Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-13

oSt ana mc ST successful of manufacturers. From
an early period of our history down to tho present
hour We have been conspicuous for our skill in |
ship building. Averting to 1t as an art, we have
by the elegance of our models, and the minutcness
of finish, raised it from mechanical to of
the fine arts We have applied the principles of
fore produced the same mastery result - this as
the application of tho same princp pies had produced
in the other arts Wo might then with perfect
fairness and propriety, press the inconsistency of
that policy winch seeks the prosperity Of manuiac-
lures, by loading with burthcns that branch OF them
which has flourishod with but little aid, and is ne
ccssarily subject to exclusion from the jealousy of
foreign nations. We might connect this topic with
navy and our naval glory, aud thus enlist in
our behalf the scnsibiities ct patriotism. But we
waive these advantages, and without entering into
details, content ourselves with advcring to tho pos
tive dscouragements to ship building, accustomed
by the tariff OF 1923 By that tariff, iron, homp
duck and cordage subjected to dut cs which
would be in effect prohibItory, if these articles
were not of the first necessity and their Importation
indispensable. The quantity Of these articles which
enter into the construction of u ship, with tho
labor bestowed on them, constitute half of
its value, and the duties upon them impose upon a
new ship of Eve hundred tons dry direct tax lit
lie short of two thousand dollars, which is paid in
ADVANCE. We say dry direct tax, for it is not;
in of consumable articles, repaid by the
consumer. Mother is it repaid by the freghtcr,
for the rc.o of freight depends foreign compc-
tition and tho foreign ship cheap, because unbur-
thoncd, settles the price.
The effects of the protecting system upon com
mcrcc III general, only be satisfactory Illus
tratcd by details. 1t is important task, and will
be faithfully performed by those TO whom IL is
hdcd. The diminution of imports, total or par
tial scarcity of some articles, increase of price
TO the consumer, depression of the mercantile
spirit hich, under different circumstan would
be animated to enterprises and the consequent
! check To al m OF oicht of
ty to which the freedom four institutions guides
these results which cannst be denied. That actu
al misery is not felt in young & free country whore
almost every citizen is easily DO a propric
tor Is not an argument to deter us from the reno
val of those distractions TO that assured and unex
amplcd ease and comfort of condition, to which
the American citizen aspros and is entitled. If to
the easy acquisition Of good cheap land, he ear
likewise add not only the necessaries, but also the
blamelcss Injuries of life, why should hc he chur
| lishy prevented by sordd monopolisng system,
which finds endowment i'll restriction. and profu
sion in prohibition!
| Every class of manufactures which is not the OBJ
ject of the bounty of this system as we'll as the
mechanic arts generally, nuriouslv affected by
It's operation: Nay, even those manufacturers who
experience this protection, themselves intrres
ted in the removal of these restrictions; the enor
| NIFTY OF the profits in many instances, combined
with the uncertainty of the continuance of the svs
TEN, give to this employment the character of a
gambling speculation, rather than that of a reGular
| pursuit of industry. The high rate of profits
would occasion rush of capital from other pur
suits, and competition would speedily reduce them
to the general level, if the precarious tenure by
which they are held did not restrain the movement
such OF them adapted TO the circumstances
| of tho country, and conducted with the reauiste
skill and industry, would continue to flourish al
though legislative protection were withdrawn
They would still give fair return for the capital
and labour which they employ. The rate of pro
fits would indeed be less, but they would be GER
tam, or liable only to those changes which are com
mon TO tie whole productive industry of the coun-
/ try 1t is with this view of the subject that the
best informed and most intelligent among the man.
uiacturers themselves, cannot resist the conviction
that the abandonment of the protecting system
ana return to moderate duties would be best cal
cuated to promote the steady grtwth, and the safe
/ and permanent establishment of American manu-
! features.
There is remaining suggestion Shich we desire
! TO preseut to your consideration. The national
dcbt, which has annually absorbed from ten TO
Twelve millions of revenue, is rapidly diminishing
and will speedily be extingushcd On the first day
ct January, 1889, the available funds OF the gov
eminent will be adequate to its DISCHARGE The
existing tariff of duties will produce thereafter an
! immense annual revenue, beyond the ordinary
wants OF the government and the task of provi.
dlilg system of measures which shall be ada pted
TO TINS new and Interesting {lizHisc al
concerns of the nation, will then @aV6ta5 5ethe
next Congress. How propitious SIZE {for
the establishment of the princip lt*z7> lido
An enterprIslng and intelligent pee3Ee 9sassss in O
IN abundance the sources of national swenith and
perfectly uaencumbered by debt, may add TO their
claims upon the gratitude of the world, for having
successfully asserted the principles of free govern.
ment by beng the first also to proclaim the prnci
pies OF free and unrestricted cOhnerce-that gen.
uihe ''Ame'1cdn System which will remove from
our borders every vestige of discomfort, will give
more value to the freedom which was wrested from
the grasp of oppression by the vaor of our anccs
torS, and Pcrpetuate those institutions which are
destined by the blessing ofGod, to secure the hap
! pincss of unborn millions