Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-25
SPEECH OF MR.. McDUFFIE, OF S. G..
ON THE TARIFFS BILL.
(Coutin,,eh)


with the portion of country have the homer to
pfesc,s.
Gentlemen are aware that very profitable trade
Is carried by their constitute with the southern
country, III live stock of all descriptions, which they
drive over the mountains aud sell for cash. This
exclusive trade, which from lis peculiar character,
more easily o,eicomes the difficulties uansporta
lion than any that can be substituted in its place, is
about TO be put in jeopardy for the concctural ben
chts OK this ,ncarurC. When say this trade is
bout to be pu, in jeopardy, do not speak inadvi-
sedy. am perfectly convinced, that, If this bill
passes, II will have the effect of inducing the people
of the south, partly from the feeling, and partly
from the necessity growing out Of it, to- raise with
III themselves, the live stock which they pur-
chase from the west. II is At least certain that more
will be lost in this trade than will be gained in that
of cotton baggng.
will now attempt to shew, that the progress
which our manufactures have made, and arc now
soek'ng, IS as rapid as they make consistently
either with their own prosperity, that of tho
country. And must be excused for saving, that
the attempt to make this great manufacturing ma
sion suddenly, and by single sweep of legisation
is more indicative of restlessncss than of wisdom.
The country seems To me to have been excited to
That kind Of feeling which actuates individual
speculator-a vain desire to become wealthy by a
bold dash, but utterly regardless OF the maxims of
prudence, and the habits OF industry and economy
which are Indispensable to the attainment of his OH
ject The friends of this measure appear TO me to
tiOus, upon which the policy of such measure rs
this must depend. The progress of manufactures
must be regulated, tot by DESIRES but by our ca
pacties. Now, believe there is no propositions in
which the gentlemen who are best informed on the
subject of manufactures, will more generally con-
cur, than that it is essential to their own prosperit
that their progress should be slow and gradual
Their success depends mainly upon capital ant, skill;
and 1t is utterly impossible that they can advance
prosperously, faster than the one is accumulated
n her And 7
tai as being essential to the progrers of manufac-
lures, I mean surplus capital: capital which does
not ind ready employment in the pre-existing pur-
suits which have produced 1t. 1t is in vain that
gentlemen tell us have capital, unless they can
shew that it is discngascd and seeking investment
And here, will remark to the gentlemen from the
Western States, md thGntcrior of the middle States
who are the most strenuous advocates of this mea-
sure, that they cannot participate to any consider
able extent, in tho advantages which are auticpa-
tea IRON tins system. Sir, ii you were to prohibit
commerce altogether, manufactures icoud follo,y ca
ptfot; and Boston, Providence, and Philatelpl,ia
the points at which there is the greatest accumua-
tiun OF ill., and the greatest difficulty of investment
would realize the principal part of the benefit re-
suitng from the restriction. Before the interior of
the middle states or the western states, can hope to
enjoy the advantages of this system they must be
protected not only against foreign competition bu,
against that Of New England. Blu, have hea rd /,
cont .nded, and believe the argument has vciph.
IN ESTIMATION OF many, that the Boston IN nu-
facturers arc opposed to t!Iis bill, because thev
dread the domestic competition that il viii, rear un
There cannot be notion more absolutely f;,llaciou,
than this, as will be upon momcuts exam:na-
Hon. 1t assumes that the Boston manufacture
who flourish in den ,nce OF foreign competition cam
not compete with these domestic rivals Who arc mos,
claiming the protection of the government, and who
admit that they cannot sustain the foreign CONNIE
titionl This involves the absolute inconsistcnrv
that the weaker rival is more to be dreaded than
the mere powerful.
Sir, repeat it, that almost the entire benefit OF
any protection you extend to manufactures
will be ensressed by those portions of the orion IN
which have referred, as having superior advan,a
ges tor that business. But, shall be told thai mau
factories do already exist in the interior and middle
states and in some of the Western States Bur IN
on what principles, and under what circumstance
have mos, cf those establishments grown I'M. And
what is the extent OF the market they can commando
To this inquiry ask the attention Of the House for
a few minutes maintain, sir, that the mauufac-
tories TO which have just alluded, have risen up
and flourish, because they enjoy sort of local mo-
Hopoly, and that they cannot command market
beyond the sphere of that monopoly. will advert
Tor the purpose CT explaining this view of the sub
Ject 20 what was said vcgy correctly. by the Spea
ker, the other day-that il better for people.
aboandiny in the products of the SOIL 10 give hrl,
price Tor manufactured articles, provided they could
thereby obtain market for their produce than to
obtain manufactures at much lower prices from
those who would not take produce in EXCHANGE for
them. Take, for example, any district of ccuntrv
IN The interior, producing large surplus Of gain
which the foreign manufacturer will not take in ex
Change for his fabrics Is IL not obvious that the
manufacturer who would, under these circumstan-
ees, erect his establishment in the supposed district
ana take the products of the soil in exchange for his
manufactures, would enjoy perfect monopoly of
f.:e local market, q be absolutely free froa foreign
compatition? The farmer has nothing 10 rive bnt
grain. This the foreign manufacturer will NOT take
1t IS to no purpose, therefore, that the foreign byc
ran be purchased cheaper If the only thing the IA
rner has TO give, Will not be taken in excha noe yr
IT, Ana, on the other hand the farmer car we'll af-
ford to give higher price to the domestic manufae
fLrer, who will give him good price for his grain
10 present the same idea in another view the va
iue of any given trade depends as much upou the
highncss ut the price Of what is sold, as upon the
iowncss OF the price of what is BOUGHT II results
therefore, that the foreign manufa cturer who will
not take the produce Of the farmer, at auv prjre
must be absolutely excluded from the comnct,;on |
with the domestic manufacturer provided the latter
WIZ taae IT. even at very low price. 1t is upon
tiis same principle, that within very small spI,e
even household manufactures, in one sense the
dearest 81 any, can hold a competition with those
maze oy tile most perfect machinery. The error
~ tie argument, however, which has been founded
upon the foregoing principles consists in the az
SUMPTION, that the manufactures, thus sustained bv
Iocai monopJsS, can, under the protection of this
sii nlintain competition in dista ut markets he
yond the sphere OF the monopoly. But that is itn-
possible Ia fact this bill can have 10 effect at ALL
IA favor of those manufactures for, how can tl,cv
De oenehtted by excluding foreign manufactures
mat neveT come in competition with them? As to
the more distant markets. those which are now SUM-
Piled by foreign Commerce, nothing is more certain
taan that the manufacturers OF Boston, Rhode Island
ann Philadelphia, will occupy them.