Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-12-16

lsc froal what has bcln paid towards the reduction
OF the debt has been less than ten per cent and the
latter has been chiefly caused by internal improve
mcnts. The increase III receipts may be accounted
for, part but not at all to this extent by the in
creased duties under the Tariff of 1921. The
imports during the four years ending with 1898, en-
coed those OF the preceding touryears by aver
age of more than fifteen per cent, in each year The
exports of domestic produce for the four years ending
with 1928, exceed those of the four years ending with
lG24, by an average OF more than twenty-one per
cent, each year The increase in the consuption of
foreign articles during the time has been on an
average, upwards of eighteen per cent each year.
It's believed that the shipping oftho United States
will be found to have Increased during the last four
years, in far ratio with their commerce and revc-
The returns under this head ure not sufficient
ly complete, ut the present moment to speak with
precision. II IL certain that the whole mercantile
shipping of the Union, including that employed in the
coasng trade well all that is embarked in for
--,: and the fisheries exceeds at this time
fifteen hundred thousand tons That eS 10 her ma
ton Is probably rs large England excepted. la 1873
the tonnage Of the Union but little more tlIan
twelve hundred thousand Its greatest increase since
that year, in ofthe years under examinations
viz: in 1896 The profits of freight upon this large
amount of tonnage, the ships of the United States
being almost exclusively the carriers of the commerce
Of the nation, centre at home and make large atid
| ton to livestock of capital at home.
The foregoing, statements indicate steady advance
IN the national prosperity. The reality of this adj
vance Is only to be measured by aggregate results,
asccrtained at proper intervals of time. 1t is useful
to present such results They show the general
condition OF the country, viewed not in parts but
under one undivided whole. They attest the positive
growth of its riches and the rapditv othc growth Inv
comparison They afford resting points for doubtful
opinions when all desire to arrive at those that NAV
appear best supported by results No single eve can
take them all uasSiStcd by the authentic returns
which 1t Is the province the Government and Chief.
ly OF the Department of the Treasury, to watch over
and Promulgate, endeavoring also to trace them to
their causes. Il State whose natural resources and
territory arc abundant, whose institutions are free
and whose interests diversified may witness oc-
caSona and temporary pressure upon some of those
interests, whilst all the great branches of its industry
are IN course Of sure development. But transient
inconvenience Is lost III the aggregate prosperity and
must, III the end, participate in thut prospc y 1t is
thus that great States, under successful systems of
Legislation, go onward in their career of riches and
power. Not only has there been Il marked increase
OF lmportatons and revenue in the United States du-
ring the last four years and of expectation fdo,nestic
commodities, but like dminuton in re expectations
The latter IS very striking, and justifes the infer
euce not merely of increased desire to import for
the purpose of meeting the contingencies of trade or
specul0tIon but of increased ability in the conn
try TO purchase and foreign fabrics. The incrcas
ed consumption ofthc latter and the increase in rev.
enue have exceeded the ratio of the increase of cu
ties under the tariff of 1924 and the presumed in
crease OF population also. The exports of domestic
products have increased more than four fold faster
than the increase of population given by the census
at periods the most favorable. These facts cannot
instead They point to an unequivocal increase SO
Jar In the prosperity of the naon-StatsticsI testi
Inonials for single year or for more than one n,ov
rise or tal III amount from causes that POSTPONE all
permanent conclusions; but where they are seen TO
go on IN an increasing train throughout succession
OF years, 1t Is rational to ascrbc them TO causes be-
ginning to fixed character If we review
the last four years period of time in commercial
history, we find little in the circumstances of the
world either from general otherwise to affect
foreign markets beyond the ordinary fluctuations in
no
raons IN the cotton market that fell upon the first of
these years, VIZ: S2, conceived TO i,,pair te
applicability the remark because there has been
TINE enough tor diminished expectations as conse-
qucncc of the large expectations of that wear No
term indeed, OF eight years, since the establishment of
the Government, has been RS exempt from the ;pfn
ence external Events that disturb the regular ope
fatlons OF naIonal industry and commerce. az the last
eight None therefore. could be fairly taken for the
comparative statements that have been made
lt does not escape recollection that from 1871 TO
l"io, there were cpochs whom the foreign commerce
OF the country advanced with even moro rapidtv than
is here stated when it was greater absoluteIv and
therefore greater in proportion to the population of
the country But during that long interval, there
prevailed IN Europe, with scarcely perceptbic in
terruptlon, desoatng wars, which created an unpar
allied demand for our staple productions and broiobt
tnem up TO extravaganza prices. This, with our neu-
trail attitude which gave to our CARVING trade =
scope almost unboundcd, raised expectations and i'm
portations to artificial pitch that can never be 70
under circumstances ordinary and regular Ii
Is known that during portions of that interval our
trade IN foreign produce far exceeded that in domcs
TIC. 1t Is wholly otherwise now. The mere profits
on our tonnage at that early day Of the Republic by
the capital which it introduced gave ofitse the ca
pacIty for an enlarged consumption foreign articles
on "a, comparatively smaller basis of population.
fhc increased consumption of foreign articles in ,
the united States during the last four years as COM
pared with the four Tint preceded, may it is believed
he ascrbed IN no nconsiderable degree to the advan
ceS which home labor has been making in various
ways IN the country since 1924 The creation and
SUBDIVISION OF home labor must bring new wealth to
TINS country, they haveto other countries:
ana with 1T an increased ability to buy articles Of all
kinds The reports from this Department within |
thcse tour years have respectfully, but earnestly ur-
ged upon Congress the eXpediency offostering manu-
fdcturing labor under the conviction deeply entertain
cd that IN its success is largely to be found the true
ground work Of financial power. 1t will ultimately
unfold the means of providing revenue for the public
IL