Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-27
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, April. 81, 1894
lection to the few kentucky villages in which

| tecton to the few kentucky villages in which
the article is made.
| Ii the cotton growing consumption could be
consttutionally exerunted from the operation
of this hill, it might be fair to exempt it upon
the condition that foreign manufactures the pro-
cecds OF the sale of cotton abroad, should not en-
Ter al all INTO the consumption ofthe other parts
Oh the United States. But such an arrange
Incnt as that, lift could be made, would proba.
bly, be objected to by the cotton growing coun-
try itself.
<. Inc seSond objection To the proposed bill
| IS, that 1T will diminish the amount of our ex-
ports. 1t can have no effect upon our exports,
except those which are sent to Euro,e. Ex
ccpt tobacco and rice, we send there nothing
but the raw materials. The argument is, thai
Europe Will not buy Of us, if we do not buy of
hcr Inc hrst objection to ii is, that it calls up
ON us to look TO the question, and take care of
European ability in legslating for American
interests Now, ii, in legislating for their in
terests, they would consider and provide for our
ability, the principle of reciprocity would en-
| join us to regulate our intercourse with them.
as TO leave their ability uniinparcd But have
shcwn that, in the adoption of their own policy.
their inquiry is strictly limited TO a considcra-
ton OF their peculiar interests, without any re-
gard to that ofours. The next remark would
make IS, that the bill only operates upon certain
W., H.,
posed, our interest requires US 10 manufacture
within ourselves; and, although its effect will
be to diminish the amount of our imports of
those articles, it leaves them free to supply us
with any other produce of their industry. And
since the circle of human comforts, refneinents.
and luxuries, is of great extent, Enrope will
still find herself able to purchase from us What
she has hitherto done, and to discharge the debt
IN some of those objects. Ifthore be any dirni.
mutton IN our exports to Europe, it win proba-
bly, be in the article Of cotton to Great Britain.
have seated that Britain BUYS cotton wool TO
the amount OF about five millions sterling. and
sells to foreign states to the amount of upwards
OF twenty-one millions and half Ofthis sum.
we take little upwards of million and half.
The residue, of about twenty millions, she must
sell to other foreign powers than the United
states. Now their market will continue opcn
to her, as much after the passage of this bill as
| before. she VIII, therefore, require from us the
raw material TO supply their consumption. But,
1T is said, she may refuse TO purchase IL of us and
seek supply elsewhere. There can be but liz
tie doubt that she now resorts to us because
we can supply her cheaper and better than any
| other country. And it would be unreasonable
| to suppose That she would cease, from any piau
| towards us, to pursue her own interest SnDpose
she was to decline purchasing from us The
consequence would be, that she would lose The
market for the twenty million sterling which
shenow sells otherforcignp powers, or enter it un
lderadIsadvantageou competition Withus orwitI
other nations, who should obtain their supplies
of the raw material from us. If there should be
any diminutlon, therefore, in the expectation OF
cotton, 1T would only be in the proportion of a.
bout one and a haifto twenty, that is, a little M.
wards of five per cent. the loss of market fo,
which, abroad, would be fully compensated by
| the market for the article created at home.
Lastly, would observe, that the new applica-
| ton of our Industry, producing new objects OF
expectation, and they possessing much greater
value than in the raw state, we should be in the
end amply Unidentified, by their expectation.
Already the item in our foreign exports of man.
ufactures is considcrable and we know that our
cotton fabricks have been recently exported. in
a large amount, TO South America, where they
| maintain a successful competition with those of
any other country.
| 3. The third objection 20 the tariff is that if
Will diminish our navigation. This great inter-
est deserves every encouragement, consistent
with the paramount interest of agriculture In
the order of nature, il is secondary to both agr-
| culture and manufactures. It's business is the
transportation of the productions of those two
superior branches Of industry. 4 cannot. there
fore, be expected, that they shall be moulded
or sacrificed TO suit its purposes; but, on the
contrary, navigation must accommodate itself
| to the actual state of agriculture and manufac-
! lures. If, as believe, we have nearly reached
| the maxium in value of our exports of raw pro-
duce to Europe the effect, hereafter, will be. as il
respects that branch of our trade if we perse.
we're in the foreign system, to retain our navi
CATION at the point it has now reached. By re.
ducing, indeed, as will probably take place, the
price OF our raw materials, "A further quantity OF
them could be exported and, of course, add
| r1cr,trY inbt fl,ot
en- to our tonnage but that would be at the ex.
pense of the agricultural interest. If / am right
in supposmg that no effect will be produced by
| this measure upon any other branch of our ex-
| port trade, but that to Europe; that, with re-
| gard to that, there will be no sensible ditninu-
ton of our exports and that the new direction
given to portion of our industry will produce
other objects of expectation, the probability is,
that our foreign tonnage will be even increased
under the operation of this bill. But, if am
mistaken III these views, and it should expert
ence any reduction, the increase of our coast
ing tonnage, resulting from the greater activity
Of domestic exchanges, will more than compcn-
| safe the injury. Although our navigation par
takes in the general distress of the country, it
is less depressed than any other OF our great IT,
| tcrests. The foreign tonnage has been cralu-
ally, though slowly, increasing, since 1913.
Aud our coastipg tonnage, since 1916, has in
| creased upwards OF ono hundred thousand tons.
! a. IT is next contcnded that the effect of the
measure will be 10 diminish our foreign com
merce. The objection assumes, what | have
endeavored to controyert, that there will be a
reduction in the value of our exports. Com
merce is an exchange Of commodities. What
ever will tend to augment the wealth of ma
ton must increase its capacity to make these
exchanges. By new productions, or creating
new values in the fabricated forms which shall