Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-11-24
ADDRESS to tho Friends of Domestic Industry
r Continued from 4ih page, g. concluded. |

[Continaed from 4th page, & concluded.
most unlimited. The portions of territory
employed in the growing Of cotton were
small, and the common opinion was that
but few districts, in comparison with the
great extent of our surface, could be ap-l
propriated to the culture. In the mean.
time, the cotton fabrics were dilluscd O.
yer Europe and took the place of large
quantities of those manufactured from
wool, silk and flax. Every year demon-
stratcd the increasing importance of this
manufacture both in Europe and Ameri-
ca, and the demand still continued to ou;-
run the supply. These circumstances
had their influence in lmpressing upon our
citizens an exaggerated idea of the per-
manence and value Of this source OF ag-
ricultural wealth, and along with it, the
value of the trade which was concerned
in the transportation Of it. 1t persuaded
our planters to believe that they posses
sod an inexhaustable source of riches: il
untitled them for sober calculations upon
the effects that would follow the extern
sion of the culture of cotton over the fer
tile regions that yet lay in wilderness be-
hind them: and it equally disinclined
them to foresee the possibility of the
manufacture itself reaching term at
which il might become stationary aud
which was, therefore, eventually to set
limit upon the demand, at the very peri
cd when the supply would be increased
in an almost infinite ratio by the spread
Of population over other states OF onr Tn
ion, even more propitious than their own
TO the production of the plant. 1t may,
therefore, be considered a misfortune,
consequent upon their former prosperity,
that our citiZo ms were almost irresltably
led by it into delusve estimates of the
true and permanent sources Of national
wealth. 1t was one result ofthis state of
things that, whilst our countrymcn were
intent upon gathering the harvest which
the distracted condition Of the world had
strewn before them, they were unmind-
ful Of the future, and neglected to treas
ure up the elements of strength and pros
perity which lay hidden in the bosom Of
the nation; and which, as they were in
dependent of foreign Legislation or ex-
ternal accidents, were most likely to fur
nish the means of a stable and enduring
happiness.
Troubles soon afterwards broke out at
home. A war thre atencd, and our cit-
Zens were suddenly called to meet a
tremendous emergency. Our commerce
was put in letters by non-importation acts
and embargocs; and the crisis that sue
ceeded found US without the most ordi-
nary resources Of an independent peo-
pie. Our armies went to the frontier
clothed in the fabrics of the enemy; our
munitions ofwar were gathered as chance
supplied them from the four quarters of
the earth; and the whole struggle was
marked by the prodigality, waste snd
privatiOn Of a thriltlcss nation, taken mt
unawares and challenged to contest
without the necessary armor OF COM
blatant.
When it pleased Heaven to rescue US
from the imminent hazards of this doubt
ful and disproportioned conflict, we saw
around us nation of eight millions of
people possessed of Il territory nearly e.
quail to the continent of Europe, rich in
the ungathered resources Of every kind
ofwealth,-just emerging from war of
two years and half, with an enemy who
had never assembled an army of more
than thirty thousand mcn-and yet de-
ranged in all its channels of industry ,ex-
hausted, and on the verge of Bankruptcy.
Nothing but the most perverse neglect of
the fundamental precepts connected with
the proper administration Of the conce cerns
of a commonwealth could have produced
such result!
These disasters opened our eyes to
some important facts.-They dcmonstra-
ted to us the necessity ofextending more
efficient protection, at least, to those
manufactures which were essential to the
defence of the nation. They proved tol
us the value of q national currency, and
the duty of protecting it from the infiu-
ence Of foreign disturbance: s. amongst
other things of equal moment, they made
us acquainted with the fact that the Brit
ish manufacturers could find large and
II necessary, a complete supply of cot
ton from other soils than our own.
All these matters came into review
before Congress at the close of the war.
A proper occasion for their discussion a
rose when the question was submitted as
To the reduction of the war duties. The
return Of peace made it necessary for the
Legislature to take off the taxes that had
been imposed for defraying the expen-
ses Of the war; and IN this reduction of
duties to what it was considered should
be a permanent standard, the cotton
planting interest urged with great force
and propriety, the necessity of retaining