Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-05

book makers card makers, glue makers, mustard
makers lumber sawycrs, saw makers, scale beam
makers, scythc. makers, wood saw makers, and
many others. The mechanics enumerated enjoy u
me asuro of protection adapted to their several
conditions, varying from twenty to fifty per cent.
The extent and Importance of some of these art- |
Fans may be estimated by few particulars. The |
tanners curriers', boot and shoc-makers, and other
workers in hides, skins, and leather, produce an |
ultimate value per annum of forty millions of dol |
lars the manufacturers of hats and caps produce |
an annual value of fifteen millions; tho cabinet |
makers. twelve millions; tho manu- lecturers of
bonncs and hats for the female sex, lace, artificial
flowers, combs, &c, seven millions; and tho man.
ufacturers Of glass, five millions.
Ii extends to all lower Louisiana, the Delta of
which might as well DO submerged again in the
Gulf of Mexico, from which il has been a gradu-
al conquest to be deprived of the protect
ing duty upon it's great staple.
1t affects the cotton planters himself, and the
tobacco planter, both of whom enjoy protection.
The total amount of the capitalt vested in sheep,
the land to sustain them, wool, woollcn manufac-
lures, and woollsn fabrics, and the subsistence Of
the various persons directly or Indirectly employ
cd i'm the growth and manufacture of the article of
DOL, is estimated at one hundred and sixty-seven
millions of dollars, and the number of persons at
100000.
The value of iron, considered n material,
and of its manufactures, is estimated at twenty
six millions Of dollars per annum. Cotton goods,
exclusive of the capital vested in the facture,
aud of the cost of the raw material, believed
to amount, annually, to about twenty millions of
dollars
These estimates have been carefully made, by
practical men, of undoubted character, who have
brought together and embodied their information.
Anxious to avoid the charge ofexaggeration, they
have sometimes placed their estimates below what
was believed TO be the actual amount of these in
tcrcsts. With regard to the quantity of bar and
other iron annually produced, it is derived from
the known works themselves; and know some in
Western States which they have omitted in their
calculations.
Such are some of the items of this vast system
| of protection, which it is proposed to aban-
don. We might well pause and contemplate, if
human imagination could conceive tho extent of
mischief and ruin from it's total overthrow, before
we proceed to the work of destruction. Its dura-
ton is worthy, also, of serious consideration
Not TO go behind the constitution, its date is
val with that instrument. 1t began on the ever
memorable 4th day of July-the 4th day of
July, 1889. The second act which stands
| recorded in the statute book, bearing the illus
trious signature of George Washington, laid
the corner stone of the whole system. That there
might be no mistake about the matter, it was then
solemnly proclaimed to the American people and
to the world, that it necessary for ''thc encou
ragement and protection of manufactures" that du-
ties should be laid. 1t is vain to urge the small
amount of the measure of protection then extend
ed. The great principle then established by
the fathers of the constitution, with the Father of
his Country at their head. And it cannot now be
questioned, that, if the Government had not been
new and the subject untried q greater measure of
protection would have been applied, if it had been
supposed necessary. Shortly after, the master
minds of Jefferson and Hamilton brought TO
act on this interesting subject. Taking views of
1t apPertaining to the departments of foreign af.
lairs and OF the treasury, which they respectively
III cd they presented, severay, reports which vet
remain monuments of their profound wisdom, and
came to the same conclusion of protection to the
American industry. Mr.. Jefferson argued that TO-
reign restrictions, foreign prohibitions, and foreign
tnIH nf,n t,r1,t 10
can restrictions, American prohibitions and Anne
rcan high duties. Mr.. Hamilton, surveying the
entire ground, and locking at the inherent ature
OF the subject, treated it with an ability which, if
ever equalled, has not been surpassed and earnest
ly recommended protection.
The wars of the French Revolution commenced
about this period, and streams of gold poured into
the United States through thousand channels,
opened or enlarged by the successful commerce
which our neutrality enabled us TO prosecute We
forgot or overlooked, in the general prosperitv
the necessity of encouraging domestic manu-
factures. Then came the edcts of NAPOLEON, and
the BRITISH orders in council; and our embar-
go, honintercourse, non-mportation and war;
followed in rapid succession. These national
measures amounting to total suspension,
tor the period of their duration, of our foreign
commerce, afforded the most efficacious encourage
ncnt to American manufactures; and, accordn o.
they every where sprung up. Whilst these mea
sures OF restriction and this state of war continued
the manufacturers were stimulated in thoir enter
Prises by every assurance of support, by public
sentiment, and by legislative resolves, II was
about that period (lS0s) that South Carolina bore
hel high testimony to the wisdom of the policy
IN an act of her Legislature, the preamble of
which, now before me, reads, "Whereas the estab.
hshment and encouragement of domestic manufac-
lures is conducive to the interest of State, by
adding new incentives to industru and as beinp the
means OF dlsposing, to advantage, the surplus pro.
ductIons of the agriculturiSt: And whereas in the
present unexamplad state of the world their es
Enlistment in our country is not only erpcdient,
but polite, IN rendering independent of foreign
nations" The Legislature, not being competent
to afford the most efficacious aid, by imposing du.
ties on foreign rival articles proceeded to incorpo
rate company.
Peace, under the treaty of Client, returned in
1919, but there did not return with it the golden
days which preceded the edicts eyelled at our com
merce by Great Britain and France. IL found all
Europe TRANQUILITY reSuming the arts and tho bust
ness OF civil life. II found Europe no longer the
consumer OF our surplus, and the employer of our
navigation, but excluding, or heavily burdening
almost all the productions of our agriculture; and
our rivals in manufactures, in payigation and in
commerce. ltfound our country, in short, in a ST.
tualon totally different from all the pasl-new and
uhtfieu' IL became necessary to adapt our laws
and especially our laws of impost, to the new cir
cuinstances In which we found ourselves Accord
lngy, that eminent and lamentod citizen, then at
the mead OF the treasury, (Mr Dalas) vas required
by resolution of the House of Representatives
under date the 23d day of February, 1915, to pre-
pare ard report to the succeeding session of Con
gress system of revenue conformable with the
actuai condition of the country. He had the cir
Gle OF whole year to perform the work, consulted
merchants, manufacturers, and other practical
men, and opened extensive correspondence
nc report which he made, at the session of 1916
was the result of his inquiries and reflections and
emoodIes the principles which he thought applica-
bic to the subject. 1t has been said that the tariff
VS. n me ncfr