Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-21
OND, VIRGINIA., FRIDAY, MAY Fl, 1924.


nave tried this paper system, and tried IL to thci,
cost, that this Bill receives the most earnest
support And cannot forbear 10 ask, further,
whether this support docs not proceed rather
IRON general feeling Of uncasincss under the
present condition of things, than from the clear
perception of any benefit which the measure it.
self can confer Is not all expectation of adj
vantage conferred in n sort of vague hope, that
change may produce relief Debt certainly
presses hardest, where prices have been longest
Kept up by artificial means. They linI tn.
SHOCK i'ghtest, who take it soonest; and 1 fully
ociieve that, IT those parts Of the country which
now suiicr most, had not augmented the force of
the blow by defcrring it, they would have now
oeen III much better condition than they are.
we may assure ourselves, once for all, sir that
there can he no such thing as payment of debts
| by Legislation. We may abolish debts indeed:
we may transfer property, ny visionary and vio-
icnt laws. But we deceive both ourselves anal
our constituents, if we flatter, either ourselves
or them, with the hope that there is any relief
| against whatever pressure exists, but in ccono-
my and industry. The depression of prices an.i
the stagnation of business, have been in truth
| the necessary result of circumstances. No go
| vernmcnt could prevent them, and no govern
meat can altogethorrelievc the people from their
effect. We had enjoyed day of extraoriina-
~ prosperity; we had been neutral while the
world was at war, and had found a great de-
mand for our products, our navigation and our
LABOR. We had no right to expect that that
state of things would continue always. With
the return ofpeacc, foreign nations would strun-
gle Tor themselves, and enter into competition
with us in the great objects of pursuit
Now, sir, what is the remedy for existing
ogiss. what Is the course Of policy suited To on,
actual condition. Certainly it is not Our wis
dom TO adopt any system that may be offered to
us without examination, and in the blind hope
that whatever changes our condition NAV i'm.
prove IT. 1t Is better that we should
| "Bcar those ills we have,
"ihan fy to others that we may know NOT of"
We are bound to sec that there is a fitness and
an aptitude in whatever measures NAV b. re-
commended to relieve the evils that aGiict u.s.;
and before we adopt system that processes to
make great alterations, it is our duty to look
| carefully to each leading interest Of the comm
nity, and see how 1T may probably DC affected
| by our proposed Legislation.
And, in the first place, what is the condition
of our commerce? Hero we must clearly per-
ceve, that it is not enjoying that rich harvest
which fell to its fortune during the continuance
the European wars. 1t has been greatly de-
pressed, and limited TO small profits. Still, it is
elastic ana active, and seems capable of reco-
yering itself in some measure from its dcDrcs-
sion. The shipping interest. Also has suffered
severely, Still more severely, probably, than
commerce. Ifany thing should strike US with
establishment, it is that the navigation of the
United States should be able to sustain itself.
Without any government protection whatever
1t goes abroad TO challcnge-competition with the
whole world and, in spite of all Obstacles, it has
yet been able to maintain 800, 900 tons in the
employment of foreign trade. How, sir do the
owners and navigators accomplish this? How
Is 1t that they are able to meet, in some measure
overcome, universal competitions Not, sir, by
protection and bounties; but by unwearied cX-
ertion, by extreme economy, By mistaken per-
severance: by that manly and rcsolute spirit
which relies on itself to protect itself. These
causes alone enable American ships still to keep
their clement, and shew the flag of their co,ifp
try in distant seas. The rates ofinsurance NAV
teach US how thoroughly orr ships are built and
how skilfuily and safely they are navi@atei
Risks are taken, as L learn, from the United
States to Liverpo1l, at per cent; and from the
United States to Canton and back, as low rs 8
per cent. But when we look to the low rate of
freight, and when we consider, also, that the
articles entering into the composition of a ship
with the exception of wood, are dearer here
than in other countries, we cannot but be ut
tcrly surprised, that the shipping interest has
been able to sustain itself at all. | need no.
say that the navigation Of the country is essen
tial TO its honor, and its defence. Yet instead
of proposing benefit for it in this hour OF its de-
preston, we propose by this measure to lay up
| on it new and heavy burthcns. In Tie discus
son. the other day, of that provision OF the bill
which proposes to tax tallow for tie benefit oftic
oil merchants and whalencn, we had the plea
| sure of hearing eloquent eulogiums upon that
portion OF our shipping employed in the whale
fishery, and strong statements of its importance
TO the public interest. But the same Bill pro-
poses severe tax upon that interest, for tie
benefit of the iron manufacturer and the hemp
grower. So that the tallow chambers and soap
| boilers are sacrificed TO the oil merchants, in
| order that these again may contribute to the
| manufacturers Of iron and the growers OF hemp.
| If such be the state of our commerce and ma
| viz 4. :on, what is the condition of our home ma
nufaCtures? How are they amidst the general
! depression Do they need further protection ]!
and if any, how muCii' On all these points, we
| have had much general statement, but little
precise information. In the very elaborate
speech of MIR. Speaker, we are not supplied with
satisfactory grounds OF judging in these various
particulars. Who can tell, from any thing yet
before the Committee, whether the proposed
duty be too high or too low, on any ono article
Gentlemen tell us, that they arc in favor of do
mcstIc industry; am /. They would give it
protection: SO would I. But then all domestic
industry is not confined to manufactures. The
employinents of agriculture, commerce, aud
navigation, arc all branches of thc same dOmes
NC Huistry; thIy al iuFillsh employment Tor
American capital, and American labor. And
when the question is, whether new duties shall
be laiI, for the purpose Of giving further cncou
! rageDcnt TO particular manufactures, every rea.
! sonabo man must a7ll himself, both, whether
the proposed new cnCo'S~ag 1fncnt be necessary,
AMI, whether il can be given without injustice
to other branches af Industry.
/ II is desirable to know, also, somewhat more
distinctly, how The proposed means will produce