Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-11-17
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DOMESTIC nIANVyACTURrs.

DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS.
fHEnfRIcIIsHURc Nov, I3.-in the Town Hall
on Saturday last, was held a meeting of the people of
fredericksburg, Falmoithaand the adjoining country.
for the purpose Of iuqui,iug into The pohcy Of estab
fishing Manufactures at the falls of tac Rappahau-
mock.
On 'noiiou Of Philip Harrison, Thos. Seldom was
called To the Chair aud Van. +. Gray appointed Seclc
tary.
Nh. Harrison, then rose to explain the objec, of the
meeting. He exposed the error of those economists
who would persuade Virginia that, As slave labor is less
profitable dian tree labor, she, being a s!ave-holdine
state, could not enter into competition with the North,
aud ought not therefore, 10 attempt the establish
'nent of manufactures. lie said that, having the
slaves, IL was desirable 10 apply them 10 the greatest
possible advaniage-3nj that at the present prices of
grain, they were properly estimated utterly valueicss
that our usual production falls far short OF our con-
sumption. and that a very large portion OF cur income
is sent abroad Tor manufactures.
As a remedy for these evils he suggested, that we
should manufacture for ourselves from which the
following advantages would flow: a part of that labor
now expended in agriculture would be more prcGta-
bly, enpioyed-the women now almost useless on a
farm or plantation, and children, heretofore idle con
sumers, might be advantageousiy engaged. That a.
we lessen tie sum uf agricultural labor, in the same
portion DO we increase the product of that sort of
labor-Ihat The number of persons distracted from the
cultivation OF the soil, does not diminish The cunsump-
ton OF rain or of any thing else that the cultiya,or can
bring INTO market, and by lessening The quantity pro
duced we enhance lis price aud increase the value Of
land aud slaves, thus directly bcnefttinr the farmer
and painter, whilst he is again Indirectly aenefittod by
Tie increased> activity of business generally, consc-
Tnent upon stopping the influx OF so enormous sum as
has been heretofore annually sent abroad for manu-
laClurcs.
He then proceeded to Illustrate The beneG, to he de.
rived from the proposed establishment, BY col!ating our
condition with those pieces at which the system has
oceu adopted. lie gave a sketch of the prosperity OF
certain manufacturing TOXINS in the North. He sIiew
Cd that where some five or six years ago, the stroke pi
the woodman. axe had never been heard, busy and
hourlshing villages now greeted the eye of the aston
Isied and delighted traveller-and that where misera-
bic villages late with difficulty cantrivcd 10 exist. proud
cities now reared their stately domcs, aud shot their
%Glttering spires toward the slIy.
All this had been done by manufacturers, and why
should not we go aud do likewise?-we to whom nature
has oeen 50 u:isparingly hnunti!ui-we, situated nj The
highest point OF navigation of a noble river aForiine
almost boundlcss water pnwer-why, said Mr.. III. shall
not we avail ourselves of these incalculabIc advantages,
and rescue ourselves from impending and o;ller"iso au-
avOIdabie rum
Col. S'orrow then Addressed the meeting. lie rose,
he said, for the purpose Of pressing upon the attention
OF the assembly some points on which Mr.. Harrison
had not, lie thu't, sufficiently dwelt. lie begged leave
10 state that the time had been when The gabors of the
agrculurist IN Va. were richly rewarded; but that
time had gone by-tLe sssScT of wealth which then
poured in upon the state was imp..!ed by artificial
causos-it grew out of the then condition o. Europe,
TO which the pages of history present no parallel, and
which wall not IN all ~rrobabil ~ again occur. The
sarneis o! Europe yawned 10 receive our gain. Row,
however, this extraordinary state of things had ceased
TO exist, and with ithad expired our prosperity.
lie said that communities hike individuals were fast
approaching bankruptcy, when their ex ncnses eXcec-
ied their income. Such was tue case of Virginia, and
il was The duty Of every patriot 10 look arouri5 H.!
for some means u which tie absolute ram new staring
! Us in the lace night be avoided. Tie establishment
Of Manufactures presented the only Imaginable means
by which tins dGs;deratuu could be gained.
70 The selfish, he said, that although they NIGH not
be seasitIe o.any benefit directly accruing 10 them
selves, yet the prosperity ofaay community necessafi.
Iy EXTENDED its enjgenirg influence TO every inIiyidu-
a! member OF that community.
We regret that as neither of ttcso gentlemen spoke
from noies, "e are unable TO give 10 tie public more
lhaD the preceding meagre sketch Of their reasoning,
for which we have been obliged to rely on our own
very imperfect manipulating been so Negligent as
not 10 take q single note at the time.
Col. Siorrow concluded his very neat and furcibie
address by presenting some resolutions which were
adopted mem. Con. and which we should have been glad
to publish for lie benefit OF other paris of the state, bur
that a gentleman 10 whom they we're len. for peIusal,
has carried A-m cHwith him nc person can tell where.
L.lyeaa.