Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-29
SPEECH OF MIR. M%cDUFFlE, OF S. C
ON THE THRIFT BILL.
Honcludnd
(Concludcd.)

The experience OF Great Britain, of whose Dros
oerity we have had such extravaganza descriptions
furnishes n most striking and conclusive illustratio,
OF that tendency of the protecting system, which
am now considering. II is true, that Great Britain
Is a nation of vast power and resources. To the
eye of a distant beholder, she undoubtedly present.
a splendid spectacle. But history, while il record.
the achievements of her policy and her arms, saw:
nothing of the condition of her people. If you blu,
look beyond the dazzling surface, YOU will see a
vast population pushing their industry to the utmos,
extent of their physical power, for IA bare subsis-
tcncc, to say nothing of the great proportion (about
one-sixth, ! believe, of the whole numberl who arc
absolutely OF partially dependent upon public cha
rity. Yes, sir, the fact is so universally true in thai
country, that the wages of labor never rise higher
than to The point at which the labo.er can barely
subsist ard perpetuatc his race, that it is laid down
by the British writer's GA the subject, as n settled
principle of political economy. If, from disease or
cother casualty, a laborcr is unable to work for n
week, he runs the risk of perishins. 1t never enters
into the calculation OF the British laborcr to improve
his condition in life, anl it is i'm the power Of yerv
few, even to lay up 4 pi,tancc for the future. Such
IS the condition of the great body of the neople Of
Great Britain, who have been characterized by the
Speaker as the haPpiest population on earth, and
held up to US for oIr special admiration,
But, sir, even If the prosperity and happiness OF
Great Britain were much greater than they are.
upon what principle of sound reasoning can they
be ascribed TO her system Of commercial r. stricti-
ons? am ready To admit, if gentlemen desire il.
that her prosperity Is derived malay from her man
uiactures, but l uneIuIvocally deny that these have
been fostercd into existence by the restrictive sys-
TEN. a few p~alpable facts of her history, viii rem
der this apparent.
Which of her manufactures have been tho great
sources OF her prosperity? Those of cotton, wool,
ana iron, undoubtedly. VIII any gentleman ven
turc TO say that these have derived tlfeir Drosneritv
from the protecting systcm? Where, sir, is the ma
ton that ever for a moment held a competition with
Great Britain, in cotton fabrics, and against whom,
therefore, protection was necessary? From the first
moment OF its existence, this manufacture i'm Great
Britain, like the raw material in our Southern states.
set all competition at defiance. Neither ever need
ed or received the protection of government. Both
have succeeded, because the countries in which they
respectively flourish, are peculiarly adapted to their
production. The same remarks are true. though
not %strikingly true, in relation 10 manufactures of
wool and iron. On the contrary, those manufac-
t1rcs which have been forced into existence by ar
tiicial stimulants. are regarded by all the enlight-
ened statesmen Of the present day, rs so MANY OBJ
staclcs to British prosperity. This is cmphatJcally
true in Relations to the manufactures Of silk. In fact,
sir, you might as well tell me that the muscular en-
ergy of a giant is derived from the fcttcrs he sunders
into atoms, as that the prosperity of Great Britain
is derived from her restrictive system.
But we have been adnonishcd to adopt this sys-
lem, with a view TO coanteryail the restrictions and
oounties by which other nations sustain their do
mestic industry and it was conceded by the Suea-
kcr, that, If all other nations would pursue the Same
liberal policy, ii might be expcdicnt to leave conn
nercc unshackled. 1 am perfectly willing IN mcc,
the gentleman upon this ground and, if do not
si,ew thar the principal restriction which the exist
ing laws OF TO ign countries impose upon our com
r,ercc, operates as Il protection to our manufactures.
instead of giving them a claim to the protection of
This govcrnmsni, 1 will acknowledge nay entire TO-
1iorancc Of the subject. What, then, is the princi-
pal restriction OF which we complaint 1t is the ex-
riusiou, by Great Britain, Of our grain from her
market. And what claim does Ills give our ma
features to the interference of Congress: How docs
it operate against them! On tho contrary, is il not
~potfectly apparent that it operates in a two fold
manner TO give them an advantage over their Brit
ish rivals By raising the price of grain in England.
1t enhances the price of labor there and by diInir,-
;shing the price Of grain here, it also diinini,hcs the
wages of labor here. AS far, therefore, as labor
epters into the price of manufactures, this very res
~ttiStion, Of British policy, IS Il direct encouragement
to our manufacturing industry. But, pc rlaDs rem
tleInen will say, it is the growers of grain, whose IN
tercsts require US to counicrvail this injurious res
friction. But how do you propose to ACCOMPLISH
this object? The British government iniure our
farming interest, by excluding our grain and redu-
cling its price and we are called upon to relieve
tine farmer, not by increasing the price Of the grain
which he has TO sell, but ofthe manufactures which
he must purchase! Sir, there is more spirit than
wisdom in such a policy as this. 1t defeats its own
object.
/ will now offer a few remarks upon another
view OF this subject, 10 wiuch our attention was
called by the Speaker. He told us that this gov
crnTDent ought to pursue, as nearly as practicable.
such n policy in relation 10 the different portions of
Size Union, as each of those portions would res
pcctiyely pursue, ifexistimg as Il separate coufcdera-
ey. Let us then inquire what would bc the reia-
tive situation Of the principal subdivisions Of the
Union, if each were free to ~lcgislatc for itself. And
! will first examine the probable condition Of tina,
subdivision which the Speaker himself Trprcsents-
the Western country. IfrhIi region were scpara-