Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-11-30
EOLUllEi XXXV.---Iyo. 50.

ness, when 1t Is ninety times less
il is due to candur and IN the character Of the Southern
people for energy and intelligence slate that the de-
cline OF aconslderahIe portion of foreign import trade
may be accounted for IN the fact, that now derive
from the Northern States many OF those articles that
/ formerly imported from abroad Al no very remote
period, dependent upon Great Britain for
such and fabrics now often manufactured
in households: and il is not unrequently hap
pened that orders sent abroad for brks and other
materials for constructing very DIVE Kings. While
we yet stood IN the relation Of cGlun,s 20 Great Britain,
the hard policy OF the mother country rcpessed all our
endrav"rs to establish manufactures, Of even the SIM
pIe:t articles nd visited with PEN
allies those vino embarked in certain prohibited employ
msns II known that this rigorous system of colonial
oppression t.uiusource OF those which
resulted IN the establishment of national nGepend.
That some idea may be formed OF the extent OF
the mpOa,ions into Virginia OF those articles that nre
chiefly produced by the domestic industry OF the
country, The Committee present the following state
mis-, compiled by well known writer several years
before the American Revolution: "The people (of Vir.
ginIa) may amount TO about FIVE hundred thousand,
which may reasonably be supposed 10 bring small ad
vantage 10 their mother counry-as FROM hence they are
ali supplied WITH ALL THE SFcEssARiEs or LIFE; such
linen, silks India goods wine and other foreign manu-
acues and Of our home cloths serges, sluts baze,
HITS, and all sorts Of haberdasey ware hoes bills axes,
nails other iron tools clothes made Knives
biscuit Dur, Stockings shoes caps for servants; and IN
dccd almost erry thing that IS made in England 10 the
amount u 600 0UGL Sterling which is repaid mostly
in tobacco Of which II is supposed by the incest cacula
tors that near one hundred thousand bO2sheScs are IN
time Of peace imported yearly, employing Le'reen three
and four hundred shps navigaed by upwards oi four
thousand sailors -Wyndham Beawes.
From The details given by the same authority, OF Inc
l,adr of the New England States It viii be seen that
they themselves dependent upon tie mother coun-
try, at that time for those wares whci they now sup
ply considerable quantities 10 others lie says, "ihey
take from hrnce oil finds OF mecery goods lnen stock
ngs Shoes sail CLOTH coTdage, babl GesEeIy ware, and
a vast many other things
The loss of O portion of foreign imports is thus
sufficiently accounted for in The substitution OF nearer
and more convene III source of supply Such diver
of trade is proper subject of regret On the
contrary furnishes both 10 the manufacturing and to
the tape States, occasion for mutual rejoicing II Is,
there fore, in spirit Of comp LIANT, that we refer 10 as
Of the causes Of The timnutIon OF our foreign I'M
ports: but merely show that has not been overlooked
by the Committee and that due allowance has been made
for its opera ion producing the decline OF our OreIgn
trade. Did receive from the Northern States only
such merchandise The product Of their own Industry,
We should be constrained 10 admit that the evils which
complain OF, ia! aud shadowy and that Inc
decrease uf foreign imports but The evidence OF
the superior advantages u The domestic Trade Bnt
when ecolircted, that the large mporaiiOns made
into their ports, designed 10 supply not merely their
Own consumption, bot That Of the Southern people also,
it can scarcely be ndtd that the present condition
OF our commerce arises only from the alluded 10.
As 10 The causes which have had the most powerful
operation IN producing the injurious results which the
Committee have noticed much difference Of opinion
Exists The Funding System, the Bank OF The U 3,
the rcrih, have been attacked and defended, IN turn
by their respective opponents and advocates, as the
agents Of mischief, the fruitful Of good. I'm
fortunately, these (the last two, at least are
nray connected with the party preferences OF the
present day. 10 receive that dispassonae examination
which would be necessary 10 determine how far their
agency had operated tV good Tor evil upon the nte
rests Of Southern Commerce j. is the less cdful, in
deed 10 enter upon such inquiry It's successful re-
suit however II might crafty an enlightened curiosity
could lead 70 few quences OF practical nature
rl,oR Lana 4 ,Iipui
believed 10 have been abandoned " hatever may have
been their effects. they have ce0s'd 10 operate or
If they still felt. they be neither checked nor
promoted, by solution Of the question: whether the de-
cline OF our foreign trade, IN any wise attributable
10 them.
There is, however, cause Of this decline, which
the Committee canno, omit 10 notice, believing that
knowledge OF its operation may be useful! in itself sug
costing It's appropriate remedy. They ailude 10 the
withdrawal Of British Capital invested in commerce in
this and the other Southern States anterior 10 the Revo
luton. The business 81 The colonies conducted,
for the phrl by The agents of British capitalists; and
the resident merchants chiefly toreg ners,
whose supplied from the mother country.
The effect OF the Revolution upon such state Of things,
may be easily conceived Most Of The agents were re-
Caedany al III" resident merchants, having no per-
mancnt attachment 10 the soil, and either feeling
sympathy with cur grievances or taking part agans, U.s.
returned Ia their ans !antIc homes, while the number
OF those that remained gradually reduced by death
and retirement from business The withdrawal Of 20
large portion OF commercial capital, could not but
pr. judicial influence upon foreign trade.
II is that the result experienced in the
Northern States; but will be presently seen, in
much les degree. The principal exports Of The Colo
MES had been supplied by US, and 10 came the far
greater portion OF HE articles that Necessary TO
purchase them The me cha nGize that thus sent 10
being owned By BRUSH merchants, and transported
in ships belonging TO British capitalists, and for Tie most
part manned by British seamen, there could he
i've in policy or reason ur sending them 10 any other
ports than those whore their freghls could be most
ypnIpntiy received DISCHARGED.
il necessary thai the vacuum produced by this
Withdraw al should be supped In lie competition that
ensued for carrying the trade thus thrown open,
the greater advantage would be secured by those whose
condition better fitted them for conducting IL We were
IN respects lily prepared than the Northern
States Tor engrosslng the profits Of this trade Anoma-
luus may very wealth was, 10 this extent,
a source Of disadvantage. As has been already shown,
the products OF so much larger IN proportion
to our population, than those Of the Northern States.
The rewards Of agricultural labor Of richer
with US than with them as it Is obvious that where
large production !s to he divided among small mum.
ber average Gstibuve share will be greater, Than
where the reverse the case. II would follow that
their abour would be diverted before from the cul
tivaon Of the soil 10 the pursuits ofccmmercc and man.
uCactures Then would lie induced 10 embark in these
new empuymen by the hope OF any compensation
greater than that which rewarded their agrlc uural IN.
duslrY while could afford to abandon the pursuits
Of uaee for any rccompence short Of that which hus
bandry would yield
Having thus a larger portion of their capital invested
in the pursuits of commerce, they were enabled TO COM
pete with successfully for that trade which was pro-
rery our own. Had they established their residence
among u.s. and imported directly into ports he
merchandise which purchased with the products
which they carried away, cor commercial prosperity
would have been in nowse impaired. And indeed they
would have been themselves PEELED by considerations
of personal advantage 10 conduct this trade upon PrInc
pies of direct intercourse had not their largest ine-
rests continued 10 be identified with those OF another
people.
The impulse given 10 Northern enterprise ~ the
causes inst mentioned doubtless aided by olherH,
raising subsequently, and in cases originating IA
n. LEGISLATION Of Congress; bu, The Committee regard
those which they have just commented upon az hrs' IN