Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-10


habits and the wants of the wealthier ella sses Of !
her population. II is for cotton and for cotton on
~, sir, that this alarm is excited Our southern
friends. constituting less than one third of the pop
uiat,on OF the United States, and yet enabled by |
foreign regulation TO furnish nearly one half the
exports Of the country, require OF US, and not in
the most conciliatory terms0 TO continue trade |
invo'ving our certain ruin, rather than jeopardze
their valuable market. II there were any grounds
tor apprehension, the demand would be unreason- |
able. Seven millions Of people ought not to be
Pected to yield to the insulting and destructive
rogance OF foreign dctation in order that two mil
lions may revel in wealth and splendor.
But in sooth, sir, what ground is there for appre-
hension on this subject. Our cotton expectation,
like most OF our other expectations, has grown on
tne poison we have been administering. In 1916,
the date OF our first cotton tariff, but 81 900, 900 of
pounds found a market abroad. In 1924, the 81,
900 had swollen to LA. 900 900, and in 1927,
hadreached the enormous amount of 294 900 900 of
pounds. But this is not all--The domestic has
kept pace with the foreign market; and under the
operation Of our protecting system, our own facto-
ries, whose influence in 1916 was scarcely felt,
now furnish demand for more than 20 900 900 of
pounds per annum, being nearly fourth the for
eign exports.
Now, sir, while our southern friends are thus
finding market for one single article of their
production amounting to upwards of $50 ,OO0, 900,
we hardly think them entitled to complain of pre-
sent poverty; and believing with Mr. Cobbett (who
though an Englishnan, has furnished mos, I'm
answerable vindication of American interests "a
gaiast the expressions OF his own government)
that neither Nlr Huskisson, nor any other British
minister will be able TO find substitute for A.
merican cotton, will venture to close up the
mine OF wealth il had afforded TO Great Britain we
| cannot be driven from the protection of our own
interests by the groundless apprehension of inju-
ring the Interests of others. But if we should be
mistaken-if, contrary to our expectation, England
sacrificing her interest to her pride, should adopt
system Of retaliation, have this consolation
| ieit,-the foreign demand for our man ufactured
i mi sviII l.o
mutton of that for the material of which il is COM
posed and our angry sisters of the SOUTH aw AIKEN
ell TO the Importance of the domestic market to
he,r interests as well as ours will no longer think
elmer unconstitutional or impotc protect, to
encourage and to increase it. Sir, l look for
with anxious socitude, to the day mot as distant
perhaps as some may suspecD when Virginia and
Carolina and Georgia shall be united in a gener-
Gus effort to maintain American interests against
British oppression, and when that system which
we are now invited to denounce in no measured
terms, shall be hailed from every quarter of this
extensive country, as the harbinger Of national
prosperity, as the most efficient instrument Of ma
| tional greatness.
One word more on this branch of the subje ct.
and have done whit. The prejudces against our
protecting system have grown entirely out of the
impression, thai 1t has originated in the inter-
esbe OF the manufacturers that il has grown up I'M
der their influence that its object & effect mu st be
10 pour into their laps, the wealth to be uniustly
drawn from others Sir this is altogether mistake
The Tariff OF 1898 was, emphatcally the act of the
agricultural community. Opposed by a majority Of
the New England votes, its success is 10 be at
trouted exclusively to the agricultural votes of
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Della
ware, Maryland, Virginia, and the West. Its de.
sign was TO resist the destructive operafion of To-
reign regulation agriculture; and so far from
promoting the special interest of established manu-.
facturers,its effect will be- in the language of Gen
Hamilton, " by promoting internal competition,
TO do away every thing like monopoly and by de-
grees, to reduce the price of our domestic manu-
features to the minimum of reasonable profit on
the capital employed"
am afraid, sir, that have exhausted you az
well az myself-that have exhausted every thing
in fact, but the subject on which am engaged %
This is as bundlesS the interests to which il re-
rates; and were 10 attempt TO pursue il to the full
a1tentot me invitation it si:es, should be lust
~ chargeaole with abusing the kindness am now
enjoying. will satisfy myself, therefore, with
briefly indicating in very general terms the great
! advantages anticipate from the operation of our
Tariff laws. look TO il as the means of giving us
that sort OF independence of foreign nations essen
tai to our prosperity and safety in future wars
las calculated to draw to our shores manufacture
ing wealth, and manufacturing capital from abro,i
las Withdrawing our support from foreign labor,
ana giving profitable employment to the idle and
| uppTouuctlve labor OF our own country;-and a.
bove all, as providing steady and valuable mar
ket 10 our agricultural products, excluded abroad
by foreign regulation, and depressed home by TO-
| reign competition.
( 'hoo.c' 'cSoHeCts tue history oil the late war,
cannot fail TO appreciate that sort of preparation in
time OF peace, that will secure us against a de-
pendence OH foreign nations, al least Tor the SUD-
plies necessary for our very existence. single
fact speaks volumes this subject. At the com
mencement Of the war, the Secretary of the Trea-
sury found himself obliged to recommend to Con-
! gress such relaxation OF their military prepara-
lions, as to authorize the importation (perhaps from
our enemy Of 5000 blankets for the use of the In
dian Departmental Dutch fortress is said to have
once offered to supply the besieging army with
gunpowder But this is the first instance on ro-
cord, amagne, OF great nation proposing to pur-
chase Of its enemy, the means either of offensive
or defensive operations.
Vi the value OF foreign emigration TO MS the
northern and middle States furnish the most satis
factory evidence. Villages are there continualiv
sPriDging into existence. sustained themselves and
| afording valuable market 20 the surrounding
| country, by means Of the foreign capital and the
foreign skill, attracted to our shores Labor too
either idle, or at all events unproftably emploved
| and driven, perhaps, TO seek scsnty and uncer-
and thrifty employment ia the manufactures
growing up at home. And now in our own conn
try, how. many idle spinning wheels and discarded
! looms, have been called into active operation with
| in the last three o. four years. How many thou
sands oil dollars, hitherto devoted to the support of
British labor, and the support Of British manufac-
I lures are now employed in giving comfort and
prosperity to the poor tenants Of our almost desert
| ed forests?
But, sir, il is in the steadiness and continued in
crease OF the domestic market for our own produc.
tons, that Ind the most powerful, the most I'M
| answerabie argument in favor i our protecting
system. Even negroes US d to be clothed in
English wool while own wool was living a
| useless Iumjsr in our eranaries The vep5ars 81