Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-09-16
SPEECH OF HENRY CLAY.

Delivered at the .vechanics COLLATION. In the .3ppoo
mum Garden, Cincinnati, on he Sd .avg 1880.
CONTINUED
But iii confidently believed that the consumption
Oh cotton iaorcs on the suppositlon which has been
made, with the United States would be much less
than Is at present 1t would he less, because the
American consumer would not possess tho means or
ability to purchase as much of tho European fabric,
RS ne now does to buy the American Europe per
chases but little OF the produce OF the Northern, Mid
die and Western regions OF the U. States Tho sta
pie productions OF those regions are excluded from
her consumption by her policy or by hcr native sup
phes OF similar Productions.-The effect, therefore,
OF obgng the inhabitants of those regions to depend
upon the cotton manufacturers of Europe for ncces-
sry supplies OF the article, would be IKE injurious
10 them aud to the cotton grower. They would suf-
Ter from their inability 10 supply their wants. and
there would be cons Ircnt dImnuton of the con-
sumption of cotton. BY the location of the manu-
acture IN the United Satrs The quantity of cotton
Consumed Is increased, and their numerous por
ton OF their inhabitants who would be otherwise
sufficiently supplied, are abundantly served. That
this Is the true state OF things, think cannot be
doubted by any rejecting and unprejudced man.
The establishment of manufactures within the Uni
ted States, enables the manufacturer to sell to the
farmer, the mechanic, the physician, the lawyer and
all who ore engaged IN other pursuits of life. and
these, IN their turns, supply the manufacturer with
subsistence, and whatever else his wants require.
Under the influence OF the protecting policy, many
new towns have been built and old ones enlarged
The population OF thesepaces their subsistence
from the farming interest of country their fuel
from our forests and coal mnes and the raw mater,-
ais from which they fashion and fabricate, from tho
cotton planter and the mines Of our country. These
mutual exchanges. SO animatng and nvigor ating to
the industry OF the people of the United States could
possibly be affected between America Ind En-
rope,f the latter enjoyed the monopoly OF manutac
turing
Ii results therefore. that so far as the sale of,he
great southern staple is concerned, greater quaint
ty sold and consumed, and consequently better pri
ces are obtained, under the operation OF the Aner-
can System than would be without IL. Does that
system obiigo the cotton planter to buy daarer or
worse articles OF consumption that he could pur
chase, if it did not exist
The same cause of American and European com.
petition which enables him to sell Of The prod
ucc of his industry and better prices also enables
him to buy cheaper and better articles for consump-
ton. 1t cannot DC doubted that the tendency OF tho
competition between the European and American
manufacturer IS 10 reduce the price and improve the
quality of their respective fabrics, whenever they
come into collision. This is the ,mmutablc law Of
all competition. Ii the American manufacture were
discontinued, Europe would then exclusively furnish
those supplies which derived from the cs-
adjustments in both Continents; and the first con-
sequence would be an augmentation of the demand
beyond the supply equal to what is manufactured
n the United States but which, in the contingency
supposed, would be wrought in Europe. If the des-
tIuc!ion ofthe American manufactures were Sudden,
there would be sudden and probably considerable
rise in the European fabrics. Although. in the end
they might be again reduced, is not likely that the
ultimate reduction of the prices would be to such
rates as If both the work shops OF America and Eu
-opo remained sources Of supply. There would also
n sudden reduction the price of the raw mate
al in consequence OF the cessation of The America
demand And this reduction would be permanent, if
he superstition be rect, that there would be dim
mutton in the consumption of cotton fabrics arisip,
out Of the inability the part of large norton. OF
the people ofthe u States to purchase those of E-
rope. Nl.-----..
That the effect of competition between The Ero
pean and American manufacture has been to supply
the American consumer vii h cheaper and better ar
cIes, since the adoption of The American System
notwithstanding tho existence OF canseS which have
distracted ITS fair operation, and retarded its full
ievelopemont, IS Iucon estlble. Both the freeman |
md the slave arc now better and cheaper supplied
han they were prior to existence of that system |
cotton fabrics have diunlshed in price, and been
improved IN their texture 10 extent that il is
httchit Tor the imagination 10 keep pace With.
Those partly OF cotton and partly of wool are also
'ettor and cheaper supplied The same observation
s applicable to those WHICH exclusively wrought
II wool, iron glass. In short, II IS believed that
hero is not ono item of the Tariff inserted for me
protection OF native industry which has fallen
n price. The American competition has tended TO
keep down the European rival fabric, and the Euro
ooan has tended TO lower the American.
Ofwhat then can the South Carolina planter lust
y complain IN tho operation Of that SYSTEM What
IS there IN IT which justlfes the harsh and stronr
70 II! VIVA, Is there in her condition which war
rants their assertion that she is oppressed by Gov
ornmrnt TO which she stands in the mere relation
Of Colony She IS oppressed by great reduction
IN the price of manufactured articles Of consumption
She Is oppressed by the advantage of two mar
kets Tor the sale Of her valuable stable ou for tho
purchase OF objects required By her wants.
one IS oppressed by better prices for that stable
than she could command # tho system 10 which ,hey
object did not exist.
Shc oppressed by tho option Of purchasing chcop
or and better articles tho produce of the hands Of
American freeman, instead Of dearer and worse ar
tcles tho produce Of the hands Of British pubiecis
She is oppressed by the measuers of CSovsrnnen,
in which she hos bad, for many years largo pro
portion Of power and influence at home and abroad
than any state in tue whole Union, in Comparison
with the population.
glance at the composition Of the Coyrrnnen,
of the Union will demonstrate tho truth of this last
proposition. In The Senate Of Tho u States Son,b
Carolina having the presiding Officer, exercises
nearly one sixteenth instead of one iwenty-Eour,b
part Of both it's legislative and executive functions
In both branches Of Congress sumo Of her citizens
now occnpy. as ChaIrmen Of Committees the mos
important and influential stations IN the Suprrro.
Court OF the u. STATES, ono of her citizens beno