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

terms on which we're 10 be graciously al
lowed to carry On that trade. The effect of
mr. regulations was to exclude our navigation
altogether, and a complete monopoly, on the
part of the British navigation, was secured
we forbade IT unless our vessels should be al
lowed perfect reciprocity. Great Britain
stood out lung fine y; but finally yielded, and
| our navigation now fairly shares with hers in
| The trade. Have gentlemen no other to exhibit
| Than these trivial reaxations from the prohi-
bitOry pocy-whirh do not amount to drop
IN the buck.t-to prove its abandonment b y
Great Britain? Let them show us that her
laws are repealed which prohibit the intro
dnction of our flour and provisions of Frenc h
silks, laces, porcelain, manufactures of bronze,
mlri ors, woolens and of the manufactures
OF all other nations; and then we may be
ready to allow that Great Britain has really
abolished her prohibitory policy. We fud
| there, on the contrary, that system of policy
IN iuli and rigorous operation, and most
curiously interviewer system il is, as she enfor.
ces it, She begins by protecting all parts OF
her immense domnions against foreign pa-
tons. She then protects the parent country
against the colonies; and finally, one part of
the parent country against another. The sa-
gacity of Scotch industry has carried the pro-
cess of distiilation TO a Perfection " hich would
|
| advantageous competition, and English dis
tillation has been protected accordingly. But
suppose it were even true that Great Britain
had abolished all restrictions upon trade, and
allowed tn. freest introduction Of the produce
OF foreign labour, would that prove il unwse
for las to adopt the protecting system? The
object of protection is the establishment and
perfection of The arts. In England 1t has ac-
complished its purpose, fulfilled its end. If
she has not carried every branch Of manufac-
ture to the same high state of perfection that
any other nation has, she has succeeded in so
many, that she may safely challenge the most
unshacked competition in exchanges. 1t is
upon this very ground that many of her wri
ters recommend an abandonment Of the pro-
hibitory system. IL IS 10 give greater scope to
| British industry and enterprise. Ii Is upon
the same selfish principle. The object of the
most perfect freedom of trade, with such "A ma
ton as Britain, and of the most rigorous sys-
TEN OF prohibition, with nation whose arts
are in their infancy, may both Ice precisely the
same. In both cases it is To give greatrr ex-
pansi0n to native industry. They only differ
in the theatres Of their operation The abn-
ton of the restrictive system by Britain, il by
il she could prevailup other nations TO im-
tate her example, would have the effect of ex-
| tending the cor sumption of British pro-
duce III other Countries where her writers
| boldly affirm it could maintain a fearless
competition with the produce of native Iabour.
| The adoption Of tile restrictive system, ON the
! part of the United States, by excluding the
produce oi foreign iaA0ur, would extend the
ccnsumpl ion Of American produce, unable in
the infancy and unprotected state of the arts
| to sustain competition with foreign fabrics.-
Let our arts breathe under the shade OF pro-
lection let them be perfected as they are in
| England, and we shall then be ready AS Eng
land now is SAID 10 be. to put aside projections
and TO enter upon the freest exchanges To
what other cause, than 10 their whole proh-
btory policy, can you ascribe British pros
perity? 1t will not do TO assign il 10 that of
her antiquity for France is no less ancient
though much less rich and powerful, in pro-
portion to the population and natural advan-
tages of France. Hailam, a sensible and high
ly approved writer on the middle ages, assigns
the revival of the prosperity of the north of
| Europe to the success Of the wooen manu-.
factories Of Flanders, and the commerce of
which their fabrics became the subject and
the commencement of that Of England TO the
establishment of similar manufactures there
under the Edwards, and to the prohibitions
which began about the same time AS TO the
| poor rates, the theme of so much reproach
without England, and Of SO much regret with
| IN it, among her speculative writer's, the sys-
ed wealth than Other pauperisn. What other
nation can dispense, In the form Of regulated
charity the enormous sum, believe, OF 10 or
| . millions sterling? Mr. Barbuu. stated il
was reduced To six TO which Mr. Claw re-
piled. that he entertained no doubt but that
the benign operation of British protection of
home industry had greatly reduced it, within
the last few years, by the full employment
of her subjects, of which her hourishing
trade bore evidence. The number of Brit
ish paupers was the result of pressing the
principle Of population TO its utmost limits
by her protecting policy, in the creation of
wealth, and in placing the rest of the world
under tribute to her industry. Doubtless the
condition Of England would be better. with
out paupers, VI IN other respects it remained
the same. But in her actual circumstances the
poor system has the salutary effect of an
equaizlng corrective of the tendency to the
concentration Of riches, produced by the
genius OF her political institutions and by her
prohIbItory system.
the lmpSllcy of the prohibitOry system. and
DESTROYS TO abandon it F.? What proof have
we to that effect? We are asked 10 reject
the evidence deducible from the settled and
steady practice of England, and to take lessons
IN school of philosophical writer's, whose
visionary theories are no where adopted: or.
u adopted, bring with them inevitable distress.
llmpOverishment and ruin. Let us hear the
testimony OF an ilIustrlOus parsonage, entitled
10 the greatest attention, because he speaks
alter full experiment Ofthe unrestrictive sys
tenn made IN his own empire. hope shall
give no offence IN quoting from publication
issued from " the mint of PHILADELPHIA - from
work OF Mr.. Carey, of whom | seize. with