Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-02-26

manufactures, of tho world. Goyornme :,
may, if they choose, at any expense, have es
adjustments OF their own for manufacturing tn
materials of war, but never let them impos
permanent restrictions on trade with any HON
lot procuring thereby such supplies with greate
economy or certainty in time of war. Sucl
precautions are peculiarly Unnecessary in
country having, in peace rs well as in war, a,
armed population; and such means are particu
larry unJustihabie, where the national defence I.
essentially OF naval character We are otter
reminded of our want of supplies, and of Tn,
sufierings of our Army, during our late war
In accounting for this, we overlook the immedi.
ate cause. We forget, even what is notorious
that our war was commenced without money
and without means Of any kind that our feder.
al concerns were improvdently administered our
public credit annihilated. and our Army with
out supplies. 1t is manifest, that, before the
close OF that contest, our country would have
been overrun and disnembered by the enemy.
but tor the patriotism and energy of the State
governments, and the undaunted valor of our
countrymen. Our Army suffered severely for
the want, not only Of wollens, arms, and gun.
powder, but of every thing necessary TO the
convenience or cousS0rt of man: for the palpa.
BILE reason, that our Government wanted money
commodities of every kind, whether The pro.
duce or manufacture of Europe or America,
were at war prices in many instances, our own
staples were ut four and FIVE times the usu..,
prices in peace ;iand, we were reduced to so dos.
t'tute condition, that we had not the means of
purchasing even the produce of orr own .o;,
nad we attended to our finances, had We made
any preparation whatever for war, wo should
nave found no difficulty in arminu, clothino
ana feeding,a much larger number of troops
'han we ever had in the field IT would be
more prohtpbie to trace our sufferings to n plain
anu rationai cause, than 10 search in the regions
I" speculation for an apology for inonopoy and
taxation if we honestly intend to prepare for
war, II Is paipnbly inconsistent to attempt to ac-
complish our object by policy destructive to
our commercial marine-our most efficient in
stfument of war, whether offensive or dcfen.
sive But another defence has been urged in
'avor OF restrictions on trade; we must tax our
serves m peace, to secure supplies IN war, ut di.
'h'n'shed prices; thus assuming, what is never
conceded, that restrictions are the best means of
perm1 nently securing cheap commodities. We
liust that wa shall ADOPT no such antiqua,ed
aosor1iities in the practical legislation of our
government and, that we shall forbear to
perpetual taxes on oui country, on contin-
calculations OF war and peace. however
y such policy may be sustained, by all
g'cal deductions Of arithmetic, resting, as
|olid and profound speculations ever must,
filmsy foundation Of hypothesis. Those
urge that argument, forget that il would
with equal justice, to our own staples,
OF which were at as high relative prices
elgn manufactures. If it il an object per-
Fly to secure supplies at home of the mn
# war, or manufactures for the use of
ountry, chaper than they can be obtained
abroad, we must reduce our taxes; and
diminish tho cost of production below the
ss for which similar articles can be fabri |
in foreign countries. There is no other
Ftual and permanent means of rivalinp the
stry of other nations. If We seriously
n to prepare for war, we should adopt no
sure, tending, in the slightest degree, to
ken our commercial marine"
TO BE coNTISuEpl