Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-09-28
VIRGINIA 1Eors1ArUaE.
lcOntin"atioaerar. Gdess Special

pos, reduced, Great Bliiain might have beea
influenced hy Ieciprocatins spirit, TO have re,uc-
ed her tariff t. on American productions! In that
Case, the reciprocal benefits of fair cuunercisl
intercourse between the two couatries, woul !
have been substituted in place of the IRE ent ie-
tsliatory, crpfIng system; a most unwi-e. un-
profitable TRIAL, of who could do the other III l.t
harm. DO you not think, sir, tina, trial, of who
shall 90 the other osi coed, would be far more
advantageous TO both? Bat, says plotting, de .
ludei oi ator " The sole object oil the tariff, i to
tax the produce OF foreign industry, with a view
Ut promoting American industry" a mos, ua-
wi-e contrvance for promoting American indus,r,
II can never be promoted by Gripping foreign in .
dustry Surely the wiser plan 10 promote Ame'i
can industry, woull be TO promote foreign industry.
This would be easily effected by liberal, recirro-
cal, commercial intercourse. This would be IN
The true commercial spiri', which always tends TO
benefit all nations which act under its benign in
huence. The principle OF commercial in,eicou e
consists in the interchange between different
tons oi goods, 50 rs to supply the reciprocal
vans OF each other; money Is used only 10 make
up the difference OF the value of the inierchanged
good. The capacity of one nation 10 purchase Of
another, therefore, depends u; on the amount of
goods sur lied by that one nation Tor the other. IL
the government of tie United States had taken
freely British manufactured goods, the capacity OF
GTeat Britain to purchase our articles, would have
been increased aud OF course, ,irrat Britain
would purchase more vi our goods, and at better
prices, than can be done, when British goods are
either prohibited or heavily duiied. Suppose, in
stead OF the commercial warfare, wHging he
tween the u : and Great Britain, evidently hav
ing lis original Foundation la the tariff, free
ntrcisi intercourse We're going on; such was
cOatsi ed la The Brii-h overture, with such fur
tIer concessions as Great Britain would probably
have made, upoa relaxation our part ia the
duties upon her manufactures; what would be In
a
the two counties, GOWN. out of that Intercourse,
compared with il nov IL could not be possible
TO estimate ii; niscalcuatng orator, wi h all
his ariihmetical results, from his generous stalls
scs, could come within humid els OF millions
OF dollars OF the d!Iere' OF the two cases. Here
then, sir. l. ri the great errors, In the
tictive system, well one OF lis greatest evils
But our gssconadirg orator looks for American pros
periiy 10 the depression OF foreign nations, and lac
never fails TO enforce his uDgracious policy, upon
foreign nations, without gasconsdIng, without tilt
and tournament. Our gs.coBadii orator once
CAMEL this disposition of his, Tor III and tour
nsnent so far, tial, we'll as / recolec', in snO-
ILef at his lr,Ze speeches ia favour OF the Greeks,
oveIHowing wrh Paihos aud sGbiimatiOns, he
hell uI, ,,.,li,oa of gIit,eriuH American ayo,
neis, III terror, 10 as,onished Enope Equally
unfortunate has deluded orator been, IN the
selection CT another article, luxurious
eXempiihcation vi the wisdom OF The British res
IL
possible, that lie could have hit uron any single
article, which could have so completely put doyn
his reasoning from the iish restrictive policy -
tie article of elk because q. Britain, Iasing less
,ilk than sufficient tor her home Consumption,
lands in relation to foreign nations respecting the
article OF silk precisely The u >. do, respecting
the article of cotton. regards the supply OF the
home market. Bat hear the dashng, mistaken
orator, in his own words from pages II. L.
So The success OF her restrictive policy, is s;rik-
ingly illustrated, Ia the article OF silk. IN the
Of that article she ahours under great
besides that Of not Producing the
raw material. she hos -ubdded them all; aud the
increase OF the manufacture has been most rapid.
Although she is still unable main ia foreign
countries, successful competition with the silks
OF France, of India. aud OF Italy and therefore
ports but little, sbe gives to two millions Of the
raw erial, which she imports, ia various forms
a value of tea millions, winch chiefly enter into
British consumption. Let Us suppose, that she
was dependent upon foreign nations for these ten
millions, whist jIiIOuS effect would it not
have upon hes COMMERCIAL relations with them!
The average Of Tie exports OF British manufac-
lures, during the peace exceeds the average OF The
most productive years OF tie war" il is now
well known, that The British government has ac-
tusly reduced The Irohbitcry duty OF ton egn silks
10 mere revenue duty; utterly denounc!ng the
policy Of protecting duties, particularly in regard
dg!eul wailngs, as to the injurious effects OF
ducing the duly; but The repeal o! the laws, for IT'S
reelection, Las beea refused; and The policy OF the
repeal re-asseTted ahd proclaimed Dy the British
ministry end na;ioD. Here, then, is another most
conspicuous example Uf the de,u-ve errors, into
Which niiscscuIa ing orator had fallen; well
a. Of his total destiiuton oi Tie gift OF propL ~.
But, Mr.. Speaker, laneRtahle reflection, that
The dearest demonstrations OF the
destructive effect Of the TsriA, il is only TO he
peTseveIed III in this country but 10 inc enlarge y
extended TO other Objects But, Mr.. Speaker leay-
lag these ioIeigncomplex subjects, let US hear our
sublniated orator, upon our own constitution
propose 10 give ihc whole Of lis TemTks upon
that subject, bersu-e, having before expressed my
visws OF the IDyidou4 spini Of those remarks, 9th
eis may have the same opportunity OF judging in
that Iespect, with myself.
ES',acf, poge 81.
6 The last objection wIih notice Of which
shall trouble the committee IL that Ule Constitution
does not authJfizs The ra,sage OF Tie bit. The
gentleman from Virginia does not assert indeed,
that it is incou ~ With tie express pfOyi-iOns
OF that Instrument, bu he thinks It incompatible
with the spirit Of the constitution. If we attempt
to provide for tse internal Improvement of the
country, the constitution, accordlDg TO some gentle
men, stands in our way. II we aueippt to protect
American industry against foreign policy and The
rivalry Of foreign industry the con-ttuion presents
an nsupersble obstacle. This constitution must
be a singular instrument; 10 seems TO he made Tor
any otter PEOPLE than our own. LIS action Is al
together foreign; Congress has power lay duties
and imports under no other limitation Whatever
than that Of Their being uniform throughout the
United States Bitthey can only be imposed, ac-
cording TO the honorable gentleman, iOi the sole
purpose Of revenue. This Is restriction which
we DO not fad in the constitution. NO doubt re-
venue was principal object wi'h The trainers Of
the constitution in Investing Congress with the pow