Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-05-10

alterations made in It by the of last session had
come into full play Up to the last year bad made
no advance in that branch of our manufactures: but
at present he knew OF his own personal knowledge
that British silks sent down to the coast of
Sussex, and were sold there silks OF French
manufacture. Such was the empire OF fashion; it
sed Its votaries TO give extavagant prices goods,
not caring so much for the value OF the article
manuiactureda as for the of the place from
winch IT was supposed TO come. He might be told
that great change had been effected in the country
since the year l7S6---that we had been engaged in
Along and expensive war, and that we had TO sup
pert the weight of great many new and heavy
taxes. He admitted that such was the case. In
other countries, however, war had ragged in all its
horrors; their taxes had been increased, and their
burdens made TO press more heavily. What was
still more mschievous, their capital had been ravag-
Gu diminished, and destroyed; in this country, no
such calamity had been experienced. The capital
oil f-ngiand, thank God, still unimpared; and
~ was not with US so much question OF mere
manual labour as il was, since the invention of
inc steam-engine, aquestion of the progress OF the
reflective mind OF man calling forth the capacity of
the country TO give effect TO its wonderful dis
coveries. In that respect we stood proudly pre-
eminent. In addition to capital, ia
possession OF that energy of enterprise, and Of that
stability of exertion, which had always been the
distinguishing marks of the English character;
and he had doubt that, with such oualifca-
or protecting duties abolished, continue
superior to the efforts of our commercial rivals,
nor only IN our own market; but also In the
markets OF every nation to which our fleets
could wait US. He expected to meet with another
o6Jection--indeed, he had already met with it in
the correspondence he had felt it right carry
with some intelligent merchants this very subject
he expected, he said, to be told that in 1856 Ne
nao Insured from France by treaty, reciprocity Of
commercial advantages, and that at present had
made no such arrangement. He would allow that
shis argument might in respect be worth con-
siderinE The meant in its relation TO the foreign
market; but with regard to the danger of our being
undersold IN our own markets, he did not conceive
1t to hold at all. He had just told them that
re had considered it his duty, before he proposed
these resolutions, to commence correspondence
regarding them with some of our most enter prsing
and intelligent merchants. From of them, who
had formerly been member of that house, and
whose absence from IL he regretted, only on ac-
count OF the vigour of mind which he displayed
upon all questions, bat more especially on account
ot the great practical knowledge which he would
have brought with him to this quest.on-from Mr.
krkman Fmlay-( hear, hear he had recey ed a
letter, In answer to communication he had made to
him, OF which he shoull beg leave to read a part
20 the house The part which he should read related
to this question of reciprocity. The letter dated
the 18th of FEB and was in the following terrns-
The letter fully approx ed of all the recent
trade of the kingdom But setting an example to
other countries we induced them TO adopt our line
OF conduct, and while we served ourselves, led
them also to confer further benefits after
wards. His 5h honorable friend, the Chancellor
OF the EScheque had already submitted TO the house
plan for the reduction of taxes a considerable
Amount, and he trusted he would long continne to
come down with propositions equally gratifying to
the public. He trusted, too, that great those
reductions might be, the exchequer would still flow
tie level and that should at once deliver
ourselves, and open the eyes Of other nations the
wisdom of free policy. If some of them
considered the course we followed lure TO lead
them astray from their interest, and we threw
them off, he truted for ever-eargerly took up that
exploded systematic trusted, when they that
we preserved and fourshed by our perseverance in
Assight track, that they would not long hesitate
alter their PLAN and proceed as we had done, pale
down their prohibitory duties. Having thus stated
the alterations which he proposed in what were
termed the protecting duties, he should next con-
rider with view 10 counterval the effect of Our
own manufactures, what duties naeralsit
would be expedient to reduce. Some years ago
duty was laid on articles of dye, which, though
not very heavy, was still q clog on our manu-
features, for addition of one per cent. upon
che price of commodities severely felt in trading
With other countries He therefore proposed TO
-Tanse considerable, reduction in these duties
He should not weary the house by going over the
several items, but oil was largely employed in
ihe wooden manufacture and the duty on il had
been raised during the last war, he proposed TO
lower it beyond its former amount and leave our
manufactures better than those of other countries.
There also another oil, called rape oil, which,
curing the late agricultural Distress the Hon. Mem
Der for Essex Mr.. Westerly succeeded in having
taxed considerably, and also foreign nsx-seed.
The consequence was, that the manufacture OF rape
oil and rape cake was destroyed in this country,
and We were placed in singular predicament.
We imported the oil at high duty, but lost all the
advantages of manufacturing il at home. He now
intended reduce the duty to the old standard,
and to all, both oil and cake, to be made here. He
should also recommend to reduce the duty on coarse
foreign wool 1t was penny per pound, for which
he proposedto substitute one half penny per pound
On all wool under a shilling pound, for it;wns
only in low priced woollens that dreaded the
competition Of foreigners. In making this propo-
ston, he might appear to be travelling, and indeed
he was travelling, out of his own proper depart
nent and to be trespassng the peculiar province
of his right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Ex-
clequer but the duties to which he was refer
ing were not considerable, and as the amount of
'eyenue derived from them not great, he trust
I'd that his right honorable friend would forgive
him The interference of which he was guilty. Though
re laboming in the vineyard of which his right
hon friend the conductor and oVerseer, he was
doing no thing than hewing down the rotten
branches which afforded it neither ornament nor
protection, Il any benefit accrued from his exer-
ons, he trusted that his right hon. friend would
eap the fruits of it, and would offer them next year
% the country in the further relief of taxation. He
oyg came to the last of the three heads into which
100 had divided this subject: and under that head he