced. The -English landowner has more labourers than he can employ: the West India planter has been put upon a short allowance of labour by a legislative act of the Mother-country. Again, freight and other charges, to which the foreign corn is necessarily subjected, might compensate for a considerable inequality in the abundance and cost of foreign and domestic agriculturablabour : but these charges are, to say the least, no heavier for the shipper from Cuba and Brazil, with their compulsory labour, than for the shipper from the British Wed Indies, with their inadequate supply of free labour. In asking that a delay corresponding to that granted to the landlords may be granted to them also, the West Indians seek nothing that can endanger the Ministerial measure ; and their case must be admitted to be much stronger. Were the Protectionists to propose amend- ments in this spirit—resigning themselves to free trade as some- thing inevitable, and only asking a fair start in the race of com- petition—they might have been more successful. As it is, they are wasting, in struggles to escape the inevitable, time and energies which might be profitably employed in preparing themselves for the new relations upon which they are entering.
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