Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-10-29

urged U tLe strongest considerations io seek that supply from Hose who will receive her manufactures in return. If this system be rendered permanent, and pushed to the prohibtory extent, to which it seems inevitably to iend the fate ofthe cotton plan ter IS therefore rrevocably sealed. Nor is he alone affected by this system of protection The farmer of the middle States will feel its influence in the increase of the price of labor, as well of every article which he buys; and if those in the manu- facturing districts should find an improved market for the produce of their farms, the considerations just stated, will operate to diminish their profits
 and the benefits which they enjoy from ihe increas- ed investment of capital in their vicinity, will be purchased at the expense of those interests from which that capital has been transferred When we direct our attention 10 the influence of the protecting system on the navigation of the try, we might give to the subject peculiar interest by dwelling on the fact that ship is the proudest and most successful of our manufactures. From an early period of our history, down to the present hour, we have been conspicuous in ship building, Adverting to it, as an art, we have by the elegance of our model and the minuteness of our finish, ras- ed it from mechanical, to one of the fine arts We have applied the principle of correct taste to narat architecture, and have therefore produced the same masterly result in this, as the application ofhe same principles had produced in the other arts We might then with perfect fairness and proprety press the inconsistency of that policy, which seeks the prosperity of manufactures, by loading with buf- thens that branch ofthem which has flourished wit but little ald and Is necessarily subject to exclusion from the jealousy of foreign nations We might connect this topic with navy and our naval elo ry, and thus enlist in behalf the sensibilties of patriotsm But we waive these advantages, and without entering into details, content ourselves ih adverting to the positive dscOuragements to shin building occasioned by the tariff of 1928. By that tariii' iron hemp, and duck and cordage, are sub- Jected to duties which would be in effect probibito, ryl these articles were not of the first necessity and their importation indispensable The quantity of these articles which enter into the construction If ship, with the labor bestowed them, constitute one balf of it's value, and the duties upon them , pose upon new ship of five hundred tons, dry di. rect tax little short of two thousand dollars which is paid in advance. We say dry direct tax, for it is not, as in cases of consumable articles, repaid by the consumer. Neither is repaid by the freiebter for the rate of freight depends on foreign competi lion, and the foreign ship, cheap, because unbur- | thened, settles the price.
 | The effects of the protective system upon com- merce in general, can only be satisfactorily ilusta- ted Dy details. It is an important task. and will le faithfully performed by those 10 wlon is copfded l The dlminuton of mporls-a total or partial star, ty Of some atlces-an increase Of ITice to ihe con- sumer, depression Of the meIcane suir which, under different circumstances, would be animated to new enterprises, and the consequent check 10 our attainment of that heght of prosperity to which lhe freedom of our institutions guides us tLtse are re- suits which cannot be denied. That actual misery is not felt in young and free country. where all most every cIzen IS, or easily can be. proprietor,
 IS not an argument 10 deter us from the removal of 1 those Instructions to that assured and unexampled ease and comfort of condition, to which the Ameri- can citizen aspres and is entitled. Tito the easy &C., quistion of good cheap land he can likewise add not only the necessaries but also the bameess luxuries of liie why should he be churlishly prevented by a sordd and monopolzlng system, which finds enjoy ment in restriction, and proiusion in prohibitioni l Euo yclnc nf pnap nL ject of the bounty of this system as well as the me- chanic arts generally, are inuriOusy affected by its 1 operaon-nay, even those manufactures who ex- perience this protection are themselves interested
 in the removal of these restrictions. The enormi,y of the profis, in many instances, combined with H. uncertainty of the continuance of the system. give
 to this employ the character of gambling snec- ulation, rather than regular pursuit of ndustry- | The high rate of profits would occasion a rush of capital from other pursuits and competition would | speedily reduce them 10 the general level if the precarous tenure by which they are held did not re- strain the movement-such of them as aie adapted to the circumstances of the country, and conducted with the requisite skill and industry would continue to flourish, although legislative protection were with drawn. They would still give fair return for the capital and labor which they employ. The rate of profits would indeed be less, but they would be cer. tain, or liable only to those changes which are com mon to the whole productive industry of the coup-
 try It is with this view of the subject that the best informed and most intelligent among the manufac-
 urers themselves, cannot resist the conviction that the abandonment of the protecting system, and re-
 turn to moderate duties, would be best calculated to promote the steady growth and the safe and perma. nent establishment of American manufacturers
 There is remaining suggestion which we desire to present to consideration The national debt which has annually absorbed from ten to twelve mil lions of revenue, is rapidly diminishing, and will speedily be extDguished. On the first day of Janu- ary, 1883. the available funds of the government will be adequate to its discharge The existing ta- riff of duties will produce thereafter an immense annual revenue, beyond the ordinary wants of the government. and the task of providing system of measures which shall be adapted to this interesting condition of the fiscal concerns of the nation, wii then devove upon the next Congress. How propi.
 ous the moment for the establishment of the princi- pies of free trade! An enterprizing and intelligent people, possessing in abundance the sources of na- tonal wealth. and perfectly unencumbered by debt. may add to their claims upon the gratitude of the world for having successfully asserted the princi- pies of tree gorernment, by being the first also to- proclaim the principles of free and unrestricted commcrce-that genuine " Americaa Sysieun," which will remove from our Sorder every visage of dis content, will give value to the freedom, which wrested from the grasp of oppression by the va Tor Of our ancestors, and Perpetuate those nstitu- tions which destined by the blessing of God to secure the happiness of unborn millions.
 RALEIGH, (N. C.) Oct. 13. Sedieioas PaItications.-A number of the 'Libera- |