Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-09-05

there may be some assurance tnat the national
industry viii not be exposed TO abandonment
by every varying motion OF foreign policy.
Restore a confidence destroyed; bottom
YOUR revenue on the manufactures Of the coun-
try; then both are placed on foundation
which combines the support of the govern
ment sith the best interests of the nation.
We are told this bill will destroy commerce
this is not an unexpected alarm it was raised
when the last tariff was passed it is equally
loud when any measure is proposed which
adds cent or a dollar to duty on importa-
ton. Joined with smuggling, we shall always
hear the cry repeated when any measure is
proposed not tending to the exclusive benefit
of that interest. had INDUCED hope that,
at this time, when the commerce OF the coun-
try was az PROSTATE as our manufacturer
when 10th are pressing US tor protection
from the same dangers-that ITS friends would
! have made common cause, and joined in
common struggle for selfpreseryation, The
hope was not sanguine one commerce has
been too long pet, the spoiled child OF gov
eminent, TO think there are any other interests
worth protecting. The mere creature OF le-
gslation, raised to importance by our laws and
the expenditure of great portion OF our
revenue for its support commerce has pre-
scented herself as the Atlas which supports the
government, the country, and all its great in
! terests: now, it seems, she cannot support
herself Yet, while approaching you in
suppiant posture, praying for bankrupt law
to save her merchants, navigation acts, her
shipping-she still retains the spirit, still
thinks that all legislation must be for her bene-
| ft-boldly claiming the rights of prmogeni-
ture-loudly protesting that any thing done
| for the other children of the nation is her de-
struction. While this is commerce 81 am
against it :" but if she claims equal protection,
or even double portion in her favor, | will
go as far as any man in this house to support
the fair trade Of the country. Important as
| think manufactures, commerce is no less so !;
but | must be understood as not meaning that
commerce which is confined to the export Of
raw materials and the import of manufactures
for home consumption, which adds nothing to
the labor and wealth of the naton-only draws
from the consumer what he ought to retain at
home, our resources, to enrich other nations /;
but that commerce which, by the carrying
trade, the export of foreign produce and our
own manufactures, draws wealth from others to
as equally promoting the great interests of
the country. The friends of commerce may
boast of its importance and profits, yet they
well know that even to the merchant, the eX-
port of provisions and import Of goods for do
nestle consumption, has been a losing bust
ness. Examine their ledgers for the last thir-
ty years they will find it would have been
cheaper to have bought bills than to remit pro-
duce. l well know that the export of produce
down the Ohio has been unproductiye; the
first cost has never came back to our country
The history of the country, the public docu-
ments on your table, prove the fact as to the
sea-ports, that the only profitable commerce
has been the carrying tradc-thc re-export,
the drawback system, the same for which
permanent foundation has been laid in this bill
1t is admitted that the most tlourshing pc
Rod of car commerce was from 1902 to 1872
the best years 1906 and 1907 it has been de-
Ginning since the peace-l816 and 1917 very
bad years the worst was 1885, yet the ave-
rage amount of exports for the first period
| was iess than 4. 1e1e by raillion- There
was this remarkable difference from 1902 to
1912 the average exports amounted to
i 69,171, 900
Domestic prod. SO, 200; foreign, 81, 014,0C0
1913, whole amount Of exports, 70,142, GOO
Domestic prod. 50,976,000 foreign, 19, 900
1906 nett rev. 10, 700; drawb ks, ,709, 900
1907, , 16,493,000 ,, 9,995,OO0
1818,rev. reed Is, 852, 600; drawb'k, 3,S43,0O0
1916, , 32,766,000; :, 4,830,000
1917, 22,092,000; 8, S,937, 600
\ These facts present you with a history and
account for the rise and decline of commerce
as well as manufactures; they require no COM
ment, but afford much for reflection they
show the kind of commerce worth protecting,
in which will be behind no one at all hazards,
even of a war. Left now only in the enjoy
ment Of the export Of our produce and the i'm
portation of articles for consumption, we are
losing the carrying trade-not for the want of
laws to protect it, but for this evident reason,
/ hot no oil re he
i their own carriers, import directly from their
own colonies, they are not to be diverted by
navigation acts; other means must be adopted
to restore our commerce and give employ
ment to our shipping. We must do as all
other nations have done-make ourselves car
riers by creating materials for trade. None
/ ever become so by being the consumers of the
manufactures Of others. In settled state of
| things, commerce cannot exist without manu-
| factures-the one is the basis and affords the
materials of the other. While il is thought
bad policy to supply ourselves, we cannot ex-
pect to supply others-it is in vain to hope for
employment for our ships when we have no.
thing to export which will pay expenses -
equally vain to place our faith in measures in
tended to coerce its employment by other ma
tons, in opposition to their interest. Ships,
commerce, and colonies, is their maxim. 1t
would be ours in like circumstances.
| The agricultural class of the country seems
alarmed at this bill; with what reason it is
certainly difficult to divine. Their situation
is not more enviable than that of the other
1 great interests. The ports of Europe and the
British West Indies are closed against their
provisions some are actually imported for
our own consumption. Havana has been a
good market-the last accounts from that
place represents the "market completely