The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-03-08

.
- independence
: Having now arrived at an important period in
the history orthe protective policy, We will pause
little, and turn from Executive messages. 10
other evidences of the state of public sentiment
on the subject OF protection.
1 The House of Representatives having, in
February, 1915, passed resolution requiring the
Secretary of the Treasury to report TO Congress
general tariff of duties, the Secretary, (Mr. Dali
LAS, } on the 9Th of February, 1919, transmitted
TO the House lengthy and able report in which
he very fully maintained The policy of protection
to domestic industry, and recommended, with
that view, an increase of the duties on certain
articles, particularly on cotton and woollens.
: The following is specimen of the reasoning Of
that report-reasoning, the correctness of which
has been fully tested in the practicle results of
protecting legislation
+! although said Mr.. DALLAS } some indul
gence will always be required for any attempt to
realize the national independence liz the depart
ment of manufactures, the sacrifice cannot be
either great or lasting. The Inconvenience of
the day will be amply compensated by future
advantages. The agriculturalis whose produce
and whose hocks depend for their value upon the
fluctuations of foreign market, will have no
occa sion eventually TO regret the opportunity ola
ready sale for his wool or his COTTON in his own
neighborhoo1 and il will soon be understood
that the success OF the American manufactures,
which tends to diminish the profit (ofen the ex-
cessive profit of the importer, does not neces-
sarly add to the price oflhe article in the hands
of the consumer
| regret thai my limi is do not permit me 10
quote mole largely from this bic report. But
must pass on.
On the same day on which tins report was
sent to The House ct Representatives, the Com
mittee of Commerce and Manufactures of that
body, by their chairman, Mr.. Newton, Of Va.)
made an able report upon the reference to that
committee of memorials OF manufactures of
cotton wool, in which they recommended a large
increase ofdutes on manufactures of cotton, for
the protection of the domestic manufacture, and
sustained, by an elaborate and able argument,
the general policy of protection. Time will
scarcely permit me to read from this report as il
comes from TTginia however, / cannot refrain
from calling the attention Gthe South 10 one or
| two paragraphs:
"The States that are most disposed TO manu-
features as regular occupations, say the com
mlttee,) will draw from the agricultural States all
the law materials which they want, and not an
inconsiderable portion, also, of the necessaries Of
| life while the latter will, in addition To the
benefits which they at present enjoy, always
command in peace or in war, at moderate prices
every specie of manufacture that their wants
may require. Should they be inclined 10 man
ufacture for themselves, they can do so for with
success, because they have all The means in their
power 10 erect and 10 extend, al pleasure, man
ufacturing establishments. Our wants being
supplied by our own ingenuity and industry, er-
portatiOn Of specie TO pay for foreign manyac-
lures toiH cease"
Referring to the general advantages of the
protecting system in developing the resources of
the whole country. the committee says:
"Every State will participate in these advan-
tages; the resources of each will be explored
opened. and enlarged. Different sections of the
Uuion will, according to their position, the
climate the population, the habits of The people,
and the nature of the soil, strike into that line OF
industry which is best adopted 10 their interest
and the good of the whole; an active and free
intercourse, promoted and facilitated by roads
an canals, will en~ue; preiudces which are
generated by distance, and the want of induce I
ments TO approach each other and reciprocaie
benefits, will be removed information will be
extended the Union will acquire strength and
solidity and The Constitution of the United |
States, and that of each State, will be regarded
as foundations from which flow numerous streams
Of public and private prosperity"
Here is an enlarged and noble view of the
subject, worthy of the best days of Virginia. |
Would that the present race Os her statesmen
could expand their minds TO a comprehension Of
its deep philosophy and its wide bearings upon
the solid prosperity Of The country.
Following these reports was the enactment of
OI
protecting duties, it imposed duty of twenty
five per cent. on wooden cloths, and The sam
per cent. on cottons, with proviso that cottons
costing less than twenty-five cents the square
yard should be taken TO have cost that sum, and
be charged with duty accordingly. The effect
OF this provsC was the exclusion from our market
Of coarse cottons, from which has resulted The |
present prosperous STATE of that manufacture: and
the low prices of its productions-a result which |
will alr shall
.abish the home manufacture upon solid
basis.
On looking into the Journal Of the House, 1
find that on motion 10 strike out the minimum"
provIso TO which have just referred, six oct of
the eight members of South Carolina voted in
the negative, among whom was Mr.. Lowndes,
chairman OF the Committee of Ways and Means. |
who reported the bill, and Mr.. Calhoun the
latter ofwhom, lIbelieve, motto nupon every that
was made to reduce the duties on the protcc
ted articles, voted for the highest duty.
On the occasion of the motion Just referred to,
Mr.. Calhoun made speech, from which | ask
permission to read few passages, exhibiting his
thorough attachment 10 the principle of protec-
ton, and contrasting strangely with his present
hostility to the whole protecting policy, and
especially with his and South Cardinals nullifcG-
ton 10 put it down.
''Neither agrcultu e, manufactures, nor COM
merce, (said Mr.. CALHOUN, } taken separately,
are the cause ofwealth it flows from them com
bined, and cannot exist without each. The
wealth of any single nation or individual it is
true, may not Immediately be driven from the |
three, but it always presupposes The existence oil
the threesources, though derived immediately !
from one or two Of them only. Taken IN It's most
enlarged sense, without commerce, industry !
would have no stimulus; without manufactures,
it would be without the means oil production
and without agriculture neither of the others
conld exisr: when separated entirely, and per-
manen,Iy, they must perish. War, in this coun-
trv. produces TO a great extent, that separation ;