Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-25

dee'!, amounting to a prohibition.
Sir, on this subject it becomes us at least TO |
understand the real posture of the question. |
Let us not suppose that we are beginning the
protection of manufactures, by duties ON in-
ports. What we are asked to do is, ID render
those duties much higher, and therefore, instead
Of slin,s in general Communications of the ben
cts of protection, the friends Of the BILL think,
are bound to make out u fair case for each of
the manufactures which they propose to benefit.
The govern ncui has already done much for
their protection, and it oug!t to be presumed to
have done enough, unless it be shewn, by the
facts and considerations applicable IL each, that
there is necessity for doing more.
the general question, sir, allow me to ask
IL the doctrine of prohibition, general
doctrine, be not prcpostcrous' Suppose all
lions to act upon it i; they would be prosperous,
then, according to the argument, precisely III
the proportion iii which they abolished inter
course WITH other nations. The less OF mutu-
al commerce the better, upon this hypothesis.
Protection and encouragement may be, aud are,
doubtless, sometimes, wise and beneficial if kept
within proper limits but when carried TO an
extravagant height, or the point of prohibition,
the absurd character of the system manifcsts it.
self. MIR. Speaker has referred to the late en-
peror Napoleon, as having attempted to natu-
ralizc the manufacture of cotton in France.
He did notcite a more extravaganza part OF the
projects of that ruler, that is his attempt TO ma
turllize the growth of that plant itselfn France;
whereas, we have understood that considerable
districts in the south of France, and in Italy, of
: rich and productive lands, were at time
withdrawn from profitable uses, and devoted to
raising, at great expense, little bad cotton.
Nor have we been referred to the attempts un-
der the same system to make sugar and coffee
from common culinary vegetables attempts
which served 10 fill the print shops of Europe, &
II shew US how easy is the transition from what
some think Sublime, to that which all admit to
be Ridiculous. The folly of some of these pro-
Jccts hasnot been surpassed, nor hardly equallcd,
unless it be by the philoso ,,her in of the sa-
tires oil Swift, who SO long laborcd to extract
sunbeans from cucumbers.*
The poverty and unhappiness of Spain have
been attributed to the want Of protection TO her
own industry. If by this it be meant that the
poverty of Spain is owing to bad government &
bad laws, the remark is, in great measure,
just. But these very laws arc bad because they
are restrictive, partial, AMI prohibitory. Ifpro-
libition were protection, Spain would seem to
have had enough of it. Nothing can exceed
The bafbarous rigidity of her colonial system, or
the folly OF her early commercial regulations.
Unenlightened and bigoted legislation, the null
titude of holidays, miserable roads, monopolcs
Oh the part of government, restrictive laws, that
ought long since to have been abrogatcd, are
generally, and l believe truly, reckoncd the
principal causes of the bad state of the produc-
tive industry of Spain. Any partial improve
nent in her condition, or increase OF her pros
perity, has heen, in all cases, the result OF re-
Taxation, and the abolition of what was inten-
ded for favor.and protection.
In short, sir, the general sense Of this resets
with strong current, IN favor of freedom o. !
commercial intercourse, and uarcstrained indi- |
Vidual action. Men yield up their notions off
monopoly and restriction, az they yield up other
prcjudccs, slowly ami Reluctantly ; but thcy |
ftx-ith ct,D Itf ,,, II Of
Let me now ask, sir, what reliefthls bill pro-
poses to some of thuse great and essential inter
csts OF the country, the condition Of which has |
been referred to proof of national distress g. |
which condition. although do nat think il |
makes out case of distress, yet does Indicate
depression.
Aad irst, sir, as to or Foreign Trale. Mr.. |
Speaker stated that there has been consiiera-
BILE failing oil III the tonnage employed in that
trade. This /, true, lainentaoly true. In nv
opinion, it is ole of tose occurrences which
ought to arrest oar immediate, our deep, our
III ,st earnest attention. What does this bill pro-
pose Tor its relief? Sir, it proposes nothing but
new burdens. 1t proposes to diminish lis EN-
pigment, and it proposes, at the Zinc, to
augment its expense, by snbcctng it to heavier |
taxation, Sir, there is interest, in regard t.
which stronger case for protection can be |
made out, than the NAVIGATING interest. Whe- |
Their we look at lis present condition. which is !
admitted TO DC depressed (; the number OF per- !
sons connected with it, and dependent upon it
for Their daily bread or it's Importance TO the
country IN political point of view it has claims
upon our attention which cannot be exceeded.
But what do we propose to do for it? repeat,
sir, simply to burIcn and to tax it. By a state
Inent which have already submitted 10 the
Ccmrnittee, it appears that the shipping in
terest pays, annna.y, more than half millioa
OF dollars in duties on articles used ia the con
struotion Of ships. We propose to adj nearly,
or quite, fifty per cent. to this amount, at the We
ny moment that = bring forth the languisnng
state of this interest, proof of national dis
tress. Let it be rene nbered that our shipping
employed in foreign commerce, has, at this mo-
ineIt. not the shadow Of gpvernncnt protection
Il goes abroad upon the wide sea to make its
Own. y, and earn its own bread, in protested
competition .,iti t5c whole sv"cId. Ia rozour-
oes are its own frngaiitT, it, own skill its own
enterDriz,. Il hopes II succeed if it shall sue
coed a, all rot by extraordinary aid Of govern
meat, but by patience, vigIence, and toll This
right ar q OF the nations safety strengthens its
own muscle BY its own efforts, and By unmarried
cxertion il its own defence becomes strong for
the dc:elct ofthc country.
NJ onc acquainted with this interest, can de-
ny that is situation, at this moment, is cx-
trcncIy critical. We have left 1t hitherto to
rnaiatan itself ci perish; to swim if it can, and
sink + it cannot. But ut this moment gifts ap-
parent struggle, can we, as men, can we, as
iatrio,s, add another stone to the weight that
threatens - carry il down !? Sir, there is q Ii
snjt 20 human power, aud to human efforts.
}SaJ,y the commercial marine of this country
c.,n do almost every thing, and bear almost eve
~ thing. Yet some things arc impossible TO no