Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-18


in that general distress which has pervaded the
whole community: This would not only be on-
Reasonable, bur utterly impracttcaoie. morning
but perpetuaton of the war could have accomplish
1 ed so much for the manufacturers. What, siS was
/ the light in which the Tariff OF lVlO was viewed
by tin. liberal statesmen who then supported it: II
| was intended .Gerely mitigate the shock which
our manufacturing establishments must experience
in passing from state OF general war 20 state OF
general peace More than this was neithcr expect
ed nor claimed by the manufacturers themselvos.--t
As the persons then engaged in the business, had
/ nobly sustained the war; gratitude mingled with
lusiicc in the policy adopted. But no Intelligent
man was So visionary as TO expect that, when tho
ordinary channels Of trade, 50 long obstructed, were
suddenly opened, there could still be maintained,
4 by artificial! means, the demand for domestic
manufactures rs before. il was appar ent tlfat
nv of the existing establishments mast 30 down.
and that neither the wisdom nor the foil of human
legislation could possibly prevent it. And, sir, such
has been the fact. Light years of probation have
elapsed since the passage of the existing tariff, and
if policy humanity required it of US, it is too
late to relieve the diStesscs of those manulictu-
| rcrs who made their Investments dulng the war.
| Those of them who have been enabled to sustain
| themselves till this timr, under tho extraordinary
pressure of the four five years Immediately sue
| ceeding 1916 when the country was almost lite
rally overwhelmed with tho surplus manufactures
OF foreign establishments, can certainly maintain
themselves now, when foreign commerce is rapidly
returning 10 its ordinary channels, aud contract
ing within its proper limits. Those who have pass
ed through the furnace do not require TO be protec-
ted ftoc, the ordinary heat of the Aud it is
fact that they now stand firm, and constitute the
most prosperous interest of the country As to those
who were swept away during the disastrous period
to which have alluded, they are irrctrevably les-
troycd and beyond the reach of our remedies,
less, indeed we had the power OF producing u re-
| surrectiun by act of legislation.
1t is obvious, then, That the protection of these
establishments, which originated in the war, is not
the object of the present bill. II does not even as
,ume this mo,esty pretension. Doctrines are
now advanced, which never entered into the concep
ton of those who advocated the Tariff of 1876
doctrines which, though maintained by gentlemen
who have wagcd Il special of snecIs and sar-
caslns against the theories of political economy,
throw into the shade the boldest theories of the
! French economists. We now told that il is the
duty of pacrnal government, not only to protect
existing interests against extraordinary reverscs
which it has contributed to produce, but to create
new manufactures and pursuits, by the mere
energy OF legislation. The people, it is said, are
absolutely idle and in wretchedness, for the want of
employment; and gentleman from New-Y York,
| (Nlr. WOODY who often ctifcs the House by his
philosophical specuaons, has told us, if under
stood him correctly, that thirty per of po-
pulation are actually in ideness for the want OF
pursuits to which their labor can be applied These
| three millions of people, who are thus destitute of
employment, as the gentleman has demonstra ted by
| statistical tables and mathematical calculations
(he obvious and palpablc facts to the contrary not
wthstanding.) to obtain employment by the no.
table expcdicnt OF an act of Congress-!
Mr.. Wood here explained. His argument was,
ne SAID that thirty three per cent. of population
produce no more than fifteen per cent. ought to do
Thirteen and half per cent. only of our popula-
ton, he calculated, absolutely employed i'm pro-
fuctivc Industry, and in this proportion was inclu-
dcd the army, navy, and public officers, amounting
| TO three aud n half per cent.
am glad, resumed Mr. VI Du.iie, that the gentle
ma: mas removed an erroneous impression from my
'nind as to the erfcat of his argument. But even
modified and limited it stands, it will be dit.
fcuit to make 1t pass current for practical argu
ment is II i'll the power of tables and calculations
10 make any seriously believe, in opposition TO
the evidence of his Senses and to the result of
his general observation and knowledge of the coun-
try, that one million of population are not only
idle, but destitute of employment Shall we be told
in a country Ike this, Astounding with almost in
be w:ids of fertile lands, that 1.-THE of the
people suffering for the want of something to
dof Sir, there are inuumcrabie avenues to employ-
ment III this country, and if any man were TO
make his complaint To that he was without ON
puymentI could tell him simply 10 go TO ,rork That
Is the obvious remedy, remedy i'll the reach of
every one; and, IT 1t were more generally pursued
there must soon be end of this wrctchcd ana
deiusNe dependence upon the Guackcry of legsla-
ton for employment. Sir, I boldly assert that
there is single individual in the vast extent or
this Republic, that can not readily obtain not onIv
employment, but such an employment as will cna-
bic HIM TO Improve his condition. This is the only
country on earth, where a common laborer of in
dustry and enterprise can, in the course of an or
binary lie time. besides comfortably supporting him
self and his family, leave his children an inIeri
lance OF real estate; and, with ihosc facts starug
us IN the Ice we are required believe on the a,-
tnorty III tabular statements that the people ca
only be saved from suffering and discomfort, bv IN,
adoption OF this measure, TO provide them with EN-,
poyment. The gentleman from New York bv wav
OF confirming his general conclusion, has stated that
the wages OF labofer is only twelve and half cent,
day In answer 10 this can only say TO the gen.
ueman that, u his distressed neighbors will only
make u transition from Long Island to auy Other
point III the whole UnIon even the most unia wore,
bic, will be responsible for their obtaining fly
cents per day. But, the cry of disress has bern
reiterated UNTIL 1t has made strong impression up
on the country, beg leave to rccur with view TO
Illustrate aud enforce them, to some remarks which
offered during the discussion of the duty ON cotton
| bagging. believe the causes of the diseases and
the tendency OF the proposed remedy, to be equally
unconceiYed, as TO portions, at least, of the
Cmon. i stated, on the occasion to which have
referred, that the disresses of the country such as
they were, resulted from the change of circums,an
ces .occasiohed by passing from state of war to
state OF peace, IN connection with the excessive
| issues OF bank paper, which threw forward and
| increased the pressure of the evil. During the
war, there considerable proportion Of our
popuaon-thcse engaged in the military service of
our country-who consumed the products of the
grain-growng states, but produced nothing All
those states which were near the theatre of war
found ready market and high prices for their grain
TO them, the war was, therefore, source of pros-
pcrity, and peace was, In sense of the word re-
gardcd as a calamity And whence do we nov,
hear the loudes, complaints of distress? Whence