The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-01-10
For the Massachusetts, Spy.1
No. ".


ed in favor OF adopting measures for protecting
the manufs cturers Of woolien cloths. There
is one which seems 10 be addressed rather 10
the sy,npathies and generous feelings, than to
the sense Of justice, OF those by whom the ex-
pense Of this protection is to be borne.
Fifty or sixty millions Of dollars, we are told,
have been invested in the stock of woollen
manufactures in New-England, under the ex-
pectation that the investment would turn out
a profitable one. Yet these adventures seem
to have been mistaken in their calculations,
unless they were grounded on the probability
that Government would interpose its protec.
ton whenever it should appear that the enter
prise could not be sustained by its own pro-
ductiveness. 1t is now said that unforeseen
circumstances have rendered the business un.
- ----- -----h ---rl>Arts Ia called for "a
will enable those, VINO have embarked IN y
from motives of private emolument. 10 preserve
their immense capital from diminution. and 70
realize profit from it. 1t is represented ..
essential to the prosperity of the country that
these few rich individuals should be ed
from loss in the prosecution of their enternr;se
II the business be as unproduciive as is pre-
tended, the magnitude of the capital emnlov-
ed, so FAR rom being sound reason in favor
OF the protection claimed, is rather an arou.
ment against it. The loss to the community
will be as certain by granting an indemnity 10
the manufacturers, as by leaving them 10 take
care Of themselves. Where, then, is the nro.
priety or justice of relieving those by whose
improyidence that loss has happened. and who
are the most able to bear it. and TRANSFERRING
IT to others who have never been the objects
OF the fostering care or special favor of Gov.
eminent? Why should those in moderate cir.
cumstances be taxed that capitalists NAV he
reimbursed their losses If the manufactures
OF woollen cloths are to be sustained in their
undertaking by such means, the sooner it is A.
oandoDed the better. The obvious tendency
oil the measure would be to bestow additional
privileges and advantages upon those who al
ready possess such as wealth always gives. and
to increase that inequality of property among
The people, which is Inconsistent with the son-
eral good, and repugnant to the genius of our
Government.
We are encouraged to hope, however, that
there will be no occasion for perpetual tax
upon the consumer for the benefit OF manufac-
turers-that no farther aid will be needed
than is necessary to give them an impulse in
the outset; after which they will be able TO
maintain their course by their own strength.
Ia answer to this suggestion if may be stuff
whether the tax levied upon the consumer for
the support of manufs cturers be heavy or light
or OF long or short duration. 4If the principIe
be partial and unjust, its application is not to
be regulated by the different degrees of wrong
it would work in any particular case; and thai
1t IS partial and unjust can be disproyed only
by showing that those who contribute the sun.
port are compensated by an equivalent.
BUt II IL he tr1o hot .
ries, when oace established and put into ope-
ration, will prove profitable to those concern.
ed IN them as vel as TO the nation, how is it
that so millions of capital is insufficient for
that purpose? II such means fail to produce
successful results-if, with this enormous can.
Ital, the business cannot be commenced and
prosecuted in the outset, without protecting
duties, it is difficult 10 conceive how il can
ever afterwards maintain itself. If the en-
ployment of so much capital is attended with
loss, it proves the investment to be iniudi.
cious; and the greater the amount so invest
ed, the greater will be the loss.
The present low prices of woolIen cloths.
against the ruinous effects Of which relief is
now sought, are attributed to the efforts Of
the British manufacturers TO crush our rising
institutions before they shall becor:e estab,
lIshed on firm basis; an object which is to
be accomplished by filling our markets with
their own goods at price much below their
lair value. The share which such attempts
may have had in producing the evil complain
ed Of, It may be diGiOslt e aetarmine With
out supposing the British manufacturers actu-
ated by the motives imputed to them, we
might ind, aprrehend, sufficient explain
alton OF their conduct in their recent troubles
and difficulties. But would submit, if there
be not other causes, which would have a
strong tendency to produce the same effect,
and which have, probably, co-operated with
that suggested.
Under the former tariff of duties, our WOOL
len manufactures, although then not very ex-
tenslye, were in hourishing and prosperous
condition. Their productions could be sold
at tar profit, with smaller protecting duties
in their favor than those which are now con-
sldered insufficient. They were vigorous and
thriving, because they had grown up natural
~, and depended more for sustepance and
support upon their own steady, persevtring
efforts, than upon forced and violent expedi-
ents. The additional and extravagant en-.
enlargement afforded by the present tariff
has enticed numerous other adventures, with
large capita TO embark precipitately in the
same business. The consequence is, that il
Is now overdone, as is uniformly the case inre
gard to any business from which large profit
Is derived, when FIRST introduced among
sharp sighted and enterprizing people. Il is
thls competition at home, more than Compe-
luton from abroad, which has operated ipju-
r'onsiy to the interests OF the snuiacturers of
woollen cloths.
u this circumstance have had any instru-
mentality in producing the present epbarrass-
ments, Of which there can be no reasonable
doubt, the remedy sought after viii but ag-
6rsvate the disease. AN increase Of duties,