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

ole of other countries rejoice, nn the contrary,
that ,hey can live more Comfortably Khan any other
people, with half the labor. But do complain of
this attempt TO divert :hciE Industry into pursuits
in which they must eiher double their cxert:ors, be
involved in ruin, or receive bounty II the expense
OF the country. Indeed, the admitted fact, that
common lahourer in this country receives double
the wages that n common !abourer receives in the
most favored nations Of Europe, aud labo little
more than half the TING, conc!usvciy demonstrates
the impolcy of protecting, by duties, those manu-
fac,urcs Of hc price of which, labor is the principal
constituent.
But. sir, I admit, that, owing to the improved
os the machinery by which, mos: Of the articles
We import, are f1bricatcd<tl,rsc manufacture of
wool aud cot,on) -iabo, constitutes very incon-
siderable item III their cost. In determining, there
fore, the question how Gar such manufactures can
successfully contend with fofcigu competition, more
depends upon Tia price of capital, than upon the
price of labor. How, then, stands the comparison
between this country au,! England, assuming the
rate of interest the standard Of that comparison
The rate of interest in this country is higher than il
is in England, IN the proportion of about five to-
three. The English manufactures, therefore, has
the decided advantage, indicated by this proportion,
the American, so far as capital is concerned
and a much greater advantage, as far as labor en-
tiers Into the estimate. And these arc advantages
against which, we should have to contend, even if
our machinery and skill equal to these OF our
foreign rivals. The only circumstances which can
tend TO counterbaance the disadvantages under
which we labor, arc the superior cheapness of the
raw material, and the saving of the charges oftrans-
portation, which arc incurred upon the imported
manufacture. The former advantage exists only i'm
the case Of manufactures of cotton and the latter
is quite inconsiderablc, owing to the very small
bulk of tho articles imported, proportion to their
value. The two circumstances taken together, will
not put us footing of equality with the British,
even in relation to cotton fabrics. But, as relates
to woo'lcns, as we are laying a high duty on the
raw material the advantage will be on the side of
the British cturcr, in all tho constituents of
the price oil his fabric, the transportation excepted
In this comparative view, have taken into con-
sideratlon the duties imposed upon foreign manu-
features, because my object is compare and est-
mate the neutral advantages of this country, and
that from which its principal mportatiols are made
for prosecuting the manufacturing business. For,
II Is only when the natural advantages of our own
country are not decidedly inferior to those of the
country which supplies Us, that the application of
artificial or legislative aids can be expedient.
Now, we cannot disguise the fact that Great Br-
tain has decided aScendaucy over us in the aggre-
crate of natural advantages for manufactures. She
has vast surplus capital the accumulation of cen
turtles. We have very little capital that is not
readily absorbed, either in the business which pro-
duces it, in some of the prceSsting pursuits Of
the country. She has a crowded population, driven,
for bare subsistence. We have n population thin
y scattered over vast and fertile territory, capa-
bic of sustaining ten times the number OF human be-
ing that now iniIabit il. While these pcrma ncnt
natural advantages are against US, advantages re-
suting essentially from time and tile progress of po-
pulation, and which nothing but time and the pro-
sress of population can counteract; il is in vain
that we attempt to legislate ourselves into great
manufacturing nation. Nature rises up against it.,
aud every attempt to countcrval her laws must be
imPotent. admit that it is possible TO bring our
machinery to perfection, and to acquire manufac-
turing skill IN comparatively short time. These
results may illustrate the power of genius Bu;
what human power can suddenly give this nation
an accumulated surplus capital, aud a crowded po-
puiaten; or in other words, convert young coun-
try into an old ono. We have all the advantage,
OF youthful and growing nation; and if we were
wise, we would be satisfied with our lot. But we
vainiy aspire TO attain the advantages peculiar to
an old nation, without participating in tho dsad-
Vantases of age. Ii capital could be obtained a,
three per cent, and labor for half its present price
RS they may be a century hence, have no doub,
We could surpass the British nufl ctr,rcrs in tho
excellence and chcapness of their fabrics BE-.
would any one purchase success upon such conti;ti-
ons! In other words, would any consent to re-
ducc the income of every capitalist in the country
hty-five per cent. and Of every labcurer if,y for
the mere purpose of enabling our own manufa ctu-
rers TO un'ierseH the British i'll own markets?
But, sir even If it true that the interest of b,
country required that we should give additional en-
couragement TO manufactures, think it can be
shewn that this is almost as iniudicious measure
rs could be devised for that object. 1t is obvious
That the cotton and woollen the only manufac-
lures OF any Importance, which claim to be pro-
tccted consistently with the general interest of the
country. These arc made by machinery and Moth
Ing is more certain than that it is such manufac-
tues only that we can hope 10 make as cheap as we
Cat ,r,,t,I t,a "
sions OF this bill, as they bear upon these two dis
criptions of manufacture. AS to cotton fabrics no
protection is claimed by those manufactures who
nave made the largest investments, and have the
deepest interest in them but protection is obtruded
upon them by the o1icious Kindness of those who
IL seems understand their interest better than they
do themselves. But as to wooIleu fabrics ALTHOUGH
they are protected by ultimate increase of twelve
and half per cent duty yet this is fully counter
balanced by the ultimate increase of forty-6vc nor
cent duty on the raw material. There cannot he
greater inconsistency than that. in bill profess
eddy designed for the protection Of domestic MANN
features, the raw material of one of the most i'm
poftant OF those manufactures, should be subject to
a much higher duty than the manufactures them
selves! And here will advert to an au,l,o,i,v
which has not only escaped the denunciatio,s Of
tie advocates OF this measure, but received thei;
most unquaiihed eulo9ies-I mean the authority
of Alexander Hamilton-of whom, whatever odiun
te party conflicts OF his tire may have cast upon
his political character, will say, shat this country
mas never produced statesman of higher endow-
ments And although widely differ with him as to
what are said TO have been his views of the pr;,n;
PIES OF our government yet none of his cotennora
RES unless oshiugton be exception, entertain
Ell more profound and correct views of its pollen
The name of Hamilton has been introduced into
tbs discussion, as sanction to the Heterogeneous
PROVISIONS OF this bill. | wis to Cod, sir he were
iVng ana present, to vinGicate himself from so uu-
Just aAd lnputation! Recurring to his recorded
opinions, what does lie recommend. That y bc1-
Wy duty should be laid upon unma nufacts.ed wool
Ihc very reverse. lie recommended moi nnl.. L. I,