Another,  and  more  general,  prejudice  exists  against  a  free
trade  with  foreign  countries,  from  its  being  supposed  that  the


ON    THE    FOREIGN    TRADE.  359

importation  of  foreign  goods,  especially  of  wrought  goods,  has
the  effect  of  depriving  the  home  producer  of  that  employment
which  would  be  secured  to  him,  if  the  expenditure  of  the  domestic
consumer  were  restricted  to  home-made  goodfi,  instead  of  being
free  to  be  laid  out  on  foreign  goods.  The  exportation  of  home
goods  is  commended  from  its  employing  our  workmen ;  but  the
importation  of  foreign  goods  is  censured  from  its  throwing  them
out  of  work.
In  another  place,  the  causes  have  been  exhibited' which  lead
to  a  full  employment  of  industry ;  whence  it  appears  that  em*
ployment,  or  a  want  of  employment,  proceeds  from  circumstances
of  a  totally  different  character  from  the  restriction  of  trade.  If
the  positions  there  advanced  should  be  thought  to  be  establish-
ed^ they  are  of  themselves  sufficient  to  remove  the  prejudice  in
question.  But  if  things  were  otherwise  than  as  there  contend-
ed, the  objection  to  the  free  importation  of  foreign  goods,  on
account  of  its  causing  a  want  of  employment  for  workmen  at
home,  would  be  without  foundation ;  since  no  such  consequence
could  ensue  from  it.  On  the  contrary,  the  restriction  of  com-
merce must  tend  rather  to  prevent  than  to  promote  employment.
