Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-25


unworthy of our attention. The Chancellor Of the
ExchsQucr, with view to reconcile the landed in
tcrest to n considerable increase Of taxes laid
duty of six perce per pound on foreign wool, which
had, therefore, been subject 20 nominal duty only.
The consequence WAS, that the export OF woollen
manufactures was rapidly reduced, the market for
domestic wool, and consequently it, price, were di
mnshcd, and all the interests coae cisd VITA wool,
were seriously injured.
But sir there are various other articles embrace
ed in TIL, BILL the duty upon which, SO far fom
promoting manufactures, Will operate directly u
a,st them. Iron, which cutters largely into the
! cost Of machinery used i'll all the manufacturing
rs Northumberland hemp, raw material used In
various manufactures which we propose TO eucou-
rage considered by tho friends Of ibis measure,
rs two Of the leading Articles entitled to the pro-
| lection of the government. Indeed, we arc told
tina, this is bill for the protection Of manufac-
merely, but for the protcctiun OF hoHe indus
fry The argument is, that ougli, to discourage,
| by duties, the Importation of every article which
can be produced at home, whether it nc the pro-
duct of manufacture agriculture. Sir, there ne
prevailed in an enlightened body perfect a
,iclusion. 1t assumes that foreign commerce is a
national evil, that every nation that furnish us
with the articles consume cheaper than we
can make them is an enemy TO prosperity
and, i'll Il word, that we should be prosperous
and wealthy, il there were county in existence
but Disguise it you may, sir, this scheme
of protecting home industry in tho general without
| reference 10 inc KIM, Involves inc almost entire
ann;hilatiou of foreign commerce. 1t embraces
within its prescriptions, ast stated on former &C.
casion, almost every important article of humas
| consumption. When ii is urged that too much of
| our capital and labor applied agricultural
pursuits, and that we ought to encourage manufac-
lures, because we have not u due proportion of our
| industry devoted to that essential branch of ma
| tonal wealth though believe that existing laws
and the natural of things will afford all the
encouragement that ought to be desired; yet can
understand the argument. II is not only inclIigi-
| bic, but plausible. But when il is contcndel that
| we must protect and encourage, by duties on rival
productions, not only manufacturing industry, of
which il is alledgcd have too little but asrcul-
tural, of which we have too much, confess myself
utterly at loss to comprehend what is the practi-
cal end at which gentlemen aiming. But, what
may be their aim, it is certain tina: the result
of their system would he Tie destruction ofcomnerce
| If we make every thing we consume at home, we
will, of course, import nothing; and If we import
nothing, it is selevident proposition that we can
| export nothing.
| Sir, we have been urged to the adoption, Of this
measure by the highest considerations that can be
addressed to the patriotic spirit Of free people
we have been told that ii essential 20 the inde-
pcndence of the country md the defensive power
of the government. No man he more sensible
TO these considerations than am; and by no one,
believe, have they been more sincerely and anx-
iously regarded. There is no sacrifice essential
to the independence and safety of the country that
would not make. would disdain the huckster-
ing spirit, that would even the cost of these
objects. But if am not greatly in error, the bear
ing of this measure upon our Independence and
safety nation, is precisely the of what
gentlemen have supposed. believe there is no
proposition relative the policy Of this country, in
which politicians OF all her parties generally con-
cur, that the navy Is the most important ann Of
our defence. Now, the naval power of the country
| absolutely depends upon its commerce and naviga-
ton and you impair tie one precisely in the pro-
portion that you diminish the others. The sailors
>ho fght your battles in war, must be trained in
| your merchant ships during peace. You may build
ships, but yon cannot make sailors, upon an emer-
gency. How, then, stands the argument on tho
subject OF national defence and national inlepen-
dencc? IN order To provide iron, and hemp, and
| clothing-articles of which the production could
be increased to all the demands of the
country in six months from tho declaration of war
you destroy the elements of naval power,
which cannot exist in war; If they are not c, Gated
in peace, by the slow and gradual operation of COM
| merce.
But have been Informed, in the course of this
debate, that this will have the effect rather
| to increase than diminish our fo.:ign commerce
| most extraordinary anticipation, certainly; and
ii requires the most unlimited faith in the efficacy
ofpoiitical nostrums, to believe ii be realized.
Our commerce consists in exchanging the pro-
auctions of our soil for the manufactures and pccu-
liar productions of other countries The great mass
| OF our imports consists of ma nufactures.
Now, the protested object of this measure is to
provide substitute for foreign manufactures, and
thereby prevent their importation. Is it not self
evident, then, that you will diminish our erisfinp
commerce precisely to the extent that you augment
your domestic manufactures? But this wonder
working bill, it secms is to furnish substitute for
those branches OF Cur foreign that it will
destroy Hary thing, OF, such subject, is suscep-
tble of demonstration, think it is the delusiyeness
OF such an pectati" Of what. ask, is this new
commerce to consist: 1t will he at once perceived
that it cannot exist without new articles, both of
expectation and importation. What then. shall we
be enabled TO cxpor: that We do not now Manu-
iacturcs, II is said. But, il be seriously con-
tended that manufactures, which cannot hold a
competition with the foreign in our markets, with
the heavy duties which have existed for the last
eigh! years, but require the additional protection
provided III this bill, maintain a successful COM
potion Ill foreign markets? In other words, when
with an average protection Gncluding duties and
tTansportaton) of at least thirty per cent we cam
not command the home market how is j: possible
thd, we can command the fofeirn markets in which
we shall have no such protcction' / do pronounce
II TO be absolutely visionary expe citation. For al
least half a century to come, tie British nanusac-
turers Will exclude us from foreign markets. A few
occasional exceptions, resulting from peculiar cir
cumStanceS, do not weaken the general prorosi- |
ton.
But, another inquiry remains to be made, in rela-
ton 10 the commerce which is compensate for tia
which destroy. What description Of articles
shall We import IN this commerce? 1t cannot |
bc manufactures, for policy excludes these Of
course. They are to be ergorks under this |
new system. What, then, shall we Import The
productions the soil? These, we are told arc
supcIa bundant, and literally rottng on our banda
for the want of a market This new commerce
thenis to realize the splendid but empty vision of
exporting every thing and importing nothing, Rv>
en- q cIr,1I