Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-21

Speaking of the benefits which England
always derived from troubles on the CONT
nent and the use which her policy made of
those troubles, says" When the troubles
broke out i'm Flanders, many hundred thou
sands of the industrious people took refuge
in England before that period the English
were little more than shepherds and wool
sellers but from that epoch manufactures
so much augmented the wealth, and the
population, and resources of England, that
they became objects of Legislature care and
protection the po,cer IF England has
gradually risen erer since"
She well deserves her eminence in ma.
nutactures, by the persesering spirit with
which she has encouraged them. 1t was
no argument with her that watches, hard
ware and dry goods of all sorts could be
purchased cheaper on the continent than
in England she argued thus &c If we buy
all our clothes and hard ware of the
French. Dutch, and Germans, we shall tax
our subjects TO pay bounties of foreign
manufactures and these again viii nourish
their agriculture, augment their wealth
and swell their power we should be de-
pendent OF them too, and in the event of
war, would resemble colony rather than
self governed nation. Better is it, that
we call forth domestic ingenuity, foster
industry of every kind, and live indepen-
IDENTIFY. 1--we save so millions by domes-
tic manufactures in cotton or wool that
sum will form an additional capital, ready
to extend manufactures, or to give a spur
to other enterprises, ta cut canals, make
roads, and bring more land into tillage.v
Thus England reasoned, and SO she acted
She protected her manufactures an the cra-
die against the competition of superior
skill and experience, by an absolute pro-
hibition of all such goods as she determin-
ed to make for herself.-Behold the conse-
quence She is the most powerful nation
in Europe and, If she were not curst with
hereditary monarchy, which pIunges her
in continual wars, she might be among the
happiest ON earth.
To estimate the Importance of manufac-
lures to her, read Colquhoun OIL the Re-
sources of the British Empire, the SUBJ
stance of which touching manufactures
&c.) was given with remarks in this paper
during last autumn. You will find that
there are about three millions of people
employed in manufactures alone, whose
ingenious labor produces above 500 mil
lions OF dollars per annum, exclusive of the
price of raw materials. You will find too,
thatas idleness is removed, dissoluteness
is banished from the lower to tho higher
ranks and pauperismis diminished in ma
nutacturIng counties to less than one third
OF what it is in the agricultural counties.
So much for the g legislative care and
projections" which as the illustrious De
Witt observes, were bestowed on manu.
features in England.
As experience ought to be the best
teacher, we might here refer to the exam
pie Of England, and let the question rest
for decision on the good sense of the COM
munity, who always judge in the last re-
sort {: but another consideration is too OBJ
vious to be passed over.
Some of our manufactures, we grieve to
learn, are closed others I'VE fear) hasten
ing to close and we are led by ideas of
association and feelings of solicitude, to
ponder on the consequences IF they are
possible) of returning to condition, little
superior to colonial restitution and depen-
dence England would rejoice in our de-
generate folly, and giant bounties las it
werel to promote prejudice among us a.
gainst domestic manufactures. For though
she is powerful, she is jealous and would
probably sacrifice as much to put down
manufactures abroad, as abe did to pro
mote them at home. Should the British
ministry, therefore, come to an under
standing with their merchants and manu-
facturers; and the latter be Unidentified
for two or three years exports to the Uni
ted States, to be sold lat all events) at a
lower rate than the American manutactu-
rer could sell them; should they thus seal
up our factories, would they not have half
conquered the country? Or. would they
not reckon this a cheaper mode of keeping
US in infancy, & weakness, than waging o.
pen war And does not this Schemes
very possible One,-recommend to con-
gress the indispensable necessity of guard
ing our tender manufactures by prohibi-
tons or by heavy duties Nothing is more
common among merchants than TO risque,
or actually incur present loss for future
| gain.-He is said to be g no trad who
does not know when to lose" We may
regard the English government as great
| proficients in this sort of calculation. II
they ascertain that by the expenditure of a
given sum an object can be attained, they
never hesitate to undertake it. In war
and in peace the British government adj.
here to the rule of calculation. Their
steadiness and decision, laying motives
| aside deserve our commentator and inn.