Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-08-29

1 =
Der, is not the offspring OF the age OF be-
nighted ignorance, prejudice or explo.
ded theories, or OF the man against whom
all Europe combined--but in 1917, by
the government which has been restor.
cd by a common struggle, existing IN
all the efulgence Of the light which has
been shed on the subject by their own
and English writer's on political econo-
my, who are not regarded by the gov
ernmcnts where they live: whose books
are for expectation, not for home con-
sumption, and now for sale in your lob
by, to enlighten you on the merits OF
this bill. 1t is matter of much regret
to me to find their opinions quoted with
respect here, when they are disregard
ed where they are known. There is no
country but this that studiously leaves
her great concerns to regulate them
selves. They are all guarded and pre-
served by regulations of the most rigor-
Gus kind. Yet it seems to be expected
that, when our establishments are oblig-
ed to contend with those of other coun-
tries--the latter, aided by all the force
and influence Of public opinion and leg
islation, ours can succeed against this
unequal competition, the neglect of gov
eminent and public prejudice. If the
nations with whom we vie would adopt
the same maxims, then the industry of
this country would protect itself. All
that is asked is to meet regulation by
regulation, and thus make the competi-
ton fair and equal. Apply to their pro-
ducts the same rules that they apply to
ours if they tax our raw material, tax
their manufactures, to the encourage
ment Of ours; if they exclude our pro-
visions, exclude their products; let our
legislation keep pace with theirs, then
our industry will be protected, foreign
nations will be compelled to observe,
practically, the rule which they discard
from their code but press into ours
&c let things regulate themselves" l
shall be satisfied with any course if it is
uniform. No regulation, or regulation
against regulation. If these views, or
any of them, are correct, it will not be
thought unreasonable that the commit
tee have recommended an additional du-
ty on cotton and woollens of eight per
cent-it is not so much protecting as
a counteryailing duty, to counterfeit the
new duties imposed in France and Eng
land on our cotton and wool. Had
these duties existed or been known at
the time of forming our present tariff, it
is but reasonable to believe that the duty
would have been higher. The propos-
ed addition is certainly moderate and
consistent with every principle of ma
tional interest. The minimum has not
been changed. 1t is proper here to re-
mark that, by estimating all cotton goods
to have cost IS cents yard, and assess
ing the duty on that sum, the coarser
cottons of India have been excluded
and | beg the house not to lose sight of
one fact, which is admitted by all to be
true, that coarse domestic cottons are
,ozU made cheaher than they qoere eUer
imported. The remark is equally true
of nails, and every other article ofwhich
this country commands the consump-
ton. The domestic competition will
have this effect on every article. This
TACT ought to quiet the fears of gentle
men who affect to think that the encour-
agement of domestic industry tends to
take from the many bounty for the
benefit of the few. Such has been the
case in all other countrics-those which
exclude the importation of foreign fab
RIGS, always undersell those who leave
things to regulate themselves. The ex-
perience of nations, for ages, cannot de-
ceive US; it is, at all events, not safe to
adopt theories and reject the lights of
history and experience. Let US follow
the course which has led other nations
to greatness--it will be time to prefer
theory 10 fact, TO adopt the dreams of
speculative writers, when we shall have
discovered that the principles which
make others rich, will impoverish us |;
that the path which conducts others to
wealth and power, will lead us to power
ty and colonial dependence. In word,
that, if we sell more than we buy, if our
income exceeds our expenditure, we are
ruined. That, if the farmer buys his
goods from those who buy his produce,
and give it a value at home which it has
not abroad-he pays bounty TO the
1t will be observed that this bill re-
commends an additional duty on cottons
from beyond the Cape of Good Hope, of
7 per cent. and of 10 on silks 1T was
done for these reasons--that the coun-
tries whence these article are imported
consume none of our raw materials, af-
ford no market for our produce, employ