Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-06-25


ieiurcs, i.nr, and The change OF circumstances had
rendered the system OF projecting duties merely mo-
mnal aud that, IN his opnion, Il all the protecting
avs which regarded both the woolleu aud cotton
manufactures , be repealed, no injurious ell
fects would thereby be occasioned. " Bui, >" he OBJ
serves" with respect ID silk, that manufacture u.
" 'his kingdom Is ~ completely ar, fetal, that any
" attempt 10 iuuoduce the principles Of free trade
with lefcreace to u, might put an end il mhvge.
" ther. ] allow that the silk manufacture il not m.,.
g ,ural TO this country. nish zee had merer had a
. six nslnnfdcfory. ] allow that il - natural To
q France allow, thai il might have been better,
" bad each country adhered exclusively 10 that
" faciure, IN which each Is superior and had the
s,'ks OF Franc. been exehsssed for BRUSH co,,o"s
But must look things No they are and when
consider the extent VI capiHt, and The ammo use
" population, consisting, lhclese, Of about 80, 900
- persons engaged io silk manufacsure, can
iy say, that OF the few points in which lis
disagree with the proposes OF the motion, rs The
expeency, under existing circumstances, Of hold
ing out amy idea, that would he possible to reiiu
q who live by it, by parliamentary enactment. What
" ever objections there may lie 10 the continuance
" Of The protecting system, repeat, that 10 impos-
" siblc altogether 10. reliuqs.i may regret that
. the system wac ever commenced but as I cannot
" REGAL that ACT, must submit 10 the Inconvenience
" Ivy which It's attended, rather than expose the
country 10 eyils Of greater magniirde. Let il be
eulbered, that these the of
iiieorist, the fancies OF speculation but the
operative opinions of tho frs, minister uf England
acknowledged 10 he Of the al-st and most pr &C.
neal statesmen Of his country. SIR, gentlemen could
I'VE ha,diy been more Unfortunate than in The selec-
'ion OF the silk manufacture IN England, IA an ex-
ample OF the bene6cia effects Of that system which
they would recommend. II is, in the language which
have quoted, completely artificial. II has be en- sus-
tanned by know not how many laws, breaking in
upon the plaines principles Of gsnetal
A. the iasi session of Parliament, tho
petit,oped Tor the repeal OF three or four Of thes.
complaining Of the vexa,ious restrictions
whicilFfy impose on the wages of labor setting
forth, ta great variety of orders has, FROM time TO
time, been issued by magistrates under the auhori y
of ,hase laws, interfering, in an oppressive mannrr
with the minutes rails Of the manufacture sucL
as lisi,ing The number Of threads to an inch restrict,
tug the widths Of many soris Of work and ,e,erip.
'oe the quant'y Of labor NOT 10 be exceeded with on,
extra wages that Ivy the op ,ration of these laws the
rate OF wages, instead OF beng left 20 the re.osnz
ed principles of gulaiion, has been abi,rari, fix.
ed by persons whose ignorance renders them incom-
peest TO JUS, decision that are compelled
by law 10 pay an equal price for all work, whether
well or III performed; aud ia, they are totally pre.
vented The use Of improved machinery, IT being Oh
aereu, mar work, IN the weaving OF which machinery
IS employed shall he paid precisely the same rate
as VI done ny hand that these acts have Ge.
queni'y gwen rise 10 the most vexaiious reguIa,,ons
the uo'nten''onal breach Of which has suiieei,d
manufacturers TO ruir0ns penalties aud that The a..
iroducon OF all machinery beng prevented by win
labor might be cheSpened, and the manufacture,
being compelled 10 pay ats fixed price, under all
empieymeni 10 their wotkncn, in times OF s,apna,,s
oitIqIle, but compelledto stop ther looms And
6aTk they complain, that, no, w.tls,andDp ,bpse
fySesances under which they labor, while carrying
~ tneir manufacture III London, the law still pruh,-
bits them while they continue 10 reside there from
employing any portion Of their capital IN the same
business ~ any other part Of the Kingdom where i,
might be more rally conducted Now ri,
absurd these laws mast appea ar 20 he IN ev.,,
the atempt 10 repeal them did mol, as lar "a. re.
collect, altogether succeed. The wesvers were too
numerous, 'heir interests i"o great, their pju
ces too euong and this noIaie instance ui ,1otec
ton agd monopoly still exists, IN lie Ismented in
England, w,ih as much sincerity as it seems 10 te
admire here.
