Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-25

losses and disasters OF certain manufactures,
those ofiron, for instance, are mentioned, il is
done Tor the purpose Of invoking aid for the
distressed. Not SO with the losses and disasters
of commerce these last are narrated, and moi
unfrequcn,ly much exaggerated, to prove the
ruinous nature of the employment, and to show
tat 1t ought to bc abandoned, and the capital
engaged IN it turned 10 other objects
1t has been often said, sir, that our manufac-
lures have to contend, not only against the ma
tural advantages Of those who produce similar
articles IN foreign countries, but also against the
action of foreign governments, who have great
political interest in aiding their own manufac-
lures To suppress ours. But have not these go
vcrn;ncnts as great an interest TO cripple our
marine, 10y preventing the growth OF our com
T,erce and navigation? What is it that
makes us the object of the highest respect, or
the most suspicious jealousy, to foreign states ?
What is it that most enables us to take high re-
latwc rank among the nations. need not say
that this results, than from any thing else,
from that quantity of military power which we
can cause to be water borne, and OF that OK
tent OF Commerce, which we are able to
maintain throughout the world.
Mr.. Chairman, arm conscious of having de-
tanned the committee much too long with these
observations. My apology for now proceeding
to some remarks upon the particular clauses of
the Bill, is, that, representing district at once
commercial and highly manufacturing, and be-
ing called upon to vote upon Bill containing
provisions so numerous, and so various, am
naturally DESTROYS to state as well what approve
as what would reject.
The first section proposes an augmented duty
upon woollcn manufactures. This, if it were
unqualified, wouldno doubt be desirable tothosc
who are engaged in that business. have my
sclfpresented petition from the woollcn manu-.
features OF Massachusetts, praying an augmented
ia rdforem duty upon imported woullen cloths
and am prepared to acccdc 10 Chat proposition,
to reasonable extent. But this Bill proposes,
also, a very high duty upon imported wool; s. as
iar as 1 can learn, majority Observation-Disclosures
are st least extremely doubtful whether taking
these two provisions together, the state of the
law Is not better for them row, than il would be
II this Bill should pass. 1t is said, this tax on
raw wool will benefit The agriculturst; but l
know it TO be the opinion OF some of the best III
formed ofthat class, that il will do them more
hurt than good. They fear it will check the
manufacturer, and consequently check his de-
mand for their article. The argument is, that
acertain quantity of coarse wool, cheaper than
we can possibly furnish, is necessary to enable
the manufacturer to carry on the general bust
ness, and that If this cannot be had, the consc-
quence will be, not greater, but less, manu-
iacture of our own wool. l am aware that We
~ intelligent persons differ upon this point
but, If we may safely infer from that difference
OF opinion that the proposed benefit is at least
doubtful, it would be prudent perhaps to abb
stain from the experiment. Certain ii is, that
the Same course of reasoning has occurred, as
have before stated, on the same subject, when
renewed apPI. alton was made To the English
Parliament 10 repeal the duty on imported wool
| believe scarcely two months ago those who
support Tho application, pressing urgently the
necessity Of an unrestricted use of the CHEAP,
imported raw material, with view to supply
with coarse clo.hs. the markets of warm eli
mates, snch as those of Egypt and Turkey, and
vast now created demand in the
South American states.
As to the manufactures Of cotton, it is "a
greed, believe, that they arc generally sue
ccssfui. 1t is understood that the present ex-
isilnS duty operates pretty much as 4 prohibiti-
on over those descriptions offibrics to which II
lpPlies The proposed alteration would proba-
bly, enable the American manufacturer 10 com
ncncc competition with higher priced fabrics;
md so would, perhaps, an augmentation less than
IL '.erc proposed. consider the Uutten manu-
iactures not only 10 have reached, but to have
passed, the point OF competition. / regard their
success as certain, and their growth as rapid as
The most inpatient could well expect. If how
ever provision ofthe nature of that recornmcn-
ded here, were thought necessary to commence
new operations IN the same line of manufacture
| should cheerfnliy agree to it, if it were not at
the cost of sacrificing other great interests of
the country. need hardly say that whatever
promotes the cotton and wooIen manufactures.
promotes most important interests of my consti-
tucnts. They have great stake in the success
OF those establishments, and as far as those man.
uiactures are concerned, would be as much be-
Melted by the provisions ofthis bill, as any part
OF the community. 1t is obvious too, / should
think, that, for some considerable time manu-
features Of this sort, to whatever magnitude
they may rise, will be principally established in
those Parts OF the country where population is
most dense, capital most abundant, and where
the mott successful beginnings have been al
really made.