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

/ w ShuhiS tiiipuHu the euftleS near INT
sh"re Nature herself seems To survey, with
establishment, the passing wonder. and in 81
'en' submission, reluctantly TO own the mag
nihceni trlumphs in her own vast dominion,
oi Fulton's immortal genius
q Dut IL said, that, wherever there is con.
currence OF favorable circumstances, manu-
iactures VIII arise of themselves, without pro-
'ection and that we should not disturb the
natural progress of industry, but leave things
10 themselves. If all nations would modify
,he,r policy on this axiom, perhaps it would
De better for the common good of the whole.
Even men, IN consequence of natural advan-
.'ges and greater advance in civilization and
| III the arts, some nation would enjoy a STATE
OF much higher prosperity than Others. But
mere Is no universal legislation. The globe Is
divided INFO different communities, each seek
ing to appropriate to itself all the advantages
can, without reference to the prosperity of
DINERS. Whether this is right or not it has
always been, and ever will be, the case. Per
haps the care of the interests of one people, is
suihclent for all the wisdom of one legislature ;
and that 1t is among nations, as among indi-
viduas, that the happiness of the whole is
best secured beach attending to its own pc
GUITAR interests. The proposition to be main
tained by our ad'srsaries, is, that manufac-
lures, without protection. will in due time
spring up in our country, and sustain them
selves, IN competition with foreign fabrics,
| however advanced the arts, and Whatever the
degree ot protection may BE- in foreign coun-
tries Now contend that this proposition is
refuted by all experience, ancient and mo-
dern, and III every country. If am asked,
why unprotected industry should not succeed
IN struggle with protected industry, | answer,
| the FACT has ever been SO, and that is suiIi-
Gent; | reply, that UNIFORM EXPERIENCE
1 al 4 4.
equal contest, and that is sufficient. If we
speculate on the causes of this universal truth,
we may differ about them. Still the ndspu-
| table fact remains. And we should be as un .
WISE IN not availing ourselves of the guide
which III III nishes. a mao would be who
should refuse To bask in the rays of the sun
because he could not agree with Judge Wood
| ward as to the nature of the substance of that
panel To which we are indebted for heat and
| light. IL were to attempt to paiticuarize
the causes which prevent the success Of the
manufacturing arts, without protection, |
| should say, that they are-lst, the obduracy
of fixed habits. No nation, no individual,
VIII easily change an established course OF
| business, even if be Improbable ADD least of
all is an agr icultural people prone TO innova-
ton. with what reluctance do they not adopt
improvements IN the instruments of husband
ry, or in modes of cultivation If the farmer
makes good crop, and sells it badly or
| makes sa"rt crop; buoyed up by hope he
perseveres, and trusts that a favorable change
oi Inc market, or of the seasons, will enable
nm IN The succeeding year. to repair the
mislortunes of the past. 2dly, The uncertain
| ty, huctuation, and unsteadiness of the home
market, when liable to an unrestricted influx
of fabrics from all foreign nations {; and, Sdly.
The superior advance of skill, and amount of
capital, which foreign nations have obtained
by the protection of their own industry From
the latter, or from other causes, the unpro-
tected manufactures of country are exposed
to The danger of being crushed in their in
fancy, either by the design or from the neces-
$ ties of foreign manufacturers. Gentlemen
are increuuious as to the attempts of foreign
merchants and manufacturers to accomplish
Inc destruction of ours. Why should thew
not make such attempts ? If the Scottish
manufactures, by surcharging our market, in
one year, with the article of cotton baggine
ior example, should SO reduce the price as In
discourage and put down the home manufac-
tuie, he would secure to himself the monono.
y oil the supply. And now havin. the ex-
elusive possession Of the market perhaps for
a long term OF years, he might be more
than Unidentified for his first loss. in the sub
seqnent rise IN the price of the article. What
nave we not seen under our own eyes The
competition for the transportation of the mail.
between this place and Baltimore, so excited,
that, to obtain IT, individual offered At great
loss, to carry II a whole year for one dollar =
His calculation, no doubt, was, that by driving
his competitor off the road, and securing In
himself the carriage of the mail, he would be
afterwards able to repair his original loss by
new contracts with the department. But the
necessities OF foreign manufacturers, without
lmputIng to them any sinister design, NAV
obiige them to throw into our markets the
fabrics which have accumulated on their
hands, in consequence of obstruction in the
ordsary vents, or from over-calculation and
the forced sales, at losing prices, NAV PROSTATE
our establishments. From this view of the
subject, IT follows, that, If we would place the
industry of our country upon solid and I'M
shakeable foundation, we must adopt the pro-
tectlng policy, which has every where sue
ceeded, and reject that which would abandon
1t, which has every where failed.
8. But if the policy ofprotectinn he wise
the gentleman from Virginia, MIR Barbour
has made some ingenious calculations 20 proye
that the measure of protection, already ex
tended, has been sufficiently great. with
some few exceptions, the existing duties. of
which he has made an estimate, were laid
with the object of revenue, and without refer
eDce TO that of encouragement to our domes-
TIC industry ; and, although il is admitted that
the incidental effect Of duties so laid is TO pro.
mote our manufactures, yet, if it falls short of
competent protection, the duties might as well
not have been imposed with reference to that
purpose. moderate addition may accom-
plsb this desirable end and the proposed
tariff is believed to have this character.
o. The prohibitory policy, il is confidently
asserted, is condemned by the wisdom Of
Europe, and by her most enlightened states