Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-10-01

Woo, cents per pound 80 do do
Hemp, 50 per c~i, equal to IS p,r cent. al valorem
Beef and pork, cts. per 10. 81 do do
Hams and bacon, 3 do do As do do
Cheese, do do 100 do do
| Butter, do do IS do do
Lard, 90 do 46 do do
POtstoes. cts. per bushel, Sc do do
-Four, 81 ~ DO do 10 do do
Wheat, 25 do do 30 do do
Here have list OF eleven articles Of ogrieul-
tural products, raised principally in the South and
West, and they average about 43 per cent. proiec
tion-a rate much higher than is enjoyed by the
manufactured articles. know it is said that these
articles need no protection. Bat this is a great mis-
tnke. These articles have been imported into the
country, on an average, for the last five years, 10
the amount of 81, 3iI GOO annually. The fact u.s.
they need protection as much many OF the manu-
tdctured fabrics.
Sir, there is an identity OF interest between the
manufacturer and the agrculturist. Agriculture
ADD manufactures are not enemies 10 each other
they are not even rivals; bat they are intimate
friends. Viewed on a large and liberal scale, they
are only 5Itferent departments of the same great
system of national industry; ard whatever tends 10
give prosperity to the one Will give prosperity to the
other. They both need the fostering care oil the
Government. The case OF wool and woolens is en-
example of this. The wool growing interest has
| become an important in this country. The
annual product may be safely estimated at SIC oOO-
900. Withdraw protection from this great interest
| and the shock would be felt 10y Vermont, N. York
Pennsylvania Virgins, Ohio, Tennessee, Keniuc.
ky, and Indiana and in some degree by several
other States; or, II you withdraw from the woollen
manufactures all protection you destroy in great
degree the hon marie; for the wool and the irdux
OF woollens would be such rs 10 destroy the Woo
growing interest. This one example illustrates the
principle well as Fl ty. lie, the present law, il
any law we have, 60 into operation, and the first
eiTe,t would he felt by the manufactures. Standing
in the fore r1rt they would receive the FIRST shock
the ravases would soon extend. and the laborer the
farmer, would finally have 10 bear his full share.
an fully convinced that the labor of the country is
the great thing TO be protccled and people
are engaged in agriculture than in any other calling
so agriculture has tho greatest interest in this yuss
ton. And il the gentleman from Indiana mir Ken
nedy) cannot comprehend how the great agricutu.
raj States of the West have an interest in the sue.
cess OF manufactures, he not only cannot put two
ideas together, but as it seems TO me, is incapable
of comprehendng one.
IL you should destroy manufactures, You would
at once drive tho men engaged in those various en-.
ploymen's into agriculture, ard, from being
| sumers, they would become producers, and the
price OF agricultural products would at fall
This would reduce the price Of labor, and so effect
every laboring man in the country. In fact labor
constitutes the wealth OF the country. IL has been
estimated by writers political economy that the
annual industry Of a country will amount to one
seventh eighth OF its entire wealth; so that, If
people should cease from labor altogether, they
would consume their entire substance in seven or
egat years II this is true Of nations generally, il
Is ceTta true OF tnls country, WnerC INDUSTRY Is
proverbal. II labor, them forms so large a part Of
national wealth. any policy which stimulates indus.
Try must add greatly TO the wealth OF nation; and
this principle is perfectly cumulative. The benefit
done to is beneh. done to al; the same s,imu.
us which prompts one TO action, and increases the
reward Of his industry, will move another 10 action
with the like result; and so the benefit may be null
tplied by the number Of the ahofers IN The lnnd.-
The same causes which stimulate industry in one
ling, in part OF the country, will operate
in another; that oil will, in the end, par,nke of
/ the blessings.
Mr. Chairman, we have, during this debate, heard
several euogie5 upon free tade and unfeitered
commerce. But whence do these eulosies comet
No. from the honest American importers. They
call upon us for pTotociIOn; they represen. that fJ
rcgnors have engTossed the greater part OF our com
merce and they ask the Government to interfere in
their behalf The foreigners who have engrossed
| the principal part Of our commerce in the city Of
New York are the great centre from which this free
trade doctrine emanhtes. They have some Of the
presses in the country in their interest; nnd no
means are spared TO disseminate these doctrines
through the land. We have, sir, heretofore heard
much about british gold" and its corraptine inf
enos. Now, sir, defy any man TO produce more
striking instance OF foreign Influence than this ca c
presents. Foreigners have ongros5ed seventy four
per cent. OF the commerce OF New York, and the
member from that city comes forward and pleads
for unres,rainod commerce; nay, devoted is he TO
their interests he had rather have recourse o due
tnx,ton than 10 subject his foreign friends 10 the
great Inconvenience or tesiifying to false invoices;
az they have been convicted Of doing. do not Of
course, intend 10 accuse that gcntlemln of being
corrupted by hom himself; but II he. with his I'D
miled honesty and fairness, be far influenced
by the doctrines they put forth, TO give up the
ordinary mode Of raising revenue, and to advocate
tho doctrine Of imposing direct tax upon the peO-
pie, may safely conclude that this foreign inhu
oncs 10 ovorshsdowing in that city.
The very fact that foreigners have ongrosset
sovcnty.fOur per cont. Of tho commerce Of New
! York, and th1t gross frauds have been commitle,
by them upon our revenue, shows the necessity o
some legislation on our part; and have no doub
thattho substitution Of specific for ad valorem du
ties and other necessary checks, would slye 10 TN
Government hundreds Of thousands annually
This glorious free trade dOctrne this gOdsn drca
over which gentlemen nre broodng, 10 altogeihe
unavoidable. IL could not and would not exist
even # ali nations should attempt to coma into il
The different localities, conditions. and situations o
tho nations would give one country an advantage
over another, and 50 destroy tho very thing amsl
at But the nations Of Europe will not in pfactic,
come into the doctrine Of free trade. In the impo
si,ion OF duties, they oil discriminate against Ne
and why should NO not recognise the samo primo
pie and discriminate against theml Free trade Of
one side, and restrictions on tho Other, would b.
very far from the true doctrine Of equality.
| Il would be madness and folly for NJ 10 open Gu
ports 10 tho productions Of all nations, while q eJ
are hedging in our commerce on every hand. Thr
idea is 80 repugnant TO the common sense Of man
kind, that no person would adopt in his own pr
ya,e affairs. Let two neighbofs be so situated tina
they we're under the necessity Of crossing eaci
Others land aud let one impose a duty upon III,
other for the privilege, and how long would Il b,
be fore the other would be under the necessity ~
seli-defence, Of imposing some hing Of n coun or
va ling duty7 II the cities # Boston and New Yorh
were equal in lheir advantages and resources, and
we're cut OF from oil the rest Of tho world and
were compelled TO have commercial intercourse with
each other, and the city N my own STATE should
Impose restrictions upon the commerce OF N. York
how long would the honorable member from that