OF the English government, would refer TO a rruo,,
OF select comnii'ine ot the House Of Commons,
tue head "i Which WIS the wee president Of - e
hoard OF trade, IN WalAce) "a July, 1920. "The
time, say thai committee, when mouopoi,,.. e., nil,
" he successfully supported, or would be pa isn,v
endned .'iher IN respect subjects agains, sub.
Je's, or particular coun'iies against the ,es of the
world, seems ~ have passed away Commerce
" TO conin.e nudistut bed aud s.cur. mns Inc n. :,
- was int nled 10 be, source Of ,ecip ocaI auuy
between natiuns, and interchange of r,oduc.
ions, 10 promote The Industry, the wealth, and the
happiness, OF mankind" Ia moving for The re.
appointment Of the commltIee, iu February 1929
the same gentlemen said " We must also rrr nd of
that ieeI'ng Of appropriation, which exhibited IL
- sell IN disposition 10 produce every tE,,y ueces
" sary ioI our own consumpiiou, and TO ren.cr our
" selves independent OF the world No uoti ~ cou:d
=. be more absurd or mischeyous (; it led, even 10
peace, 10 An luminosity and rancour, greater than
p" existed IN lime OF war. Undoubtedly there wonli
" be great pr6judices TO cOnui boil, IN Tins co;,u,r,
anu eisewhtn, ID Inc attempt 10 remove the Diff
" cui'ies winch are most obnoxious I, woulJ M.
" Impossible to forget The attention which, WAS a.,
% some respects due The presen, system of nro,ec
" tons although that atienon oupn, cert.,niv nm,
. 10 be carried hey ond the absolute necessrv of ,
" case. And III "a second repor, off the commitiee.
drawn by the same gentleman, in thar mar, ri
winch proposes dimInu,Iou IL dues on timber
i'Hm the norih Of Europe, and The policy Of c,yms
,ss'sa,ve preference % The Importation Of such an
oet IN the log, and encouragement Of the Iunor,,
iion OF deals, u is stated that the Committee reect
ihis policy, because, among o,her reasons q :, ;s
" founded on principle Uf exclusion winch they
are most aSerse 10 see brought INTO operation in
any "eio Instance, without The Of some syI.
- dent aud great political expedienry" And n,
many subsequent occasions, the same gentlemen has
taken OCCASION TO observe, that he diff, r d (tou,
NOSE VINO thought that manufactures coni moi four
ISL ~Ihoui restrictions on trade that old pieiuJces
oil maj sort were dying away, and that more liberal
and just sentiments we're taking their place. These
sentiments appear 10 have be-u followed l,y in,nor
tant legal provisions, calculated to remove restr,c
'ous and proliiboDs, where they we're mos, severe
~ ieIi Tia" is TO say, III several branches Of aayi
CATION and trade. 49,
Ihey have relaxed their colonial system, thew have
ofened the ports OF their islands, and have done A.
way Tue restriction which limited the trade of the
colony TO the mother county. Colonial pro,luc,.
can now be carried directly IRON the islands TO ANY
par OF Europe and IL may not be IMP, ol.ije con-
.ue1'pg our own high duties spiIts, thai that ~
Wmsy oe exchanged hereafter by tue English
Mesiind,a colonies, directly, for the TIMBER and
deals OF the Baltic ~
u may be added that MIR. Lowe, whom ,he cen.
mas ciled says, that nobody suppnsrs t,ai III
ao,,sa staples OF Englisi, manufactures, cotton,
Mooe", anu hardware, are benefited by any exist.
'nB projecting duties and that oDs ohi-ct Of ali
.eese projecting laws usually overlooked and liza,
70 .na lucy have been intended TO reconcile the va
o"s interests oil taxation the corn law, for exam
p'e beng designed, as some eaui,alen, :, m. s.s,
cultural interest," for The burden Of l,es and of ,,nor