Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-28

Told, our foreign commerce has advanced at an SIR
! IL "ashlngons free trade system had continued uni,
this day, (Ior be il remembered that Alexander Uouil
tons protecting system essentially system of fire.,
trade, imposing duties only OF from Eve TO seven and
nan per cent? can it be doubted that VIC should now
have had tonnage Of two millions ana half and thai
our exports would have amounted 10 one hundred ana
hy ihions am told that of the ablest fiuancer.
IN thS country has recently declared that he should
slider an average duty of twelve or fifteen per cent ad
cd!0Ten as abundaauy sufficient for all tho purposes OF
revenue ana that, under such SYSTEM imports and
exports would, In his opinion exceed hundred millions
OIL dollars the very first year. know, Mr.. President
that 1T has sometimes been said thar the evils under
me sou, is suffering arise from the production OF
coo; but this is not so. Cotton is an article the pr-
duciion OF which cannot be overdone 1t is the
OF an known raw materials 1t is fast superseding silk
WOOL heinp' and lax all over the world. As proof OF
nus viii advert TO the fact that, during period in
Engand when her woollen manufactures aivanc ed from
hve millions OF pounds sterling to six the cotton manu-
aetues progressed from one million TO more than thirty.
you would take OIL your duties, and throw open 10 us
tho markets of the world, American coons wo,ld 10
great extent, supersede all others, and we should
Ind market, not for ono, but two millions of hola.
he whole South, would then. indeed become a opar.
den spot" But it is insisted by the supporters Of
inc protecting system, that its only effect is make our
goods come cheaper Sir, il this were true will ven
ure TO assert, that the manufacturers themselves would
be the very first to abandon the SYSTEM Their object
certainly, not to lessen but to increase their pr-
ecs. Even 1t this were the case, however | au una
bic to discover how the cotton planter could be com
pensacd Tor the loss of his market How is this s.os
ca reduction 10 be brought about BY competition say
inc gentlemen, between the British and the American
manufacturers But il it is competition that is TO produce
TINS reduction OF prices the manufacturers on bo sJee
mus oe Put on an equal footing What of compe-
u0n Is that which is founded discrimination of lnv
per cent in favor OF one OF the parics-and if in spite of
such discrimination, the can be maintained NJ ali
IS 1t not by that fact put beyond dispute that bnt for t
tax the prices would be iii further reduced (;cne
men take 1t for granted that the competition among the
oreiSn manufacturers is not sufficiently great to reduce
the price 10 the very lowest rate They even tell us of
computations among them 10 keep up their prices Sir
such combinations utterly impossible How ara the
mahaiacturciso iron, in Sweden, Russia, and England
or he cotton and silk manufacturers of France 10 enter
lnoa combinations The thing is ridiculous No Sir ir
me duties were taken off the prices of goods would no
educed 10 their minimum, and much lower than they are
now I'm TINS country, and il is for this reason and this only
mat the manufacturers protesting against H. Buf Sir
where is the evidence BE- found that The tariff has pro
iuceI any reduction whacyer, in the prceo the pro-
ec'ed articles IL there any other foundation for the as
eruon than this that tho prices of coons woccns and
rom have actually fallen since lS24i But all other ar
slos have likewise fallen, protected and unprotectcd
ana personal estate, cotton, four and tobacco ALL
all have gone down; and of them have fallen in
much greater degree than wooens, Coiton9 and IRON
las the tariff done all ts What say the gentlemen
nave mere pnce current containing the prices OF $50
articles, In 1916 and 1881. From this il appears that
mere has been an universal reduction in the price of ar
every description and that those admitted duty free
nave been reduced, at least in an equal ratio with those
laying duties Indeed, Sir think that careful eyan,i
lauon OF this table will shew, that reduction in the mo
ec'ed articles has not been great In the Others But
he reduction has not been confined to this country Iii
las taken place in England and all over the world in an
qual, nay, IN greater degree. The articles
hshy Potociedn this country, coons, wooens and iron
