Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-04
MIR. CLAWS SPEECH,

In support Of an american System for the pro-
lection Of american InduStrv
Slst OF March, i82i.-(Continued)
g. But, according TO the opponents of the
domestic policy, the proposed system will
iorce capital and iabUur INTO new and reluc-
tant employments we are not prepared. in
consequence of the high price of wages, for
the successful establishment of manufactures
and we must fail in the experiment We
have seen, that the existing occupations of our
society, those ofagriculture, commerce, navi-
CATION, and the learned professions, are over
flowing with competitors. and that the want
OF employment is severely felt. Now what
does this bill propose To open new and
extensive field of business, in which all that
choose may enter. There is no compulson
upon any one TO engage in it. An option only
is given to industry, to continue in the present
Improbable pursuits, or TO embark in a new
and promising one. The effect will he to les
sen the competition in the old branches of
business, and to multiply our resources for in
creasing our comforts, and augmeniing the
national wealth. The alleged fact of the high
price of wages is not admitted. The truth is.
that no class of society suffers more, in the
present stagna,ion of business, than the la
bourng class. That's necessary effect of
the depression of agriculture, the PRINCIPAL
business of the community. The wages of
abie-bodled men vary from five To eight dol
lars per month and such has been the want
OF employment, IN some parts of the Unioa,
that instances have not been unfrequent, of
men working merely for the means of present
subsistence. If the wages for labour here and
IN England are compared, they will be found
not To be essentially different. | agree with
the honorable gentleman from Virginia, that
high wages are proof OF national prosperity :;
we differ only in the means by which that
desirable end shall be attained But, if the
fact were true, that the wages of labour are
high, deny the correctness of the argument
founded upon it. The argument assumes that
natural labour is the principal element in the
business of manufacture. That was the an
cient theory. But the valuable inventions
and vast Improvements in machinery, which
have been made within "A few past years, have
produced new era in the arts. The effect
of this change, IN the powers of production,
may he estimated from what have already
stated, in relation to England, and to the tri-
umphs of European artificial labOur over the
natural abour of Asia. In considering the
fitness of "A nation for the establishment of
manufactures, we must no longer limit our
views to The state of its population, and the
price of wages. All circumstances must be
regarded, OF which that is, perhaps, the least
struction, and adroitness in the use of ma
chinery, and the possession of the raw mate
rails, are those which deserve the greatest con-
sideratiOn. All these circumstances (excrpt
that of capital, OF which there is no deficiency,
exist In orr country in an eminent degree, and
more than cOnnterbalance the DISADVANTAGE
if it really existed, OF the lower wages of la
borin Great Britain. The dependence upon
foreign nations for the raw material of any
great manufacture, has been ever considered
as disc0uraging fact. The state OfOur pop.
nlation is peculiarly favorable TO the most ex-
tenslve Introduction of machinery. We have
no preiudices 10 combat, no persons to drive
out Of employment. The pamphlet, to which
we have had occasion SO often to refer, in,
enumerating the causes which have brought
in England their manufactures TO such state
of perfection, and which now enable them, in
the opinion of the writer, to defy all competi-
tion does not specify, as one Of them, low
wages. 1t assigns three-1st, capital; 2dIy.
extent and cOstliness of machinery and, Sdly,
steady and perseyeriDg industry. NOtwifh-
standing the concurrence of so many favorable
causes, in our country, for the introduction of
the arts, we are earnestly dssuaded from MAX
ing the experiment, aud our ultimate failure
is confidently predicted. Why should we fail !?
Nations, like men, fail in nothing vi ich they
Ooihi1 ut'VhIpty hntD ouotdIIItu ny NHtuOuS
purpose, and firm resolution. | am not will.
ing TO admit this depreciation of American
skill and enterprise. | am not willing to
strike before an effort is made. All our past
history exhorts us to proceed, and inspires us
with animating hopes of success. Past pre-
dictiOns of our incapacity have failed, and
present predictions will not be realized. Al
the commencement of this government we
were told that the attempt would be idle to
construct a marine adequate to the commerce
Of the country, or even to- the business Of its
coasiing trade. The founders of our govern
ment did not listen to these discouraging cOun-
sells and, behold the fruits ftheir Just com
preheDsion Of our resources Our restrictive
policy was denounced, and it was foretold that
il would utterly di5appOint all orr expectations.
But our restrictive policy has been eminently
successful and the share which our nayiga-
ton now enjoys in the trade with France, and
with the British West India islands, attests is
victory What were not the disheartening
predictions Of the opponents Of the late war (?
Defeat, discontinue, and disgrace, were to be
the certain, but not the worst, effect Of it.
Here, again, did prophecy prove false and
the energies OF our country, and the valOr
and the patriotism Of our people, carried us
gloriously through the war. We are now,
and ever will be, essentially, an agricultural
people. Without a material change in the
fixed habits Of the country, the friends Of this
measure desire TO draw to it, az a powerful
auxiliary to its industry, the manufacturing
arts. The difference between nation with,
and without the arts, may be conceived, by
the difference between a keel-bOat and steam
boat, combating the rapid torrent OF the Mis-
sissppi. How slow does the former ascend.
hugging the sinuosities Of the shore, pushed
on by her hardy and exposed crew, nov