Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-18
SPEECH OF MIR. McDUFFiE, OF S. c.
on TIE 7.lRFFF BILL.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.,
APRIL ID, 1924.

Mr.. McDvFFtE said, the unsolicited indulgence
OF the House, to which he was indebted for the OPP
portuni,y OF presenting his views this interesting
subjact to-day, instead of being compelled to per-
form tina, duty yesterday nnder the fatigue aud
hauston of long sitting, had laid him under obli
CAUTIOUS of which he profoundly sensible. The
only return, however, said Mr.. Med, which can
promise, for the kinduess thus sicwn - me, IS the
orevity of the remarks which propose TO Offer AT
late stage of this already protracted discusson
cannot fatter myself with the expectation that
shall interest the attention of the House by the
velty OF my arguments, but must be cohtcni to in
tulsc the hope that may not exhaust its patience
by their proxity.
Daring the progress OF this debate upon the vari-
Gus questions which have arisen upon the details of
the BILL have studiousiy avoided entering into the
consideration of the general principles and policy
of the protecting SYSTEM And have done SD in
compliance with this general rule, by which have
determined to regulate my conduct, SO long have
the honor oi seat upon this floor, never To consume
the time OF the House by discussing any question
which Is not distinctly before il for considerations
have the less to regret having thus abstanct
o. the present occasion, because IL Is now obvious
nat the subject has assumed more than It's usual in
terest, well from the crisis which we bavc
rived, as Kon the peculiar circumstances under
which the question is now presented to In all
the various stages of our proceedings, have still
han oG.ore us the opportunity orcvicwing work.
But the oacs,,Sn being now ON the passage of the
bill, whatever dctisi,;a shall make upon If, will
be, as to us, final and irrcgocab,e. And we are cali
ed upon give this final sanction to the measure,
with the clearly asccrancd. that it cannot be
adopted but 10y very small majority. Waving,
Tor moment, any In1ufy into the policy Of protect
Ing domestic manufactures, Pu, it Ia gentlemen TO
say whether prudence does not dictate, 10 the
most urn and independent slate smaii, that a inca
SIRE laying very heavy burthens upon the whole
conmunity-a measure which, however we may
speculate upon the s-5ject, the people must senS5y
ieel-a measure which has already produced, in
some parts of the Union, the most intense excite
ment, ought to be adopted with bare majority of
the national representatives i'll its favor! Sir, gov
etnmeut cmauaiiag from the people, and responsible
TO public opinion, ought not TO be indifferent 10 this
prudential consideration. do not profess To be nil
nutely acquainted with the Parliamentary history
of Great Britain but hazard little III asserting
that British Minister, i'll the height OF his
dcncy, would venture TO pass even taXbill for the
public service, to the extent of this with ajority
so small that which has ordered this bill TO its
third reading.
This measure, all agree, is part of system in
tended to produce Il great and fundamental change
in the policy of the country change, he effect
cd by disturbing the relations which now be-
tween the diiiereut portions of the Union and the
different classes OF society. That such change a
this can be produced by legal regulations opcra ting
OF necessity, "a tax upon the people, without
citing stro,g feeling 81 popular discomfort, not 10
say Indignation is an expectation which gentlemen
deludc themselves if they indulge. An acute and
lively sensibity to every INVASION, by government,
oil the rights of property, Is of the strongest cha
racteristcs of freedom in modern tiH.s aud there
IS people earth dsling u5hcd fox it than
the citizens OF the United States. | therefore sub
nit It, respectfully, 10 the confederation CT the
friends OF the manufacturing iutc:est themselves,
watcher there is ra, serious danger, that measure
OF tnIs char actcr, enacted To- lean majority will
produce Reaction among the people, which may
result ia tile entire p.osration Of tine yscn they
so ANXIOUS to foster aui extend.
In soliciting the attention OF tie House to n very
brief examination oltie policy Of this measure, it
far from my intention into Il formal disserta-
ton upon the general principles of political econo-
my. T1is is neither tile place the occasion for
sIcn dissertations. -Hiy observations shall be con-
fined practical niRatiou OF IL. question, in
reference the actual slate OF things in this cou,-
Try, assuming, basis, few pa pable and obvi-
Gus principles, w.lch have long ceased lie ques-
tionlUie III Tn: estimation OF the most enlightened
philosophers AMI statesmen of Europe.
Whilst, sif, on the one hand uneouivocally de-
ny, wa2t IS maintained By some, that manufacturing
ina.stiy,-is, i'll Itself, profitable than agricu-
turai or commercial; distinctly discan the mott
on maintained by others, that the pursuits of agri-
culture more profitable than those of mau.fac-
ture or comnercc. All such notions utterly err
Eoaeous and visionary, and are founded upon Il mis-
conception of what it is that constitutes wealth. and
Of the principles which regulate the distributions OF
capital and labor. What is wcal;ho The wealth !
of nation conslts in the aban;!unce of those arti-
cles which administer TO e ueccssties, the comforts
and uxurics OF life, according the existing habits
of society. II results from this, that combination
of the products OF agriculture and of manufactures
IS essential to tie wealth of civilized community
sucn exists in tlc United States. With III; most
unlfmitcd abundance OF the products of agriculture,
we should DC poor withoGt the products OF and
~ iittfn ali equal Abundance OF manufactures we
slouiI peri5n without the productions of the SOIL
ii is coAce Ic OIL all hands, that we abound in ar-
ticles OF tue latter description and The only Dues
ton debated, Is, now can we most advantage
ously OBTAIN tina former: Shall we fabrica:c them
ourselves import them from abroad? 70 the COM
mon understanding Of naisud, it would seem TO DC
"a self cviie ut propo5i;ion that the cheapest mode OF
tacn, is that which nation ought to pu.-
sue, as ceftdia!y that which individuals Womb
pursue, with view to thc promotion of tneis own
interest. IS at here We met with the argu!nent
that commerce IS barren and anproductiYc pursuit.
a yery few remarks will rciutc this notion
ynicir, wiien examined, will be found 10 be Il mere
vgroai proposition. 1t Is true that commerce does
not efoJce either the one or the other oil the ei,-
isnts of a'slib, Bat 81 communicates value TO both
Without commerce the surplus production both of
iaaivijaas AMI nations, would be utterly galuccss
Of what ga!ac, for cxnmPc, the surplus produce
.,iss Of III: m1nuictoEle5 OF Manchester nd 8ir-
I:,;5Ii i, either to TO those VINO produce them
uAi 5y the agency oil commerce, They are brought
L., uil stores and distributed to the comsuncrs, IL
,von!d sc precisely correct TO say that their en-
tire value is derived from commerce, us to maintain
that It's operations unproductvc. Either promo
si;inn wOald be equally absurd. Wac, therefore,
I view any proposition, which asserts the superior
productvene,5 OF oAe OF the great divisions of hu-
man industry over the others, being not only err
Yoncou5, Dat b,oiutaly unn.anns aud unintelIiqi-
bic, ADMIT that the wealth Of a community de-
p2lids pom the maintenance of due proportion be-