The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-03-13


10 re Edifers Of fhe .Autiena! jnfrliyereer.
BY the report of the commi,iee on COM
Dercs and manufactures, IL appears, tha,
10000 urn, 66,Coo girls, and "a, 600 boys are
employed In The manufacturing establish
nens OF co;,on. AS the boys ard girls are
paid for their labor, they and their parents,
and all who sell 10 them goods. &c. are enah-
led 10 consume more. It's stated, that the
value Off manufactured cotton in the Uni
ted States, including the price Of the raw
material, amounts 10 27,eoo 900 dollars.
will strike of he $500 900 dollars FOR the
original cotton, and estimate the amount gain
ed ty dom-st industry al 90 100000 of dclls.
The question DOW arises, whether the men,
boys and girls thus emplyed in cotton manu-.
fsetores, could have been otherwise employ
ed II not, they would have been id.e or
d'ssipai'og and their labor, obtained by in
dus,sy, enables he IN to dress better, 10 live
better, and TO eojoy more comforts : in short,
the wages OF their work enable them 10 con.
sumo more--and as the paice of all products
depends on consumption, the agricultufsiists
benefit by it, Suppose, for moment, thar
there were not grst mill in the u. States,
and that all the wheat were sent to Europe
to be ground, would not the expense of ex-
porta,lon and OF importation, and Of The toll
Tor grinding, be ioss of so much valuable
labor TO the nation at large
The manufactures Of the United States are
stated, after much lsborio0s research and
minute investigation, to smonnt to two hun-
dred millions of dollars. DO they diminish
commerce In my opinion, certainly not
ior moro sngar, coffe, silk, wine, sc. the
productions OF foreign climes, can be consul
med by those who have labor. saving maehi-
nety,snd much manufacturing Industry. Many
errors IN reasoning arise, because we stop
short at the 6rst effect, and do not pursue
that produce ultimate consequences. Thus
Q merc5an. views cotton exported and manu-
iaclared goods returned, and imm mcdiately
concludes, that il tho cotton were manufac-
tured al home, there would not b. much ex-
ported, and very little trade. But he does
moi consider that the consu mcrs ab, oad would
require almost as much as usual, and tha.
more would be consumed at home. Ii
ioo'ooO bales be sent abroad, not fourth
comesback In a manufactured state. l will
suppose, therefor, IS 900 bales sent abroad,
anu so,ooo bales sem TO be manufactured in
INC eastern states. Is not commerce incrca.
SEQ thereby Excuse me for attempting TO
demonstrate what every days experience
oughi to have established as an acknowledge
ed maxim. That Industry produces The
wealth OF a nation, aod that nations would sc
w,shoa. comforts aud wealth if they were oil
as'icuAurisis.
Protecting duties are useful to encourage
incipient manufactures but il the duties are
very hign, the ingenuity Of man soon iniro.
ouccs smuggling, and defeats ell tho Argus
'hsy operate injuriousy on the manufactured,
aud corrupt the morals. Where a prohibi.
'ion can be introduced OF manufacture with
safety It ought TO be issued. 1t may be urg.
Cd, that this measure enables the manufsc-
iufer to levy tax on his fellow citizens /;
out how long will ii las, The profit induces
many to enter into tina, branch Of business,
ana competitions soon rcduccs the price tn
mat which only yields what is usually termed
Artng hreft. CIVIS.