Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-06-08


that maxim of DIR. SMITH, that ii is the
interest OF nations, as much as oi ins!iyid-
uals. 10 purchase Of other countries those
articles which they cannot furnish as
cheap themselves. We. might cOnclude
this To be among the most self-eyidrnf.
and well established positions Of the
science. 1t 10 owing, IN fact, TO Thar
distribution ofcapital and labor among
the different natiUns of the earth which,
the result of peculiar advantages cf soil.
or Climate or situation, THAI enables each
TO excel IN some particular branch of in
dustry, anu TO afford It's productions al "a
cheaper rate than others vol possessed of
similar superiority. Our peculiar ad-
vantage Is IN the fertility ofour soil. Va
are able TO produce d great value, as We
have before stated, with but little labor
but II Great Britain could grow The same
articles that she purchases OF us al !,
cheaper rate, or in other words, il ber
SOIL was more productive with less caui-
TAI, she would cease to be our customer
Tor such commodities and If We in Tic
same manner could manufacture al "A less
COST IMAM We import and purchase. We
should no longer buy her goods. itwoul,i
seem impossible 10 darken and confuse !,
question SO simple.
But we are told that we ought TO rem
der ourselves independent OF foreign sup
pies, yet The word independence has no
rneaElng III commercial sense. All ia.
mons are dependent on each other, are
civilized, enriched, enlightened by .nu.
teai intercourse; but manufacturing na-
tieas feCi this sort OF dependence ,nuvI,
more man those which are agricultural.
A period OF war closes the foreign mar
ket against the manufacturer, and a ma
n9iaciuring population is reduced to ex-
IRENE distress when the surplus produce
OF lis industry has no outlet and no pur-
chasers; andagtlcuiural population alse
suffers by being deprived of the market
Tor ihe surplus produce of ITS labor, but
lie eVll Is comparatively light. The
means OF subsistence are low and Within
the reach nearly of all. Ii any coun,ries
are entitled TO be called more indeptn-
dent than Others, II is surely those which
are agricultural.
We will not enlarge OH the effects in
a moral and political view of erowdiug
INTO manufactures both sexes and ali
ages, nor speak of the temptations Tor
smuggling that high dates and probiDi-
lions present, nor to that dininutlUn uf
Inc public revenue that must attend this
restrictive policy. These considerations
been SAID, We think 10 prove that the pc
culiar circumstances III which we are
placed will precludens, as yet, for a long
period TO come, from becoming ii mana
featuring people. tN.
The Tariff was the work ofsuch emu.
tuai concesSion," or compromize, as gave
rise 10 several OF the prominent features OF
our constitution, otherwise not easily
reconcileabfe with the general spirit
OF that instrument such, for in
stance, as the equality of weight
IN the Senate given by il to the state L on.
tanning fifty thousand souls, and To THAI
possessing population twenty times az
great. The manufacturers claimed mach
more than majority in Congress were " H.
ling 10 grant. A com promize lock place by
which the difference as Lalved a compr,1.
mize, III fact, though not in the letter. The
duties on woollens and cotions, il is fact
well known 10 the manufacturers and their
friends In Congress, SiaHd at this moment
higher than they would have done, but
for the Iberality of the Repre- sentaliycs
from the Southern and Western States. Who
most heavily feel them, not manuiaclIlriur
as much for themselves. We repeat. WHIT
we have already said on this subject. tl,ay
the manufacturers we're thankful, as they
had reason 10 be, for lie amount OF duti,s
retained.
Whist OF this subject, we will add, IN
respect TO the present state Of our manu-.
features, that those most Interested IN
them complain The least anu we believe
that those who complain the most sre
least interested. From The eastern states.
where manufactures are estd blished on The
sure basis of capital. management and in
dnsiry, they are perhaps as prosperous as
they ought 10 be. Without these reaui.
sites, manufactures will not flourish ans
where; and 10 force them III hoi bed at
high duties is not the way 10 make theui
vigorous.
We are III principle averse 10 bouniics.
where competition will accomplish ali
that Is necessary. IL may be, laal the
present tariff requires Inodiiiv cation; il
may be, thai The duties on col ons are moi
nigh enough, nor those OH teas and OTHER
articles OF luxury. But, granting all THAT
Is asked OIL this subject, The necessity for
an extra session Ot Congress is not proved.
| Nor sci Is II proved by The animadver>iom
III Tie Philadelphia papcrson the acts and
omissions OF The last Congress, which are
III tone and temper noi favorable Ia a
| candid discussion aud char understand
my oil the questions III couirus ersy.
MAJ Int.
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