Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-03-05

Il coup dc nam. The time once was. when by Do-
meshc Industry, was meant the industry oil the farm
er, the planter, the miller, the mariner, the merchan
the mechanic tho radesman, the day laborsr the art.
Eau, aud in hne, all the various individuals, who, by
Their industry contributed TO advance the wealth Of
the nation and the prosperity OF the people. At the
prescn, day. il signifies very little more than the in.
dus'ry oil the very few persons who employed in
The spinning and weaving OF cot on aud WOOL and who
do not comprise more than one i'm every hundred of
The whole population. In vain i, i, urged upon the
champions Of the American System," that foreign
commodities can only be procured in exchange for do
nestle commodities and tina, domestic commodities can
oaiy be produced by the employment of dome site in
duslry They did not believe that the industry of
Pennsylvania, which is empoyed in the raising of
wheat, pork, butter, lard, beef, whkey, corn, hams
nssed OIL wagons carts, carriages, harness. saddery
hats, boots, shoes. books, stationary and hundred
other articles, which are exchanged with the cotton,
riee and OF the South, for bills c.
britain, wb which she pays for the manufacture she
imports FROM that country, Is domestic Industry. For,
II they did SO believe. they would never repeat stea
dhy, the exploded argument, that 10 import foreign
Iabrics, Is TO be tributary to foreign industry.
'"hsn we reflect upon the tenscity with which this
doctrine Is adhered to contrary 10 the cirarest
raion pr its alsity self as that tmo aud
TWO are Jour- we are almost tempted TO regard hope
less, all expectations OF seeing tn. public mind enrh
ened upon this important subject. When we hear
men, some oil them, toe the most conspicuous po
Grams OF the country, pronounce with great earnest
ness, their convcton that to import foreign fabrics
paying foreign ribute-that the American cotton IN anu
lecturers enter into successful competition with the
Blusb IN foreign markets, when thew are not able
OFT IN the home market, without protection of %
TO no per centexperience shews that the fleets Of
hgh duties are 10 reduce The prices OF commodities be-
low what they would he without hem-that high du-
ties, instead Of diminishing commerce. increase -,hat
the way Tor nation to grow rich is to refuse TO pur-
chase the products of other naions and thereby to d
minish the extent OF the sales of her own products
when, we say, we hear such doctrines as these ad.
vanced as the doctrines of sound political economy we
are persuaded, that in order TO pro luce change OF
opinion. is not the faculty OF the mind which is
a we A her nj ma fha-
mates attempt to instruct in the principles of that
science, scholar, who, at the Threshold should ,efuse
10 admit that two parallel lines never meet or that
any tso sides of triangle greater than tn. third
The powerful reasoning OF Adam Smith, ths clear de-
IN 'trdons OF Say, and the forcble aud able EXPOSE
tons oil McCulorh, would have no more influence i'm
eHciing change of the views of some we could name
than they the wild and silly eusions of gno-
| rant de claimers.
There must, however, be some individuals, whose
raohal faculties ave not been distorted, pre-
vent them from perceiving truth, and such adj
dress the following illustration of the position which
we nave already more than once advanced,-tha the
importation OF foreign fabrics is nothing more than
mode oil production, which gives employment to do
nestle industry, in the same manner precisely, that
manuf icturng does.
Let us suppose two individuals each possessing a
capital OF thirty thousand dollars, and each resolved to
direct his Industry towards the object the produc-
ton OF cotton fabrics The proposes TO produce
them by manufacturing industry, the other by com
meicidf industry The ono eXpcnds third OF his
capital in building factory and machinery and the
sduc in the purchase of cotton and in the payment
OF the wages of spnners and wcavcrs The other ex-
ponds enc-third OF his capital in building ship, and
the other two thirds in the purchase of raw cotton 10 be
shipped TO O. Britain, and in the payment Of the wages
oil The crew OF his vessel. BY these expenditures each
one will have contributed towards the support of do
mesic industry. The will have employed carpen-
ters, brick-layers, machine makers smiths lumber and
ron-deaiers to the amount OF ten thousand dollars The
other will have employed ship carpenters, riggers sail.
makers mast-makers boat builders pe-makers plumb
ers painters, caukers timber and iron dealers and va
rious others to an equal amount. The one will have
employed number of spinners and weavers. The
other will have employee number of sailors and each
VIII be observed, employs the amount of CAPT
tai. Now, whether the actual number of individuals
employed in the two different modes of production be
greater In the manufacturing process or in the CONNER
cia process, is OF no sort OF consequence The simple
question which presents itself is whether or not the
cotton iabrcs which imported in exchange for the
raw cotton exported not much the representation
oil American industry, value for value the cotton IA
brcs made ut home. and if So must not that mode of
production, whether ii be the manufacturing or the com
mercial one, which produces the greatest number of
yards OF cotton cloths of the quality be the most
profitable one for the nation 10 pursue: To answer this
question In the negative, would be the thing as 10
say that cheapness in purchasing, which the end and
aim OF all the efforts making by science and philo-
sophy in all the branches of industry all over the world
not to be preferred to dearnesswhich is too absurd
10 be worth serious refutaon
MIR. CALHOUN AND MIR. WEBSTER