Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-10

dollars is certainly no mean object, and it were
paid to those who would otherwise have been
idle, and for the ofcapital which would other
wise have been unemployed, it would be an OBJ
ject worth contending for. But the supposition
with which we set out is, that the labour and
capital is worth 100000 dollars for other OBJ
iJects, as useful doubt for the public as those
gained by the change of occupations and there is,
in thi view of the matter, but half million saw
ed for the million and half that is lost. If we
had $4,000 men capable of labour, but now to-
tally unemployed, and capital which could find
no other useful investment, the case would be
different. But it is not SO. We have neither
capital nor laborers that depend on the bounty
OF the government to afford them profitable en-
ployment. The capital for the operations we have
supposed would be withheld fromc commerce from
the fisheries, from agriculture, from the purchase
and culture ofthe lands, and the endlessvariet of
objects which it is admitted in the outset afford
a profit greater than that which is promised by
the supposed manufactures, without the addi-
tional duty.-The labor required, instead of be-
ing eXtorted from the idle, would be diverted
from the cKployments we have named, and still
more from that tide of emigration which for ma
ny years past has regularly peopled and enrich
ed the western country, and laid the foundation
Tor future competence and wealth in cultivating
the immense wilderness which still remains, to
tempt the enterprise of those who cannot find
profitable employment near their paternal
homes.
The more fully the subject is investigated, the
more clearly it will appear, that the encourage
ment OF manufactures Is not SO much the means
OF retaining property, in the country as of chang
lng the form and nature of that property and d.
recting 1T, together with the population to par
hcular sections of the country. That SO far as
they are profitable, beyond other pursuits for
which they are substituted, they will increase
the wealth of the nation, there can be no doubt
That so far as they are encouraged to the aban-
donment of more profitable branches of industry,
they rctard the growth of the nation, is equally
clear. To encourage them at a cost beyond
what is necessary to overcome the embarrass-
ment incident to the commencement of a new
enterprise, IS mistaken policy, Of which expe-
renee will demonstrate the error; and those
who have been victims to the mistake, will en-
deavour to indemnify themselves for the injury
which they have sustained.
| We have already remarked, that we consi-
der our own state more deeply interested in the
success ofmanufactures than any other part of
the country. 1t is therefore our true policy to
encourage them on Just and defensible principles,
but not at the expense of other interests, or to
an extent that viii hereafter appear excessive,
and will consequently be withdrawn, or perhaps
provoke retaliation.
| We have alluded to the Western country.
How IS 1t possible that the people of that coun-
try do not perceive already, that the manufac-
lures OF New England have afforded employ
Inent 10 thousands of enterprismg young men,
who but for this new channel of industry, would
have added the fruits of their skill and labour,
together with their little patrmony and their
earnings here, to the wealth of that region? Ii
IS undeniabie, that the emigration of an active
ofo, Lar Al
few years considerably abated, and that to this
very cause is to be attributed in some degree at
least, the check in the prosperity of some of the
western states.-They are now deeply embar-
raised, and are deploring the scarcity of money,
and dream OF no remedy but damming up
the ocean that floats it to England and to India
They have mistaken their remedy, and in due
time they will discover their error. They can
not at present become manufacturers, though al
some future period they undoubtedly will. The
more direct tendency of the great encourage
ments offered to this pursuit. will be to prevent
emigration from the Atlantic States, and to re-
tain in those parts of the country where the
greatest capital now resides, both the capital and
the increasing population instead of diffusing it
over those regions where there is still room for
acquringind by agricultural pursuits.
Having In our preceding remarks attempted
to show that any increase ofduties isunnecessary
for the protection of manufactures, and that the
proposed increase Is urged on false grounds, the
error of which will be unfolded by a short OK
perience, it would perhaps be superfluous to
proceed to show that temporary additional en-
couragement, granted under such circumstan-
ces, must prove injurious to the country at large
and more especially to the manufacturing parts
OF 1t. But it may possibly be said, that a nation
al feeling has now been excited in favour of do
nestle manufactures, and that in proportion as
we become more &C Independent of foreign IA
TONS" the ardour ofthis feeling will be increas-
ed. We are aware that some very popular ar
gumcnts are made use OF in support of the pre-
yaiGng doctrines, and tpat they have been pro-
pagated with azeal, perseverance andharlihood,
that seldom fail of success and unless the vari-
Gus societies for the encouragement of domestic
industry shall find some other employment for
their presses, journals and writers, the cause is
not likely to fail for want of advocates and eulo-
gists.
But the writing, the defamation, the labours
of societies, the parade of public meetings, the
memorials and resolutions, and all the machine
ry of popular excitement, will not always be on
one side. There is a strong opposition TO these
doctrines among cool, disinterested, and iudici-
GUS men already, and this opposition will in
crease as the subject becomes better understood.
1T can hardly be doubted that, as we have al
ready suggested, the result of a short experience
viii be sufficient to bring the public mind to
correct view of the whole matter.
| But this is not all. A subject which so deeply
interests every member of the community, can
not fail to be made partyquestion, and means
of party excitement. The unreasonable en-
courageTnents and rewards offered to a particu-
lar class of men, and in great measure to par