Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-02-03

Nv between the mOtner Country aiil 'nS SoIohSo
to be reciprocity Of injuries, and not OF adj
vantages; and the colony trade, instead OF
source of wealth, source ofpoverty, yexation
and disgust If this is the fact, why then should
it no, be opened? Of the good effect on the CO.
lonies there could be no question:; they would
constantly obtain in abundance supplies that
are indispensable, at the lowest possible rate at
which mercantile profit could afford them;
and, from the competition for their productions,
would sell them al the highest price they would
bear; thus doubly benefited, they would hold
up both hands for free trade with the United
States.
This would be the effect Of the bill, if adopt
ed 1t might be said, after this unreserved
and most favorable exposition for the United
States, that the profier not only would not be
met, but that the existing arrangements would
not be renewed. The exposition he had made
was no secret; our statistical accounts gave il;
he did not fear renewal Of discriminating du-
ties, and the retaliating system. Our situation
secured us from them. Ii was beginning to be
understood by European statesmen, that we
had other imposing interests now, beside our
navigation engaged in foreign trade. We had
new interest, into which we were driven by
necessity, contrary to our incllnatlons, for our
productions were Iof Sile wafer
Our resources were turned upon ourselves,
from the late war, and the aggressions which
preceded it. We went into this interest re-
luctantly, hvfa Minerva, without previous skill
or experience. 1t has, however, prospered and
expanded nearly equal TO the navigation. 1t
has almost literally, like Jonah's gourd, sprung
up in night, and bids fair soon to overshadow
the whole building. In the short space Of If
| f,- e.. g.
common use owns no superior: these manufac-
lures find a market in every region, and the i'm
press o. the names Of the American manufac-
lures, on those which are sent from othcr coun-
tries, to recommend them, shews we have moth
ing to acquire in the quality we make, from the
descendants Of the arkwrights, with all their
skill, their experience, their immense estab-
lishments, and their capital; and from the hold
this interest is taking. no intelligent man can
visit this country without perceiving that, IT
this disposition continues, and is improved. in
half or quarter ola century, if ne is DESTROYS
of finding other Manchesters and Leeds, and
Lyons and Rouens, he may look for them, and
possibly find them, as readily in the middle and
eastern States, as i'll France or Great Britain.
This is an interest which an embarrassed or
CRIPPLED foreign trade would not keep back, and
an interest which the leading nations of Europe
have no desire to encourage. We are also Sc
cure from the effect of discriminating duties
from others, by our ability to retaliate them, as
well as by the character of our trade. What
is it, From Europe, we import principally ar
ticles Of luxury, by habit needful for our COM
fort, but which, if necessary, we can do with
OUT or, if needful, do betler-procure for our
selves! What is the character of the articles
we export? Articles OF necessity Such is,
? when wanted. our bread stuffs; such is our great
staple, cotton. 1t is necessary, as it supplies
subsistence to the multitudcs in Europe who
depend on it for their means Of industry. 1t
might be said, it could be procured elsewhere.
This apprehension, once entertained, had pass
ed away; even the productions OF the vegetable
kingdom would not thrive under the united and
mali snant influences of The plague, the seine
tar, and the bowstrng. In time Of peace no
one would go to the den Of the lion, with the
mouth Of it strewed with carcasses, when his
object would be effected better and more Sc
curey elsewhere He had no fears of the COM
petition Of the Pacha OF Egypt Cotton could
not, in time of peace, be brought from India,
where the quality was much worse, under thrice
the fir lights from the United States In South
America we might have competitor; but if,
with eur skill, our experience, our nearer proX-
unity to the markets Of consumption, we could
not compete with supplies from that source,
we would deserve TO suffer. Discriminating
duties on this article must advance the price,
which must be paid by the manufacturer, who
must seek his remuneration from the fabric
made from it, which, when it reached this
market, or any other 10 which we have access,
would operate as a bounty to our manufactures.
This, he repeated, other nations would not de-
| sire.
There was another interest, the growth of
which, also would not be retarded by depres-
sion of the foreign trade by discriminating du
ties;-il was an interest, little known or noli-
ced, but ere long, was to have no rival in any
other quarter Of the globe. 1t was carried on,
silently and obscurely- the statistical tables
gave no accounl.ofit; you had no right to take
an account oft; you had no right to pry into
the value Of your neighbours surplus wheat
which he exchanges for another neighbours sur
plus sugar or tobacco;-this is a family con-
Germ. The interest to which he alluded, was
The invaluable coasting trade of the country,
neither known nor valued, in any degree com.
pared with its merits. What could be the
course of your coasting vessels? Follow one Of
them: take any starting point, geographically
the city of Washington; following her down the
Potomac, skirting the Chesapeake, passing