Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-05-29

In consequence of the stagnation that has taken
place. some of those engaged in it have been ruined
--others have discharged many of their workmen-
and those who continue the business do not derive
from ii a maintenance.
1t is obvious that the prostration Of branch of
industry, which puts into circulation such large
as are necessary to employ the above capital,
must produce very injurious results to the nation at
large. Should no salutary alteration take place,
considerable portion Of this capital will be lost by
the great depreciation ofthat part which Is invested
in building and machinery Thousands of persons
will be deprived of employment. not merely those
Immediately engaged in the branch in question, but
in the variety Of branches wholly and colaterally
dependant on it.
No small portion of the capital will be transferred
to the cotton manufacture, which will be thereby
crowded and greatly injured. Some portion will be
transferred to other branches of manufactures and
produce on them the same pernclous effect.
On the farming interest, already greatly depres-
sed, it will operate very severely. 1t will diminish
the market for wool, and lower the price, SO as to
destroy in a great measure the nducement TO raise
sheep, and render of little value those in the
hands of the farmer. This serious injury to farm
ing, the occupation Of at least 100000 OF our CT
tizens is enough alone to call for the nterposition
of government-but this is by no means the whole
of the evil to that important interest. In addition,
Nnuinbers Of persons engaged in the wooen branch,
not merely diminish the market for the accessories
of life, and other products Of the soibut injurious
ly increase the number OF cultlvators.
The great importance to the farmers Of securing
steady market for wool. is vastly increased by the
depressed state of the markets for bread stuiis,
forming as they do, the grand staple Of the middle
states. which contain at present at least 4OOo,ooo
inhabitants.
When the existing state Of things is taken into
tha nd
have been made within few years, by the intro
duction of steam navigation, canals and rail roads
and the happy destlnles to which the country must
arrive, should every branch of industry be duly pro
tected by wise regulations, this society teel them
selves imperiously called upon to make solemn ap
peal to the middle, western and eastern states.
We do not consider this question as eAclusvel.
sectional although such character has been ire
quently attached to it, both in an out of our nationa
councs,* but naturally address ourselves TO tn
states most directly interested in the adoption Q
the policy which advocate.
The society has beheld with great regret, tina
the doctrine of the .unconstutonalty of congress
afordng protection to manufactures, by duties o
imports, has been openly promulgated in and out q
congress. 1t might have been expected that tn
uniform exercise of this power i'll favor Of agricu
ture and commerce as well as manufactures, tror
the very commencement of the government, woul
have laid the question at rest.
For the protection of commerce, the first CO
gress in 80 imposed tonnage duty on toreiE
vessels, engaged in the foreign trade, of fifty cen
per ton for every entry while American vesse
paid but six cents--on the former, engaged IN Il
coastng trade, the duty was fifty cents per ton f
every entry, while the latter paid but six cents p
annum. Thus foreign vessel of 400 tons engag
in the foreign trade, and making four entries in
year, paid 800 dollars tonnage duty--while an Am
Iican vessel paid but SO. A foreign vessel of l.
tons in the coasting trade, and making ten entries
year, paid $50 dollars-whereas an Americ
vessel, of the same SIZE and making the same nuI
Der of entries, paid but dollars. The duties il
posed at that period on teas imported in Americ
vessels, averaged only twelve-beng protect
duty to the American ship owner of 1875 per Gel
The duty on cotton, for the purpose Of cncou
aging the culture to the south, was three cents p
pound, whichis now from forty to fifty per cent.
the actual prices for which the article sells in Alat
The duty imposed in 1888, on manufactur
tobacco and on snuff, was six cents per pound on /
former, and eight cents on the latter, expressly
tended to secure the consumption of the country
our tobacco planters. This end it has fully
complished; as the importation of foreign snuff a
tobacco has been insignificant On brown sugar
necessary of life, and subject to heavy freight
about per cent. the duty is three cents per pou
varying, according 10 the prices in the West indi
from 80 to So per cent for the protection of the
gar planter. The constitutionality Of the protect
thus afforded to the commercial and planting int
ests has never been questioned.
So far as regards manufactures, the right of C
gress to protect them in that mode, was not only
mitted in the first congress, but srenuously adj
Gated by the most distinguished members of t
body-Madison, Ames, Fitzsimons, Carroll of c
rollton, Lawrence, Cymer Wadsworth, Boudil
sc. &c. many of whom were members of the
vention that framed the constitution The ri
let it be most distinctly Observed was never O
called in question in that congress-
The first act for raising a revenue by imp
I.i.r a hoo dol