Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-08-04


with the mostserious Consequences"
From Tie Pirginiu Literary Museum
THE POLICY OF ENCOURAGING MANU-
FACTURES.
re place Ire aaautact.re, b he ai nm, No.
Ticntftt'1st-J JEFFERSON
Let not the reader suppose that we mean 10 dis
cuss the merits of the Tariff The time NAV come
when wetoo may have Something to say OH that vex-
ed question; and when the passions which now min
gle IN the discussion having subsidized we shall endca
your to shew how far think that both parties have
pushed their arguments too far, and bow far we coin
clGe with either. AT present we shall confine our
selves to the inquiry whether is once practicable
and wise to promote manufactures in Virginia.
ne hihd OF the writer OF The following remarks
las undergone change within year or Two Ms TN
the capacity OF this State fpr manufacturing estab-
hshments In considering the general stagnation Of
trade, the depression of prices which our ST na
modltles had experienced Some years, and the
consequent distress Felt by the rrcat body OF tho
community, lie thought he perceived remedy for
our loss OF foreign markets. and the redundancy of
our agricultural products in the diversion of "a rart
al our capital and industry into the new channel of
manufactures. Nor he singular in that change
ofopIrion, as was proved by the newspapers those
faithful mirrors OF public sentiment, in which have
appeared from time to time several sensible ESSAYS
inviting attention TO the subject
Within the last twevemonth however. a favorable
Change has taken place, the prices both of wheat &
fobacco our planters and farmers have received say
1ng and In some instances liberal prices for their pro-
I
of the interest it lately excited among u.s. In the
joys OF returning health we have forgotten both the
disease and the DoctorsEE
But Is the present change for the better pc rrna-
nent; and may not the malady, suspended for time
return with aggravated force? The price of tobac-
co, always fiuctuating according to the quantity
made, is higher at present tor the short crop made the
preceding year; aud the price of w.4ea. we know to
have been raised by the aure of the last harvest in
Europe.
When these accidental circumstances shall no
longer exist, we must expect that the superabun
dant supply OF our staple products will again cause
them to be'o dali sale at low prices; that the profits
of slaves and the value of land will fail in proper
ton; and that our citizens, not availng themselves
OF the materials of wealth they so andy Iiossess
will be again made to feel, perhaps with renovated
severity, the evils of poverty and debt.
now then is the time to prepare for the too
probable change in affairs, and to ask ourselves
1t the evils rremediable. There arc indeed per-
SONS who the public with assigning very diff
terent causes for the disreeses of the country from
those here suggested: attributIng them to the
Tariff; others to the multiplication of Banks and 9th
ers again to the loss of the English West India trade
But the prices OF all domestic products depend
upon those of whess.. tobacco and cotton, which
again depend upon the prices these commodities
bear IN other countries is not seen that the causes
which have been thus assigned can have 7much moro
agency IN producing pecuBiary difficulties than
the last years comet; and the credulity which now
assents to the one would two centuries ano have
readily admitted the other.
IT does seem to me, repeat, that a remedy for the
mischief may be found in transfer Of part of our
productive industry from agriculture manufactures;
winch new distribution of labour, by icssening tie
suPerabundance of the products that VIC must now
ind market for abroad will raise their prices, and
by lessenDg our dependence foreign countries for
articieso OF consumption will make Us better able to
I pay Tor such as we may continue to purchase.
But before we further consider the benefits Of this
new direction of our industry, let us examine the
objections which have been urged to the establish
ment of manufactures in Virginia. They may be
reduced to four, LIST. the high price Of 1abour and
the high rate of interest among US. 3D. The disad-
vantages of slave labour. 9. Those objections OF
moral and political character. q. Those arising
from the principles of free trade. OF which the two
first deny the practicability Of the proposed remedy
and the two last, its policy though it were practi
cable.
First. The high rates oj'oages and. Of interest IN
this country
This objection is founded on the connexion which
rs known to exist between the value of labour
the progress of society 1t is readily conceded that
as population advances, raw produce rises and labor
falls by which is meant that the same portion Of Ia
Dor will exchange for less and less portion of raw
produce Thus labour bears a lower price in En-
gland than in the United States and yet lower in Ire
land than IN England, and lower still III India o
China The profits of capital or the national inter
est OF money, though governed by different laws. il
like manner decreases with the progress Of wealth
and IS therefore lower in ph.iadelyh.a than in Ken