Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-20


other countries is II not madness for our Congress
To ndop;a system of restriction cotton goods,
which will have the destructive and runous effect
ofinducing Europe to reject our supplies, and TO
get them elsewhere? Will Congress thus tampcr
with the very existence OF cotton growing
States? VIII they not pause before they resort to
Il rash experiment, which may bring ruin Oh the
south and shake confederation to the centre
Perhaps it may be considered as intrusive. in
your Mcmo,aiStS, 10 speak OF these effects upon
our cotton growing states, and that il should be
LETT to tic wisdom and sagacity of those people to
speak their complaints To the government. 1t
is true that to Virginia, very little Of that article is
produced, when Compared with that of our South
ern neighbours and it also true, that they axe
able Ia state their grievances, aud we have no
i0ub; they will DO so. But We will beg leave IL
say, that the commercial and agricultural interests
of Virginia are most intimately connected with
those OF the Southern and South-Wcstem States.
Whatever affects their prosperity, is most scnsibiy
felt by us. Let them DC brought to ruin and our
| bankruptcy is not far distant.
| What IS the great and general beneficial c...c,
which the manufactures insists will bc produced b,,
these restrictive measures? 1t has been said tina,
the protection Of ourmamui,cttr> ty protective u-
ties will rcncr indie 2cn,icn' ct foreign raons--
| In common with our rllow-ciii;sn. throughout th,
United States, we cherish our pnitic, Independence
and prize :hc right ri self -sovcrnu, u, the ry,.at
est and hghc>, earthly boon bestowed upon us BIZ
the bounty of providence but an r,,:rc comncrci-
3i Independence We consider pci,licr practicable,
nor desirable. Is II not Obvious that the various
soi!i and climates of the glob. are adapted to tin.
growth vi various products and that it is more be-
nchcial for Il country To exchange with others il,
various productions than to attempt to raise all Of
them itself: For what purpose did the great author
OF nature provide the great highway of nations, but
tn enable men reciprocaly 10 exchange their pro-
ducts ana to hold communion with each other with
facility:
1t Is obvious to us, that the independence on Fo-
reign Nations of which the Manufacturers speak so
much, is a misnOmor. When rightly understood it
means dependence on themselves
1t has also been said, that the establishment of
manufactures will open more extensive market for
our breadstuifs and provisions 1t may be true that
the withdrawing of number of labourcrs from 4 =
Crcuitlre, and placing them i'm manufactures, NAV
diminish to Il limited extent the productions of the
farmer; and though this may be beneficial 10 that
class in the immediate vicinity of such establish
ncn.s ITS benefits can extend remotcr quar-
tcrS ana IN the consumption of the raw material it
cannot exceed oaa-tcrtl of the quantity grown. A
Market such as thiS the GficuuriSS do not ask for
the planter rejects IT, and neither are willing to ac-
cept Il, as 4 boon from the manufacturers, for the
great sacrifice they called on to make and the
hurhcns 1t is likely 20 produce hereafter They have
to pay most exorbant price for it, independent of
the hazard of being forever excluded from much bet-
ter and more extensive markets, which they now EN-
Joy ut much less expense.
our Mcmorialists cannot but regret that at th;,
day, when the wiscst statesmen in England are re-
crcttng the pcrncious effects of their pyohibtory
laws, dep!oring the difficulties which exist against
their removal, our politicians should anxiouslv wish
10 introduce that restrictive system into cur code
the Nhole effects of which no man can forcscc and
whose ntricacy the greatest sagacity cannot unfold
Your AlcmorialiSts beg leave further TO say that
the restrictions which have heretofore been imposed
on the commerce of the country, have always been
imposed for great national purposes. The Embar-
so, and Non-intcrcoursc laws, in all their various
notifications, were intended to rctaliatc upon TO
reign nations their injustice or to defend us from
, their hostility. Their object was to compel other
TO do us justice, but the present scheme has
! 10 such object. AT n time of the most profound
peace, we are called upon to shacklc our commerce.
to divert our capital from agriculture and from COM
mcrcc, for tn purpose of increasing the profits of the
manufacturing capitalist. A deadly blow is aimed
at one part OF the community, for the sole purpose of
benehting another part of the same community.
Your Memoriaiists. therelu:c, mos; earnestly re-
quest that your honorable body will, in your wis
dom, think 1t proper TO ward off this evil from U.s. by
rejecting the bill promptly and dccisivcly.
ROBERT POLLARD, Chairman.
BERNARD PEYToN, SecTciurU