Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-06-24
ADDRESS.


presence, Society instituted for their
protection and encouragement. Know
ting that the Manufactures of the United
States, cannot in their infan. state, resist
the rivaiship of foreign nations without
the patronage of the Government. it is
consoling To find, that lie, to whom the u
unanimous voice of a free people has com
mitted the highest office, has not only
consented to become member of our in
stitution, but that he avaiis himself of
the first opportunity, OF giving it The
countenance and support his attend
auce.
An incden, like this may form new
era in the history of society. In other
countries The influence of the Magistrate
Is felt, oa{Y from the operation Of his laws
ordinate agents; while on the other hand
he derives his information through inter
mediate channels, but cur hcppy tonstita-
ton places the people and their officers in
such relations toeacli other, that they
may have mutual and direct intercourse
and we now behold the first Magistrate
ofa great Nation, seeking at its source,
the information, which viii enable him to
know the rants and wisheS OF the country.
a life, devoted TO the good ofliis country,
gives ns assurance, that it is only neces-
sary 10 make him acquainted with what
vii! promote lis happiness, to insure all
the support, which may he derived from
his high station. II is now too late to
question the advantages of Manufactures
all history shews MS how much they
have contributed 10 tine prosperity of eve
nv State, where they have been encoura-
ged. Indeed, we find thatin some instan-
ces, they have been the sources of all
The wealth and power OF a people. As
they have prospered or deciined, nations
have risen or sunk. Even weaith, without
Nianufactur and Commerce, has oniy
served TO deg,ade great community, By
the introduction ofMat luxury, whichwas
purchased with the produce of inexhaus-
tibie mines of Gold. But il is not as thew
are sources of weaib, that an American
must feel the deepest interest i'm the fate
Of our Manuiac.lTcS-they more nea,iy
concern us, as they are connccte witt,
our independence For how shall we avoid
tic Influence Of foreign nations, while we
suffer ourselves 10 be dependent on them,
not only for the !arnrios, but the ,.cceSsa-
RES of life Can tint nation feel indie
pendent, which has no reliance Int upon
foreign hands for the fabrics which are to
clothe her citizens? For manufa tured
materials which are necessary for the
construction ftheir dwellings,, and for
the tools with which they are to cultivate
their soil
But such has been our situation, Gun
known almost to ourselves until d iea-
lousy OF our prosperity provoked a war,
which barred us from tie workshops OF
England; and then we found we were in
Sotne measure obliged to rely ON treason
able trade, TO clnthe the armi. :, whchmet
her in the field of battle. The very DOW
der which generated the thunder Of our
cannon, was sometimes British manufac-
tuTe, End the striped bunting NAV often
have been from toe same loom with the
Cross y 81. George, over which X so fire.
gUenily waved III triumph.
lSich a state of filings, could not but a.
waken the spirit and enterprise of Ame-
rlcans. Amidst Tie agtations of war,
while one par, OF The ponulafion was ran
siiIg itself under the military banners of
onr country, another devoted itselfto her
interest L, another form. Mianufac-
lures arose as ifby enchaHtment-on ev-
cry stream she formed for herself spaci-
Gus dwellings, and collected in them ma
ny thousands, who in no other way could
contribute 10 the general veal Those
too young or too old 10 bear arms, who
had not strength for agricultural Iabours
the female whose domesti: services
could be dispensed with in her family,
found here means ofindividuai gain, and
OF adding 10 the public prosperity. In a
short three years, the produce of our
looms rIvalled foreign productions, and
the nation with which we were contend
ing, felt more alarm from the progress of
our manufactures, than she did from the
success Of our arms. But peace came
while we were at war, the ware houses of
England were filled with the produce of
tlIe labour, which loss of market had
enabled her TO purchase at deprecated
price. The moment intercourse between
fhe two countries was opened, her hoar.
ded stores were thrown upon us, and we
were delayed with the manufao lures
which had been waiting the event. They
could be sold without profit, because the
foreign manufacturer thought himself
fortunate il lie could realize the capital
which he had been obliged to expend, TO
support his establishment while there was
no sale for wares.
Bot he was content TO bear loss, be-
cause, in the words of an English statcs-
man, " II was well worth while To incur
loss upon the first expectation, in order
by the glt.f, to sfifie in ihc cradle, those
rising manufactures in the United Seates,
which Tie war had forced into existence"
Ii would have been surprising indeed if
our infant manufactures, The establish
Inent of which had generally exhausted
Tie capitals OF those who embarked in
them, could have sustained themselves
under such circumstances, without djy
aid or support from the government,
without any means of countervaling the
effects of tie sacrifices which foreigners
were willing to make for their destructi-
on. How were they to maintain them
selves ii was lmposSble--mdny of