Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-08-25
From Tic Virgiain Literary Museum.
TIE POLICY OF ENCOURAGING MANU-.


FACTURES.-No 6.
We mist place the Manc.ac, b. the side OF the
Agricviur:st I'D cr5on.
We have examined the principal objections
TO tie policy of encouraging manufactures in Virgil
mia, not perhaps with the o0pousncss that the sub
ject required bat as fully us accorded with the mar
row limits of this journal: and we think we have
sad enough TO satisfy any mind which mad preiudg-
ed the question, that those objections all invalid
that human abour is cheap cheaper than it is in
the countries whcii now supply with mann fac
lures; that if some parts OF the requisite CAPITAL are
dcaTer with lis than with them others yet cheaper;
that the moral and political evils GpprChendcd bv
some from the establishment of manufactures, arc Ell
Their visionary inevitable in any state of things
and would De lcsscned her than aggravated by such
establishments aud lastly, that the abour and capt
tai of country Go not, at all times and under all
circumstances, spontaneously take tie protita-
bic direction, but that, when it first Becomes advan-
tageous for nation to manufacture for itself. the
agency OF the government may be beretiCally
ed III inducing individuals 10 acquire the REQUISITE
skill and knowledge, in changing the habits and
overcoming prCJudlces of the consumers and in pro-
tec,ng the first undcrtakers against the hostility OF
foreign rivals, and ruinous fluctuations of trade.
These difficulties which meet in the threshold
and which have been so torcibly urged by the oppo.
ncn,s of the manufacturing policy being removed if
requires little argument to prove the benefits that
would arise from the introduction of manufactures
/ among It's. Every one knows that n country must
have clothes urnure tools and utensils, as well as
provisions, and that its wealth consists in the album
dance of the first species Of commodities, as we'll as
the last. 1t is evident that there are but two WAYS
of procuring the manufactured articles one, by Civ
ing produce in exchange for then and the other
Ivy fabricating them at home. The first msde de-
ponds on the concurrence Of foreign nations; VIC
cannot purchase of IhcIn if they viii not boy of US
If they refuse to purchase our -four and other bread
stuifs the states which have little else to export
must, OF necessity supply themselves with manufaC-
lures, do without them. This has been tic sua-
ton of the middle states, and part ofthis state for
he Inet Hpiu,r hu- i-,I, -
the market they formerly had in Great Britain for
Their principal staple, wheat and not finding it casy
TO tuin their industry into the ccusomed channe
Of manufactures the consequence has been that their
lands have fallen in price, with their products wages
have also fallen, and the incomes of an classes have
been proporonally diminished and thus, with all the
constituents of national wealth, except manufacturing
skill, we have, for want of that, been continually
growing poorer and poorer.
Let us suppose it practicable to acquire mauufac-
turing skill in Virginia, it seems reasonable TO sup
pose that could ?rofa5'y engage il The following
manufactures.