Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-06-05
T k,o,n .H-,les Reersier.)

IF the people, to influence their judgment-though
ae distinctly and specifically withdrew them in his
celebrated letter to Benjamin Austin-but others of
his opinions, and entitled to the authority, and
which were not SO withdrawn, have been suffered to
sleep in peace. We not ut all disposed to adopt
them-they are wholly unsuited, or inapplcable, to
the present state of society-but revive them,
for the benefit of the counting house statesmen, who
SO much admire his opinions first above referred to.
In the 22nd query [''Notes Virginia., MIR. JEFF
fcrson said, perhaps to remove much posi-
bic the occasions for making IL might be better
for us to abandon tie ait0gethe,-sto ieaue 10
ohersto bring ,cat shall ,oant and 10 carry aoay
'chat ice pare" 'Hmght he time enough to seek
employment for them 1.-The cultivaors of the soil at
sea, achen the land longer et9ersit."
u Now--why should We net as well have ALWAYS
employed an English slipowner transport goods to
us, an English manufacturer TO make them,
But it may be said-transportatio in American
vessels, cheap if in British vessels but Amer
can manufactured goods not cheap as British.
We sha! admit both propositions for the sake of the
argumenthough the latter il not true, in point of
fact, TO large number Of very important and val
liable articles
The shipping and commercial interests of the Uni
ted States were protected by discriminating duties
on tonnage and mpost, from 1859 TO 1816--say 81
years. The chief part of this period the discrmna-
ton was 81 cents per ion and ten per cent less Duty
in favor of American vessels, and goods imported in
them A foreign ship Of 800 tons, paid 500 dollars
tonnage duty-an American only 10; and SO 600 dol
lars worth of goods imported in American vessel
if paying 10000 duty. would have paid eleven thou
sand, If imported in foreign one. These discrimn-
ations in many cases, perhaps generally, were about
equal to the rosote pay of the seamen employed IN
the transportation of the goods! The effect of this
protection was, that though in 100 the foreign tom
mage employed in trade WAS as 4I.4 to lOO it
was reduced to the rate of Sd to 100 in 1871 -ac-
cording to Seybert, page 294. 1t is true this great
reduction ght have been partly caused by the Eu-
ropean wars, and our restrictive measures other
than the discriminating duties But the result was
chiefly brought about by the protection afforded-as
may be sewn from this fact, that in 1890 no less than
557 British vessels were employed in commerce with
us, and in 1900 only 1879. In 1890, the American
vessels empoyed in the trade with Great Britain were
464-in 1900 they amounted to ,O57. In 1866,
the average proportion Of foreign tonnage entering
our ports, compared With the American was about as
ITO lO0 Those two years are, perhaps, the fair
est that can be selected shew the operation of this
first part of the american system"
But, besides the discriminating duties we built and
have supported navy for the express purpose of pro-
tecting our navigation and commerce, which estab-
shment has cost us, in monies actually paid out of
the public treasury between ninety and an hundred
millions Of dollars since the year 1877 and we now
have one squadron in the Mediterranean another in
the Pacific, third off Brazil &c. and fourth in the
West Indies, all engaged in the protection of COM
merce--though foreign ships and seamen are at our
service for the transportation of commodities and by
employing them, we might relieve ourselves of the
cost of the navy. But every body says that this
ranch of the national industry be defended and
we proceeded TO war for it in 1879. The Whole
cost of that war must be charged the protection of
commerce, and the militarysa and other expenses be
added to the naval to shew the amount OF protection
extended
In 1915, because ofwiat had been done to nnture
navigation and commerce, felt strong enough to
OTTER free trade to all nations who would extend free
trade to us-aud the discriminating duties were ar
ranged to cease III all cases, whenever such duties
ceased TO act against us. When manufactures shall
have been thus protected free trade in them may be
equally allowed. Nothing or as next to nothing
has yet been drawn out Of kept from the public
treasury for the protection of anuactu nor hov,
the people been taxed" is said for the benefit of
manufacturers The simple fact, that the receipts
OF the treasury have increased, and the price of com
modties decaed since the passage of the tariff laws
puts to shame the declarations of our enerpies-and
should induce those who have been so literally pro-
tected, ana who are now 80 powerfully defended To
be willing that others of their fellow citizens should
be so protected and defended, if necessarv--unt a.
Die to take care OF themselves. The protection of
our navigation caused Great Britain to adopt her free
trade notions as to imports and tonnage Britain
desires free trade" with for the sale of woollen
ann cotton goods--but will not allow US sfree trade"
for the sale OF the products of fields of our for
ests or fisheries, except in cotton only which she
cannot do without. Ifthe policy which was applied
TO navigation had been extended to manufactures
the American farmer would long ago been permit
red to exchange barrel of flour for bundle of cali
Goes, in the Liverpool market; tobacco ard rice
would have been placed on footing very different
from that which they hold at present; and lumber
md fish would have had an open and valuable mar
ket, i'll being sold to those Of whom we made orr
chief purchases; and should not be engaged in
carrying our commodities, (which Britain rejects),
to places or 10000 miles dist .1t begging the pur
chase of them, that we may obtain the precious me-
tails and throw them into the lap of Great Britain. in
exchange for her'' bookings and baizes," and bob
bins and tnpes We should have had u FREQ and hon
est traffic in productions or refused to trade a.
togetheT. we should not have suffered The preatI
loss that we have, in exchanging manual labor for
scientific labor-of permitting one girl, at Mancbes
ter with machines, to create value equal to that of
SIX or eight of our farmers and barter one for the
other. ~
LABORERS WANTED,
On the taPpuhannock Canal near FTedcrieksbv,,r
H'ROm sd to 80 able bodied will find con-