Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-03-29

business, by the great encouragement
they have given to able workmen from
other countries, to settle with them: and
thereby hare prevented the gro,cth Of those
manufactures amongst us; and so might
haze reduced as 10 the lou estate ace ,cere
in before their establishment. And, there
fore, it will ever be maxim, strictly to
be observed, by all prudent governments,
who are capable Of manufacturing within
themselves, to lay such duties on the TO-
reign as may favor their own, and dis
courage the Importation of any Of the
like sorts from abroad. BY this means
the French have, in our time, nursed up
woolIen mandatory, and brought it to
such perfection as to furnish themselves
with all such woollen goods as they for
meriy bought Of as to a rery great calue: ::
and are eren become competitors pith as, IN
foreign markets."
1t seems, then, that, at least so long
as one century ago, the modern doctrine
of free trade had its advoc ates; and that
France, following the example of Great
Britain, and rejecting this doctrine, pur-
sued what is called the American Sys-
iem. The wealth of power enjoyed by
France and England, attributable main
ly to the encouragement which they af-
forded to their own industry, contrasted
with the languor, debility, and depen-
dence all around them, afford practi-
cal demonstration of the wisdom and the
folly of these opposing doctrines.
"The proper means to discourage the
Importation of foreign manufactures and
to promote the increase Of our own, is to
lay such duties on the foreign, as may
encourage our people to vie with them:
and this we have formerly practised, in
some instances to our advantage. But
we should 60 on further, and advance
the duties on all such foreign manulac-
lures which we might well supply our
selves with, in such proportion that our
manufacturers might be enabled to af-
ford what they make cheaper than they
could be imported Page l72.
d.. To what point shall protection or
encourag me mt be carried?
TSpcaking Of the encouragements ne
cessary to colonial industry, to render it
accessory to the British policy, our au-
thor says.
CATER all, it will hardly be possible to
bring any Of those improvements to the
desired perfection, without steady resolu-
iion in the government to sustain and sup
port them, and, as it were, to carry them
in their arms: for new enterprises will al
ways be subject to accidents and discour
agements too difficult for private persons
to surmount, without the assistance ofthe
public, as occasion may require, ofwhch
we have a plain instance in our attempt
upon pitch and tar: for the encourage
mcnt whereof large bounty was given
far sereral gears, till it came to be i'm
ported in such vast quantities, that we
had not only enough fOI uur own con-
sumption, but even to export to our
ncighbors; from which great plenty we
were ready to persuade ourselves that
this business was sufficiently established, :,
and therefore, neglected the continuance Of
The bounty. Since which, the importa-
ton Of those commodities from Russia,
Sweden, and Norway, is re-assumed &c.
So that we are likely to be soon beaten
'ut VI thut tiduc u an, ""oo' "e S"ot'
better secure it to ourselves, either by re-
ne,ring the bounty on advancing the duty
upon foreign pitch and tar"
Such were the opinions Of a writer,
who looked with keen and observing
eye to the great interests of has country
and who, instead of being misled by the
wild theories Of the day, was influenced
by practical results, and the experience e
of ages.
! am not so ignorant or so prcsumptu-
Gus as to suppose that these quotations
can add any thing to your information or
research. But, upon this engrossng
question, l was desirous to contribute, il
could, an humble mite in support OF
measures upon which | believe depend
the prosperity and happiness ofthe whole
union.