Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-22

WithIrAWn, ths Amsfloah ManUfacVTcr
isN 70 compete with foreign lab on equal terms {"
Admit the cottons Of India, England, and Scotland.
and what would be the effect Within two years not a
single cotton mill in the United States would be in mo-
ton The immense capital Invested in them, amount
| ing to many millions, would be utterly sunk TO the
country, aud their owners irretrevab'y ruined And
why, Not because cannot make goods cheap as in
! Manchester and Glasgow. but because war would be
| wagcd by British capital against American ceptal-s
| war OF determination. Such war has been waget
upon every article of American industry whenever the
protecting duty has been inadequate, the law ex
tending the duty framed, that mercantile cupid
ty and the cunning OF foreign manufacturers couiC
| evade it,
| There is another rule laid Down by the President
which the committee have thought proper to examine
It's contained in the expression that "obects OF nation
al importance alone ought 10 be protected. The com
mit,ee will not here enter into discussion of the ques
ton whether Congress may not protect objects local In
character The States, in thoir original independence
before the adoption OF the Constitution could have used
the power OF imposing duties imports for the express
purpose OF protecting local objects, according to the
doctrine entertained by the President, in which the
committee fully concur. Z he several States no longer
possess that power Where is i,f Where has il flcdl
On what shelf it lad The Government of the Uni
on possesses il, or II has become extinct IL an OBJ
jet did present ITSELF purely local in its character, and
its protection was demanded by the prosperity and hap
pncss OF single State and this could be best done,
done only, by the delegated power from the States TO
impose duties imports il should be well considered,
before Congress rejected proposition FOE that purpose
The discussion OF this subject, at this time, is not in
tended. IL may, however, be minated, that is the
O.,
County. and Town in the Union, from invasion The
Government Of tho Union is bound TO protect every
inch OF our soil from hostile bayonet 1t has equal
otoer to protect every finger of domestic industry
gain,t foreign competition Let il be firmly exercised
Ii matters but little to real national depcndence whe
thcr foreign guns or foreign labor conquers How
over this may be considered il is fully believed by the
committee that the present tariff taken together, in
the mnutest DETAIL is national in its character although
the language OF the President may seem to imply, that
in this respect is defective He has also told u.s.
MS Message, that cit intlriny of
minge interests and preudices, with the operation
oil our reasoning powers, and attribute to the objects of
our likes and dslkes qualities they do possess and
effects they cannot producer; that deliberations on
this interesting subject should be uninfuenced "by
partzan conflicts and should be made subservi-
cn "to the short sighted views OF faction" The
mttee have due regard both the admonton and the
sentiments expressed by the Presidents and they also
entertain most ardent hope, that fellow citizens
VIII keep steady, searching eye every movement
OF political AMBITION in whatever quarter of our country
il may appear Ii may speak well and pleasantly to
the public ear in favor OF national protecting system,
and yet with calm, fair honest looking counenance,
scatter such mysterious, yet captivating doubts, as to
the value OF its different provisions, that "smali mno-
rifles may be taught how 10 form Combination to
overthrow it,
What gives national Importance an object or pro-
duc,on OF domestic industry! Ho,o is its national inn
portance discovered! Whence derived-by what prin.
ciple decided: Is ii the place of production in the u
ned States, that impars TO it the character of ndfon
al Importance" Must production be found in every
narrow subdivision OF the country. Must It, of ne
cessty, be general, not Iocai?' Should the answer
be ~ the affirmative, the concentrated wisdom Of the
nation would provide protecting tariff Our va
rious Soils our different climates, diversified obeots
OF industry would present an impossible barrier against
the adoption of any system Of protection The farmer
who grows wheat asks the aid of Government to pro-
tect that article He knows that Poland, Russia, the
Barbary States and France, may furnish al times,
wheat cheaper on the seabolrd, than he afford it
When he asks protection, objection is made. Some
portions oil the Union do not produces wheat lis pro-
duc:ion is not general. 1t must be rejected. Butter
and cheese are presented for protection. Our farmers
can produce them ia abundance. The Irish tenant
who subssts the humblcst fare that unfeeing op-
precision deals out may furnish them cheaper
cnuvaors of soil Yet il is discovered, that por-
tsons OF our extended country unable TO produce
butter and cheese. They cannot be protected They
are local and not general.
Iron is named. This is indispensable in peace and
war. IL may, perhaps, be, for time, furnished by
Doors and scrfs laboring under the command of Rus
sian and Swedish nobility, little cheaper than the
Pennsylvania aud New Jersey forgemen can produce
it, and live as Independent citizens ought 10 live in
free country. But iron is "Iocai object not general
Ii must be rejected.
Hemp is named, article so valuable to the indie
pendence OF all branches of the navigation of our coun
try. The strong OF prote ction holds foreign nav
CATION away from domestic trade Ii should unfurI
American canvass with delight. II should also be well
Kept In mind that the great body OF American consul
mers OF foreign productions sustain navigation engag
ed In foreign commerce. The splendid ship that car
ries and brings is still subordinate the interests OF
those, who buy and use, and pay for the cargo The
merchants on seahoard may heap I'D wealth build
palaces command the iuxuries OF life, but they must
well keep in mind, that they all their prosperity TO
the strong OF labor. They il TO The daily toll
oil our yeomanry, whether engaged in subdung the
SUBMITS OF the Green Mountains, cuvang the
glens OF the Allegheny. Let then, the hemp of Ohio
Kentucky and Tennessee, be protected Let the people
oil those States have share in the advantages OF that
policy, which they are willing to defend. If il has so
happened, that navigation engaged in our foreign trade
IS suffering from foreign competition, il is owing to it,
self All which it asked for protection was freeIy
granted. When ii had gained suciI ascen Iency as
1t supposed would enable il TO challenge foreign conpe
hton, 1t trumphanuy told the Government that pro-
lection was no longer wanted Hence treaty after
treaty has been concluded for reciprocal navigation
This urged by the advocates OF free trade Hnow
il is little crippled, if other naons supply us with
a little more navigation. is it greater evil than if
foreigners supplied us with little moro iron or hemp
or sugar, cotton, woollens, Must te great svs
tenn OF protection be abandoned because navigation has
been INDUCED in its wish and has been some,chaf dis
appointed! The advocates of free trade ought rather
TO rejoice that interest Is free from the letters Of
protection.
Ii foreen nations can build ships cheaper than the
people OF the United States, why not choerfully en-
ploy theu' According to the doctrines Of free trade
so much would be gainel. But yet IL navigation wants
assistance there is believe that the
power which protected its infancy, desired will
cheerlully again TO its support, in every way and by
all means consistent with the great interests of the
country. But hemp is "iocai, not general produce
ton. and must therefore, be rejected.
Sugar is proposed Ii is article Of necessity, COM
Tort and luxury. IL cannot be produced in Maine or
Pennsylvania. Its production be confined to the
warm region OF country, whore the great staples of
other ports uncongenia But IL must be rejected
according the rule Its production is locdl-not gem
eTGi. The may be said Of cstton and WOOL of
every article named in the Tariff. The greatest and