Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-30

nation; trade with winch no other nation has
right to interfere IL follows, ofnecessty, that the
parent country, whenever il opens colonial port
for direct trade TO foreign country, departs it.
self, from the principle OF colonial monopoly and
entities the foreign country to the same recipro-
city in every respect in its intercourse with any
other ports Of the nation.
! This is common sense and common risht. II
| is still more, il more could be required Ii is in
conformity with the established usage OF all
| tons, other than Great Britain which have colo.
nies. Some of those nations known to adhere
TO the monopoly of their colonial trade, with all the
rigor and constancy which circumstances permit
But il is also known, that, whenever. and from
whatever cause, it has been found necessary or
eXpedient to open their colonial ports to q foreign
trade the rule of reciprocity in favor Of the foreign
party was not refused, nor, is believed, right
10 refuse It pretended.
\! II cannot he said that the reciprocity was die
tated by deficiency OF the commercial marine
France, at least, could be, in every instance
governed by that consderation-and Holland,
still less: to say nothing Of the navigating States
| OF Sweden and Denmark, which have rarely if
ever, enforced colonial monopoly. The remark
IS, indeed, obvious, that the shipping liberated
from the usual conveyance OF supplies from the
parent country to the colonies might be employ
ed in the new channels opened for them, in sup
plies from abroad.
Reciprocity, or an equivalent for it, is the only
+, rule OF intercourse among independent commu-
mites; and no nation ought to admit doctrine. or
adopt an invariable policy, which would preclude
The counteraciing measures necessary to enforce
! the rule.
! g The Theory supposes, moreover, perpetual
peace; supposition, is to be feared not less CHI
meiical than universal freedom Of commerce.
| The effect OF war among the commercial and
manufacturing nations OF the world, in raising the
wages oil labor and the cost of its products; with
like effect on the charges OF freight and insurance
need neither proof nor explanation. In order
! TO determine, therefore, question OF economy
between depending on foreign supplies, and en-
aoi tic ,I-tf,
compare the probable periods of with the
probable periods OF peace; and the cost Of the
domestic encouragement in times of peace with
the cost added to foreign articles in times Of war
Durlng the last century, the periods OF war and
peace have been nearly equal. The effect of
state OF war i'll raising the price of imported arti-
Giles, cannot be estimated with exaciness. Ii is
certain, however, that the increased price of par
ticular articles may mako il chcnper 10 manufac-
ture them at home.
Taking, for the sake of Illustration an equality
in the two periods, and the cost of an imported
yard OF cloth in time of war to be 50 l-2 and in
time OF peace tobe 81. whilst the same could at
all times be manufactured at home for SO, it is
evident that tariff OF 81 A on the imported
yard would protect the home manufacture in time
OF peace, aud avoid tax of 81 IL imposed by a
. state OF war.
II cannot be said that the manufactures which
could not support themselves against foreign com.
petition la periods of peace, would spring up of
. themselves at the recurrence of war prices. II
must be obviousto every one, that apart from the
uiiilcuty OF great and sudden cha nges of employ
;nent, no prudent capitalists would engage in ey
, pensVe establishments of any sort, at the COM
mencement OF war Of uncertain duration with
certainty OF having them crushed by the return
OF peace.
The strictest economy therefore suggest. asex.
ceptions TO the general rule, an estimate in every
gwen case, oil war and peace periods and prices
with inierences therefroIn, of the amount of ia
rf which might be afforded during peace in order
m "a mir tba fay
occur at once, that the differences will be strength
ened by adding, to the supposition of wars wholly
| foreign, that of wars in which our own country
might be party.
3. II is opinion in which all must agree that
no nation ought to be unnecessarily dependent
on others for the munitions of public defence or
for the materials essential TO naval force where
the nation has maritime frontier or foreign
commerce to protect. To this class of exceptions
| to the theory may be added the instruments of
| agriculture, and of the mechanic arts which sup
| ply the other primary wants of the community
| The time has been, when many of these were de-
! rived from foreign source, and some of them
! might relapse into that dependence, were the en-
| enlargement 10 the fabrication Of them at home
Withdrawn. But, as all foreign sources must be
liable to Interruptions too announcement 10 be ha-
zarded, providen policy would favor an internal
I, and Independent source, AZ reasonable excep-
ton to the general rule of consulting cheapness
lone.
4. There are cases where nation NAV be so
far advanced in the prerequisites for particular
branch OF manufactures, that this, if once brought
into existence, would support itself; and vet un-
less aided in its nascent and infant state, by public
encouragement and confidence in public pro,ec-
ton, might remain, il not altogether, for long
time uninterrupted, or attempted without success
Is not our cotton manufacture fair example? How
ever favored by advantageous command of the ray
material, and machinery which dispenses in so
extraordinary proportion with manual labor, it is
quite probable, that without the impulse given by
war cutting off foreign supplies and the patronage
OF an early tariff il might not yet have estab-
shed itself: and pretty certain, that it would be
lar short OF the prosperous condition which eDa- |
bles it TO face, in foreign markets, the fabrics of
nation that denies all other competitors The |
number must be small, that would now pronounce |
this manufacturing boon not 10 have been cheapIv !
purchased by the tariff which nursed il into its |
present maturity.
b. Should il happen, as has been suspected, TO !
be an object, though not of a foreign government
itself, Of its great manufacturing Capitalists 10 |
srange in the cradle the infant manufactures of |
an extensive customer, or anticipated rival. it |
would surely, in such case, be incumbent on the |
suffering party, so lar TO make exception to the |
'let alone" policy, as to parry the evil by opposite
regulations OF its foreign commerce
D. IL is common objection TO the public en-.
couragement Of particular branches of industry |
that il calls off laborers from other branches found
to be more profitable; and the objection is in gene
raj weigbty one. But il loses that character |
in proportion 10 the effects of the encourage |
ment in attracting skillfu labourers from abroad /
Something Of this sort has already taken place |
among ourselves, and much more Of IL is in pros |
pee and as far ss il has taken or NAV take |
place, It forms an exception to the general policy
in question.
The history OF manufactures in Great Britain, |
the greatest manufacturing nation in the world 1
in rrnu hat tfsx Il. s.fl-