The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-10

our prodsrts cannot be enlarged, / answer,
mat u we use more Of their articles. other
nat,ons can and will consume moro Of ours,
and this viii be beneficial to both parties. be.
eanse each will receive in exchange a great
efvalue than at present. They will receive
our agricultural products at.a cheaper rate
'hnn they can now purchase or can produce
The samo articles, and we shall receive their
manufactures at lower price than we now
pay tor them. From the foregoing statement
OF our navigation and commerce, II appears
that these great pillars of our prospssssy hsyo
mot been strengthened, bot Weakened hy this
system OF restrictions and when IL is remem.
bsred that our naval power and glory and our
stIimY TO datend our shores against invasion.
arc intimately coapected wththe navigation
oi the county, we ought not rashly to ptty.
mote measures calc ulsted to destroy jt.-iras
agriculture OF the country is closely connect.
ed with its commerce, and that which IL cal
culated 20 depress the ono has an injurious
influence upon the other.
Still il is said, that this nation is increasing
in wealth and power. admit il. !, is
young and vigorous, and will 60 sn in des.
pite OF the most laundering Legislation that
can be pursued. Politicians may adopt the
most absurd theories !; in the madness Of their
Legislation they may heap Peon on Ossa and
Ossa on Pelion, and Tie country will still 20
on, checked and retarded IN it's prosperit
but not destroyed such is the vigor, energy
and enterprze OF our citizens and the fcrt,li-
ty Of our soil. But when we look at our nav
igation and commerce, cannot every man dis.
Germ the impolicy Of the measures wo have
pursued With population increasing ct
Tho rate OF three per cent per annum, the an.
nual increase OF which, at this time amounts
to four hundred thousand. having more than
doubled itself since the year 1907 our navi.
CATION and commerce have actually declined.
l hear 1t often repeated, that the southern
states havo introduced this system, and this 10
urged as q reason why We should not relax
It, This 10 denied by thom. For my own
part ! have never thought il material TO as.
certain how the fact was. 1.-THE system be
a good one, We ought TO retain il, como from
where II may, IT II be a bad one, we ought to
get rid OF It, whether it woro introduced by
the North, South, East or West.
II is sometimes urged that the protecting
system ought not to be abandoned because
New England, now most interested in ito
preservation, was originally opposed to its in
PRODUCTION. 1t Is creditabe to the statesmen
OF that section Of the Republic that they saw
and opposed the Injustice and npolicy Of tho
system to which Southern and Western men
were measurably blind. II is not disrepu
bio that they have availed themselves Of our
rty~---..- -'--r .vure e.sr~..n H..
when they embarked in thcss aSneut .rssss,.
they had good reason 10 Ovi,u,o r.ss"auons' r..
ence would teach. the rest Of the Union III.
wisdom which they had learned, and that the
existence OF the system would only bc com.
mensnrate with the blindness which gave it
birth. We now see and feel its evils. Their
weight 10 intolerabie and we must have re.
lief They cannot expect us TO travel on.
ward in the path Of ruin with our eyes open.
We have suffered for our blindness, and if
they ohall suffer little for departing in their
practice from the justice and beauty Of their
theory, they will have no great cause 10 com.
plain.
! have now, Mr.. President, finished what
intended to say upon the injustice, inequality
and oppressiveness Of this system oftaxatioE,
and have also pointed out the Injurious ef.
iects which II has produced in my opinion
upon tho general welfare of the nation. I
will now state the terms upon which would
be willing, under existing circumstances, to
see this matter adjusted. know am in
minority but appeal with confidence to the
justice of those with whom differ. Thsy
say they only want fair competition with
foreign articles, let them have il. am will.
ling TO meet them upon that ground, aud I
propose the following rule by which to place
them in that situation. Let us ascertain
what articles can be manufactured in this
country successfully, then ascertain the orig
lnal price OF similar articles in foreign coun-
tries, add to that price the cost oftraDsporta-
ton to our sea port towns, New York, Phil
adeIphia, Baltimore or Boston then asccr.
tain tho cost Of the domestic article Of tho
same kind and quality, then add so much up.
on the foreign article by way Of duty as will
place II upon an equality. We will then have
sair competition and low prices. All beyond
this y monopoly in favor of domestic manu-
facturcs. and injustice 10 the community.
Fctnu0t myself see now those who tell US that
oil they desire Is 10 prevent the destruction
of thon establishments, can object 10 this
mode Of settling this controversy. Adopt this
rule and abolish The credit system in our i'm
port revenue, and our manufacturers will have
oil the protection which they profess to ask,
without having monopoly Of our own mar
kets, they would yet enjoy advantages which
would enable them to carry on successful
competition with articles Of foreign product.
ion ; and an adjustment upon the principle
have named, would grately reduce taxation
which is now expressing tho community.
| But II this be not acceptable, j, as one of~
those opposed to this system, will agree TO
any moderate periodical reduction which will
give the manufacturers time to accommodate
themselves to the altered circumstance. and
at the same time, present a sure prospect OF
ultimate justice to the balance OF the commu.
nifty. As much a. The South and Southwest
are conscious Of being oppressed by this sys.
tom, their patriotism would induce them to
suffer much longer If they could have grad.
usl amelioraiion Of their burdens and proc.
pect of final relief
I would not con6nc my views Of relief to
Tho Thrift laws exclusively. I voo,ld extsnd