Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-19

delay was occasioned by d sense OF courtesy to
ucnber from Meckenburg, (Mr Goode,) who was a
patron of the resolution and had been prevented from
attending the House by his duties i'll the Conven-
ton,
On motion of Mr.. Anderson, the House took up the
aforesaid resolution for consideration.
Mr.. Eppes said he would briefly repeat the heads
of his objections to the retaining such Committee as
that of Manufactures and Agriculture. Whatever
cXigency there had been was for a Committee on
Manuiacturcs--and Mr.. L. thought there was none
past present-the necessity did not apply to Agri-
culture. 9. 1t mpolitic in Virginia. by the
appointment of such Committee, to seem indi-
rectly to approve the Tariff policy. 3. That when
capital could be advantageously applied to manufac
turing, the arrival of the time would be indicated by
individual opinion. 4. That that time had not arr-
we'd. These wore the reasons Of his original oppo-
stion to the appointment of the Committee, and
which had induced him to move the resolution under
consideration. He would conclude with an add-
tonul remark. The bare existence of such Conn
mittee was calculated to induce the mistaken OPT
Mon, that Virginia had changed her ground-not
that the opinions of any portion of the State
were changed-but improper made
Of it i'll the hands of those who wished for such
change. 1t adduced evidence of the
desire OF the Virginia Legislature TO encourage
manufactures. and many honest, hard working lncn
were drawn by it into the vortex ofpolitica chcanery
1T was not the interest OF Virginia to engage in
utacturmg.
Mr. Anderson said if he could agree with the gen.
tleman from Sussex Mr.. Eppcs) to the efftc pro-
duced by the committee, he should concur with
give. But he could not think the committee unne
cessary or mpo,c. He conscientiousy believed it
the true policy of Virginia to encourage manufactures.
What, asked Mr.. A. was the great cause of the Tar
iif policy? 1t was owing TO the fact, that muniac-
lures were confined to one section of the union, and
SO long the exclusive benefits ofthc system were
restricted to that section, so long would the Tariff
policy be rvetted upon So Virginia and
other anti Tariff States engaged i'll nnanufa cturinp &
withdrew their market from the northern manutac-
turers, so and not before should be rid of the
iarit policy. He was not disposed that Virginia
should be tributary-shc was tributaty-and
with all our advantages for manufacturing unsur-
passed, if not uncquaed, was it strange that we
should close ouf eyes upon them, and be content to
remain tributary? We possessed all the resources re-
qusite to supply our own demands, and it was only
necessary tor Virginia to hold the proper induce
mens to convert those into the desired sun
ply. with Unlimited water power, ne material
IN abundance, ineXhaustble supplies Of fuel was it
not astonishing thut statesmen were disposed to
Withhold the small patronage necessary to turn
these resources lpto supply ofo wants? Mr.. A.
commented the advantages which COZ MIRA e bodies
possessed over individual exertion in manufacturing
u ascrbed the superiority of the north to
stance-and applauded the effects already produced
by the committee sought to be aoolished in the nun
Der and prosperity of the companies which had bee,
chartered in Virginia.
Mr.. Rives of Campbell said that, in discus-;no =
motion to abolish the standing committee on agricul
ture and manufactures he should not enter into 8
minute enquiry into the various modes by which th
Legislature might promote both either of hose in
tercsts. He thought such enquiry was not strictly
speaking, in order; and that it was unnecessary to
the decision of the present question He supposed
that the mind would readily assent to the nronr;e
of retaining this standing committee if satisfied tba
Virginia possessed great, if not superior udvanta
for both these pursuits that they were both in de
pressed and anguishlng conditions that cring ant
advancing those interests would contribute essential
y to the prosperity wealth and happiness of the peo
pie OF Virginia. and that Legislative reports and mea
sures may contribute much and greatly to the at
i tannent of these ends.
Adverting i'll the first place to the primary inter
est, agriculture, Mr.. r. said, he would ask wha
State or country possessed superior natural advan
tages to Virginia? If regard were had to the origi
nal fertility and variety of her soil to its capacit,
tor omelIoration to the mldncss and saubrty of he
climate, to the variety aud value of her staple pro
ducts; or to those collateral crcumsts noes which
serve to elicit and excite agricultural effort sucb 10
ports and bays on the shore, navigable streams
affording water carriage from the interior to the
seaports, and free institutions that awaken and slim
ulate the activity of man-it would scarcely be said
that the capacities of Virginia for agricultural pur
suits any where surpassed, and indeed hard.
ly equaled: yet were her agricutursts in depress
ed and declining conditan. Ifany doubted this
melancholy fact let him ask information ofthe grow
er of Indian corn--the wheat growcr--tobacco grow
er-or the grower of hemp & flax. Look at the low
price of and at the number of emigrants from their
. native state in many instances leaving their lands
Gnsold for want Of buyers, and some actually I'M
tenanted.
! Yet looking to the impolitic course pursued bv
Virginia. it is not remarkable that her agricultural
interests are depressed and her SONS abandoning
the homes of their fathers. 1t is rather remaro
kablc that she has been able to subsist SO lone
under her improv dent and short-sighted policy
Her uncommon natural advantages have contri-
buted to the ability to support the consequent
ces of improvidence; and she has frequently sub
! sisted on the denominations of past years and the
anticipation Of the future. But these resources will
not always avail hcr-ond the gifts of Providence
should not be abused She must begin TO live more
within herself to take of and improve her situa
tIon she must to depend others for articles
of an agricuural well as manufacturing and me-
chancal character. She cannot continue to pay an
nualy six eight hundred thousand dollars to the
west for horses and hogs, and to supplies even
of hay and vegetables from the east. ANY one who
would attend the markets of the sea port towns and
of the metropolis, the last hundred and sixty
miles in the interior, would be both mortified and
amazed at the quantity of these latter articles sent
from the eastern States to supply the wants of the
great agricultural State of Virginia Yet if any one
attempted to invite public attention to the capacities