ire now selngn England much lower than they can be oh
anedhere Ihssa fact perfectly notorious to every por
rS ncrchant and have abundant evidence OF IL now i'm INV
bands Here statements showing chat such goods have
actually been imported within the last year. in Philadel
ona New YORK, and elsewhere, and after paying duties
d from Oh 10 200 per cent have been sold as low as the
domestic manufacture. Sir, ascer:Gined before left
lohe that the whole quantity of cotton goods imported
mo Charleston during the last year, paid an average duty
u oo per cent? and then they sold as low as Amer
IAN col'onso the same quality. But am really ashamed
% argue question seli-eydent How can taxes pos
oy lessen prices How can protection diminish the cost
d production! What the elements of price? Are
hey not the cost OF the era-thc wages of labor
ma inc interest OF capa and how these be le.sencd
~ aE Oh Tic article! 10 say so, is TO all the
ulcs % PoPornoh: Gentlemen might well cpptss I
hat TWO added to five make three, az ihe. Ill ~
~ tu 70 Ilc co'i oil an lmRprire th+ whole matter
lioo, the price OF goods is very easily cx-
aincd ltdependS on general causes, which have Opc
aed 70 certain extent all over tie world. From
borough investigation Of the subject, which has taken
acc in Great Britain, it is found have resulted from the
appreciation OF the currency Improvements in machinery,
nd the general restoration OF peace. The resumption of
pecic payments, and the diminished supply % the pre-
Ous metals, is calculated TO have cSsened the circulating
Medium TO the amount OF upwards Of $500 100000. The
fleet oil this single cause has been, within the last ten
'ear the reduction OF picesn that country 10 the
u, 80 per cent. to which Is per may be added for
he other above mcntioned-makng in the whole
reduction OF almost 90 per cent. in the money price Of
Ill articles The thing has taken place in this
y and therefore, when gentlemen slcge that the price
)t manufactures has fdcn the NAKED fact proves nothing
unless they cah show that they have fallen in greater de-
gree than other articles in this country, and similar art-
cles abroad But this is far from being the fact, that
The truth s that the protected articles have fallen less
in proportion than those which receive no protection
Cotton is striking example, which has, in few years.
ALLEN TO one third of its value, while protected article
has, in the same period, fallen one-haf
trust, sir, that we have made out case; that
have shown the unjust aud unequal operation in every
point of view Of this system; and that far the South
concerned and the West also, though in tile
lcgrce, IL is unmigated system of burdens. And,
with regard 70 the favored section would submit, how
lar il is wise 10 insist upon system which only be
at the expense Of o!her sections. Sir, feel
loo much confidence in the Justice and nagnanmity Of
Northern brethren 10 suffer myself TO doubt their willing
10 abandon this system if they could il in the light
that do II may enrich them for the moment, but the
prosperity creates ia artificial and will a,urcdly be
substantial No country be permanently benefited
by a system Of boundcs. This system may destroy the
South, but it will not Pernan3 emily advance the prosperity
Of the North. may deprcss u.s. but cannot elevate them.
Besides, sir if persevcrcd in it must 3nnihiac that por-
ton OF the country from which the TO be
drawn, that 10 enrich the Northern manufacturers.
Aud il may be well for gentlemen TO reflect, whether adj
herring this policy, would not be acting like the man
who "kled the goose which laid the golden eggs" Let
gentlemen be assured that this is system which cannot
possibly last II will, or later, be utterly
thrown Would IL not be well therefore, for them 70 seize
this favorable occasion to make sacrifice OF their pc
culi1r interests TO the general welfare?
In concluding, Mr. President, what have 70 say on
this branch OF the subject must take the hoe'y oil pre-
scnting few general considerations in broad view OF
the question it never can be cxpcicn to Introduce into
country the manufacture Of any article that cannot be pro-
duccd as cheaply at home IL can be obtained from
abroad There are such made in this country
and their ability sustain themselves without protection
is unquesionabe. The only exception would admit 10
the rule have laid down, relates 10 articles strictly ncces.