Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-28
From the LyneAburs virginian.


we are requested by the authors Of the follow
ing address, proposing Convention of all nersons
interested IN the Iron trade ask its Identification
IN the papers OF this Commonwealth, and particn.
larly IN those OF the Western part Of Virginia.
"hefe th,s subject Is necessarily one Of special in
terest We do 50 with pleasure, because, in the
iormer adjustment of the Tariff this importan, nnd
valuable article was unqueslonaby unfairly dealt
by, unless the authoritative construction given IN
inc tarih law he incorrect-and because now that
revision OF the duties on imports is about TO be
made, The Iron masters owe II TO themselves To
guard their interests from farther sacrifice Denress
ed as IS tins branch of domestic Industry Some
effort ought 10 be made, with proper regard tn
otheT interests, TO counterAct the effects Of FOREIGN
competition, under the influence OF which IL is raniI
~ becoming prohtess business, and must soon he
| abandoned.
During the last Ten years we have imported fran
EngLaHd alone iron the amount Of eigifv fire. mil
lions Of d0ldrs-ayeragns 81 millions Of dollars ner
annum' And this, too, when our own mountains
abound IN the richest ore, and with abundant f,eI
water power, &c. AZ hand, necessary To convert ~
| into implements Of peace or war-Shall we nprsnc
| such policy as viii annlhilate this element of
wealth, so bounuiully lavished upon us by Provi-
dence? Shall eItinguish the Fl es Of ever,,
furnace IN our extensive iron region If lao s,,,
| CONFUSION OF niture, or by some mysterious aoe,
cy OF Providence, mountains of iron ty.r. 90,
Vetted INTO worthless rock, we should with ore
voice, deplore II a great national ca tpitv Lcr,,,o
one OF the elements, not only OF public wealth I'm,
pubic safety and independence, would be do,tro,,.
ed We should be entirely dependent in sucb a
contingency, upon foreign nations not opIv for Tho
implements with which we cultivate the e,,tb =;
peace, but for the arms with which we defend o,,
tre-sldes IN war. Yet what Of advantage TO M. 10 ~
that our mountains TEEN with the richest or. and
that we have the means TO apply this ore to al The
useful purposes Of lite, w. by an iniudicious system
OF legislation the foreign iron maker is enabled IN
undcrsell MS at home, and we are thereby cornn.I
! led TO abandon ruinous employment WIN. in
other words, when q hengnant Providence ice
"Seatter'd blessings DER smiling and.n shall we
countefactIt its benehcent designs and doom IN ove,
/ ty region thus favored Of leaven7 Wbv ,b,lI ,.o
/ neglect the claims Of the American Iron.no,tsr,rJ
laborer for the purpose Of putting money into The
pockets of BrItons and Swedes3 This miebt viii
some show of propriety, be DONE II they. Ib'le vc
/ purchased their iron, would buy our wheat md
tour,-or ilthey would graduate their duties ,non
our tobacco AID other productions by the same ss,Ie
which We adopt 10 reference "a the articles Which
We purchase oi them. But we could never SOC
either the wisdom or the patriotism OF thai Iioe al
conduct IN nation, which every man would rno-
denim ns runous IN an individual, which. ove,look
ing ones own abundant resources, seeks IN srr,i,
us actual wants by purchasing from others. Who " n
not IN turn purchase from them. Submitting tbes,
Ienec''ons Tor What they are WORTH we again inv,t,
tne attention Of those interested 10 tho .ubioiro,
communication JN''