Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-22

Richmond without regard to political party, held
the Exchange, on Monday Evening, June 30. is4s
on motion OF Mr. Samuei Myers. Archibald Pea
SAINTS. E,q. was called to the Chair. and on motio
Of Major Jesse Snead, Joseph r. Anderson wa
appointed Secretary.
The Chairman having explained the object Of III
meeting on motion OF Fleming James. Esq, il wa
Rssslrsd. That Committee ofnine BIS sppointe.
| by the Chair, to recommend such a memorial anS
resolutions as they may deem expressive of 'h'
sentiments and feelings OF this meeting on the Inn
portsnt subjects for the consideration of which d
has been convened:
And the following gentlemen were named by the
Chair to compose that Committee, viz:
Messrs. Fleming James. Jesse Snead. John X.
Triplett, Joseph Mayo. John Mabin, F Barnes
+ b Desne, A Woodbridge, and Dr. Chsmberlayne
The Committee retired for a short time, and on
their to the meeting, reported by their Chair
man, MIR James, the following memorial and reso-
lutions, which received the unanimous assent OF the
Committee:
ME NC RIAL.
To the Senate aud House Of Representatives. IN
Congress:
A meeting OF Citizens Of Richmond, held on the
goth day of June, 1912, respectfully presents the
following memorial:
IL is not our purpose, at this time, TO enter into
any general consideration OF the state OF the coun-
try, give expire ssion TO any sentiment having
reference in the least degree TO the political parties
OF the country. We propose merely 10 call the at.
entlon OF Congress to the depr aud languish
ing condition Of all our domestic interests threaten
ing the destruction OF some OF them and to invoke
such aid to them as Congress may lawfully bestow
in the exercise of its undoubed powers to regulate
the control Tor good or i'll, which necessarily re
suits therefrom, over the internal business of the
country.
The power over foreign commerce, including tia
OF laying duties ON imports, has always been oxer-
cised IN other countries, with a view TO revenue
and the protection of commerce mcrely-or IN all
instances mainly-but with a view in a great mum.
Der Of instances, directly aud exclusively the pro
lection and regulation OF the private industry of
their people, IN disregard Of revenue, nay. often to
The utter destruction OF many sources of revenue.
Elsewhere this power has furnished the common, IA
mii,r and etectual means Of guarding domestic in =.
dusity OF all kinds, agricultural manufacturing nd
inning, against foreign rivalry, and has been used
rot less extensively tor that sole purpose than for
other purposes having reference TO commerce and
revenue. Ii retained, as until the adoption OF the
constitution II was retained 10y the States, would
undoubtedly be applied TO the same end.-wheth.
er II be So applicable in the hands OF Congress IS
question which do not propose to discuss The
public sentiment OF Virginia has ever been that Il
ought not TO be so applied. Our own opinions
would not be found In unison upon that subject.
IL connects itself TO some extent with the party d-
vision OF the country. And in the state of things
now actually existing and very certain TO continue
there Is happily no occasion to consider IL. The
public necessities FOR revenue, demand and will
continue TO demand the exercise of this power for
that object TO an extent fully sufficient yield in-
oideniay all the protection which the domestic in.
dusry OF the country seems TO us TO resuire.-we
shall treat Il therefore apower commerce and
TO De used directly Tor revenue alone.
We assume then only, and we assume as beyond
dispute that wibn the limits OF a revenue adequate
TO the proper wants of the Government, the powe
10 impose duties imports is 10 be exercised with
just regard to all the interests ofthe country. We
believe that those limits are ample enough 10 afford
suincient degree of encouragement TO all the in.
ieresis which require It. And, We are persuaded
tnat there IS no such dlscord among them TO rem
der the adjustment of the duties, with a view Incl.
dentaly 10 that encouragement, a necessary or Fl
subject Of jealousy and contention.
That adequate duties for the purposes of revenue
shall be laid is indispensable. The insufficient re
venue AZ present and for years past, is Itself
an evil of great magnitude has contributed much
10 assravaie the distress Of the country, and de
mands the speedlest correction. However the du>
ties may be laid, their direct effect is INJURIOUS
they impose tax on the consumer. Wherever
this IS their only effect, as u is in the commo.
diy be one unsuiied TO domestic production the in.
Jury IS without any sort OF compensation. H. on
the other hand, the commodity be suited TO domcs-
TIC production, the injury may to some extent be
compensated by the en-. engagement afforded TO do.
mestie industry. II the aid furnished he sifficen
to enable the domestic producer to compete fairly
win the foreign IN our own market. without ena
bling him TO engross that market tie Injurious effect
OF the duty thus receives Ill the Compensation of
which IN the nature OF things it is susceptible and
The result, as shown by experience, has usually
been balance of eaiu-the cnnvsrsnn nf a nuhlie
1ut'hen into public benefit, 10y cheapenins in the
long run the price OF the commodity, well as by
enlarsing the occu pations OF domestic industry
IL IS obvious that to impose duties on articles
which cannot be produced At home, is 10 impose
them IN the only form IN which they produce un
mitigsted loss.-and that an equal scale OF duties
on all commodities alike, IS witt many other objec-
lions liable To this. that far II inc udes areles
exclusively of foreign production, i, take, the con-
sumner, tends TO the advantage Of no domestic inter-
est, and dminishes the power Of the government 10
foster the Industry OF the country.
The duties then should be ADEQUATE 10 the pur
poses of revenue-they should be discriminating
also with view rot only TO favor domestic produc-
tons, but 10 benefit the consumer also by eninrgre
the supply, and oy aoiing domestic competition.
winch always active to foreign comDetitIr n which
issome ines insufficient, nd "a ar and con.
slant. the only ground eft then for possible doubt
or discussion. IS IN the choice OF articles suited 10
domestic production which shall be made to receive
THIS incidental encouragement.
The great interest, net OF Virginia only but OF
the country, the rgrcuitural interest (ssve in re
specI TO a fe~ OF It's projucts) has happily nothing
TO lear IN our own markets. What u wants is not
protection, but enlarged 5emsnd equil 20 its ca
pacty Tor production. Were that whin the mower
OF Congress by opening foreign m4rkets 10 its pro.
ducts, measure would 10 hailed win greater
satisfaction 10y every class OF industry in the coun
try. As II is, agriculture can only he relieved or
aided ny directing 20 other occupations portion OF
the labor applied 10 It, and by increasing NJ the
same time thedomestc market for is products. No
branch Of industry IN the country has therefore a
clearer interest "a the due encouragement and SUD.
port nj home msnuiactu IS than tho agricultural.
There ren,in only the Mining and Manufacturing
interests, inc uding all the Mechanica trades TO
which aid can be afforded by discrim mating dulles.
AmOngst hem there is 70 dsrOrd-ihey are in con.
hci with no o her intefCst-On the contrary every
species Of Mechanical. Mining md Mnnufac urine
industry h. more or less dependent on the general
prosperity OF oil; and all Of Them in every ma lence
winch they are capable Of eKsrtng, tend TO promote
the welfare Of the whole country and Of every part.
Of il.
IL IS true then, branches Of Industry ore very un-
equally d. ribuied through the country. The
states have, therefore, unequal interests in their
succsss-bu, though unequal, they ars not discor-
dant or conflicting. The inequality, even. taking
INTO account oil the advantages resulting from hem,
indirectly we'll directly, is much less Than is
generally represented but let it DO What it may,
there is nothing in the spirit Of the Union which
will permit any State 10 reject what is useful 70 IT,
self, iOr no better reason than that u is still more
useful 10 another.
Amongst tho Mining nnd MANUFACTURING pr,
ducts OF the country nrs many which are indispen.
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