Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-03-15


proceeded upon the principle of encour
aging aud protecting native manufac
lures"
But ! have said that the system nom
inally called "free trade" so earnestly
and eloquently recommended to our a.
doption, is a mere revival Of the British
colonial system, forced upon us by Great
Britain during the existence of our colo
nial vassalage. The whole system is full.
! ly explained and illustrated in work
published as far back as the year 1850,
entitled "The trade and navig alton OF
Great Britain, considered by Joshua
Gee," with extracts from which l have
been furnished by the diligent research
es of friend 1t will be seen from
these, that the South Carolina policy now,
is identical with the long cherished poll
cy of Great Britain, which remains the
same as it was when the thirteen colo
nies were part of the British empire. In
that work the author contends
81. That manufactures, in the Amer
lean colonies, should be discouraged or
prohibited.
"Great Britain with its dependencies,
is doubtless as well able to subsist within
itselfas any nation in Europe: We have
an enterprising People, fit for all the arts
Of peace and war? We have provisions
in abundance, and those of the best sort,
and are able to raise sufficient for double
the number of inhabitunts: We have
the very best materials for clothing, and
want nothing either for use or even for
luxury, but what we have at home or
might have from our colonies: So that
we might make such an intercourse of
trade among ourselves, or between US 8
them, as would maintain Il vast naviga-
tion. But we ought always to keep a
watchful eye over our colonies, to restrain
them from setting up " of the manu-
iactures which are car, d on IN Britain;
and any such attempts should be crushed
in the beginning: for if thCp are suffered
to grow up to maturity, itvu. be difficult
to suppress them. ."-fages y 8, 8.
"Our colonies are much in ,hc same
state Ireland was in, whon they began
the Woolcn mandatory, and, as their
numbers increase, will fall upon manu-
factures for clothing themselves, if due
care be not taken to find employment for
them in raising such productions as may
enable them to furnish themselves with
all their accessories from u.s."
Then it was the object of this British
economist to adapt the means or wealth
of the colonists to the supply required by
their necessities, and to make the mother
country the only source ofthat supply
Now it seems the policy is only so far to
be reversed, that we must continue to i'm
port necessdries from Great Britain, in Or
der to enable her to purchase raw cotton
from us.
'I should, therefore, think it worthy
the care of the Government to endeavor,
by all possible means, to encourage them
in raising silk, hemp, flax, iron, kDs only
pig, to be hammered IN England potash,
&c. by giving them competent bounties
in the beginning, and sending over judi
cious and skillul persons, at the public
charge, to assist and instruct them in the
most proper methods of management,
which, in my apprehension, would lay a
foundation for establishing the most prof.
table trade of any we have. And con-
sidering the commanding situation of our
colonies along the sea coast; the great
convenience of navigable rivers in all of
them; the chcapncss Of land, and the ca
siness Of raising provisions; great num-
bers of people would transport themselves
thither to settle upon such improvements
Now, as people have been filled with
fears that the colonies, if encouraged to
raise rough materials, would set up for
themselves, lille regulation would re-
move all those jealousies out of the way.
They have never thrown or wove any
silk as yet that we have heard off: There
fore, if law was made to prohibit the
use Of every throwster's mill, or doub-
ling or horsling silk with any machine
whatever, they would then send ii as raw.
And, as they will have the providing
rough materials to themselves, so shall
we have the manufacturing of them. If
encouragement be given for raising
hemp, flax, &c. doubtless they will soon
begin to manufacture, if not prerented:-
Therefore, to stop the progress of any
such manufacture, it is proposed that no
weaver there shall have liberty to set up
any looms with out first registering at an
office kept for that purpose, and the
name and place of abode of any Journey
man that shall work for him. But if any
particular mhabiidnt shall be inclined to
have any linen or woollen made of their
own spinning, they should not be abridg-
ed of the same liberty that they now
make use of, viz: to carry to weaver
(who shall be licensed by the Governor)
and have it wrought up for the use of the
family but not to be sold to any person in