The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-04-25
From Niles Register.

THE WOOLLEN DIArSUFACTURE.
A very respectable gentleman, speaking
of this subject in letter to the editor,
says-"I should be particularly gratified
to see an article from your pen on the
woollen manufacture of this country, which
now languishes so much.-It is a settled
fact that, unless something be done by con-
gress at the merit session, that that great
branch of domestic industry will he entire
ly abandoned, and then it will be distinctly
seen whether the consumer obtains his
cloth any cheaper. Stock may be Purchas-
ed at this time in the best established wool
len factories in New England for fifty cents
upon the dollar, and generally it will not
command near that price. 1t Is to be re-
GREETED that the question of protection to
this article of our own manufacture could
not have been settled at the last session OF
congress upon its merits independently OF
local or political considerations, in which
case an appeal to the next congress would
not have been necessary. Most of the OPP
posers of the bill lately before congress,
seemed to lose sight entirely of the impor-
tam fact, that, Immediately upon the re-
ceipt in England of the tariff law of 1924,
the British government reduced the duty
upon imported woods from six pence ster-
ling to one penny per pound, making diff
ference of about thirty per cent. | do
hope that, in another year, the wool grotc-
erS will demand of congress what the man
lfacturers asked this year."
O If aught from sour penn can serve
this great interest, it shall not be wanting.
We have collected and have in preparation
for publication. much important matter
bearing upon it. In our opinion, every
class of society in the U. States is deeply
concerned in the prosperity of this bust
ness-especially the farmers, as was shewn
in late article in this paper. Superadded
to the manifest advantages attendant upon
t & n6 6F5 Of tnt this %9aG1gHastHTs there here
this--that our woollen factories have
already caused a large reduction in the
cost of goods to consumers and that, if
they are protected as the cotton manufac-
lures are, the same effects will follow in
few years-say four or FIVE. That is, that
woollen goods will be thirty, forty or fifty
per cent. cheaper than their former aver
age regular prices; and the home market
for wool will circulate among the farmers,
at the end of the period stated, not less
than thirty millions Of dollars gear. Shall
the creation of this mighty value be lost on
account of local considerations, party COM
binations of visionary fears? Fears which,
whenever tested by experience, have al
ways been instantly dissipated. Nay, we
are prepared to go further and say, that,
with rightful encouragement, wool iciU be-
come to our farmers, what cotton IS to our
planters. Why should it not-why should
such a result be resisted ?-The low price
of land in the United States, with the
moderate taxes upon it, and the cheapness
of subsistence for shepherds and others at
tending on the focks, naturally point out
our country as to be the greatest ,oOoI mark
ct IN the loorId. Why should we neglect
or refuse this splendid source of wealth
and prosperity, which is so completely with
in our reach But we shall take up this
matter and discuss it at length-confden
of success in bringing its facts home to the
understandings and the pockets of those
who will patiently hear us: and we do re-
spectfully think, that the people ought to
hear us, because that, thus far, so many of
cur calculations have been realized. Among
them we shall just notice what we urged
years ago as to the effects that would fol-
low the extended cultivation of cotton, and
the benefits that would result to the plant
ers from the domestic manufacture of it.
1t is the last which, at this present time,
preserves them from actual general ruin.
Many of them see and know this-but the
pride of opinion permits only few to ae-
. knowledge it.