Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-26

hear We have reserved many articleS~trom inme'
date reduction, in the hope that, ere long we may al
tain that which is just and right-nameiy, increased
facilities for our exports in return. fHear, eear.J Al
the same time, I am bound 10 say thst it rs for the inter
est of this country to buy cheap, [hear,] whether "'her
countries vii! buy cheap from Us or not tdeaF, near,
hear
Ought not ;his array of practical British authority
the result, too, of experience and observ-s"1-to aisa,
buse the American statesman Of The 0d British theo-
res OF protection-found, upon trial vex1tious, with
out ameliorating the condition of the manufacturers,
and to the nation burdensome without profit:
1t is The duty of the statesman to look to the cIrcum-
stances of this country, the state Of the times, the in
provemenls of the day; the character OF his Govern
ment, the genius of the people, the great leading inter.
ests of the republic, and their ramihcations aud bear.
ings on the happiness, virtue, and prosperity OF thos"
he is TO legislate for. before he decides upoa THAT course
to pursue. Under th7 gut,a - -. wholesome
rules OF action, he cannot fail To perceive that a course
ofpoltcy, that might be permissible under one state ofcir-
cumstanccs and facts, would be ruinous and oppressive
under n total change ofthose circumstances and facts. IL
is the exercise of this W Sc forecast and due circumspec-
ton that e~levates him above the tyro in politics, who is no
more than an operative, and is apt to suppose that what
was suitable al one time, would answer equally well at
all times. But it is the duty of members here to exa
mine ccu into the czpcdiency and absolute necessity of
a protective Tariff, before they again force one on the
community. Under this con iction, ] have, with much
care, looked into The condition of the various interests
of the country, as well as to the effect Of past Tariff bills
on the great consuming aud producing classes OF the
country; and | feel constrained TO declare that am fully
convinced Of the inerpeditnry of 4 protective tariff
Those of our illustrions citizens who, in times gone by,
may have recommended encouragement to manufac-
lures doubtless did so under circumstances as icide|y
d different from the present rs i; is possible TO conceive.
Nor even then did they go as far, by a great deal, as
the modern advocates Of protection DO. The great
weight Of President Washington authority, as well as
that of jeff erson and of Madison, has been addnced in
Tho unnnorf nf n nnlicv yvhich iS ady0cates rather with.
draw from the field of argument and investigation, and
&c reen behind the nnm-s Of those IIlustrious men, who
lived and acted in far different periods Of our history
than the present. But General Washington, in his
message to Congress of jan, 1890, only observes that
"The safety and interest of !the people require that
they should promote such manufactures IS tended TO
render Them independent Of others for essential, parti
cularly for military supplies"
In this opinion Jefferson and Madison are reputed to
have conceded. vii. any candid man pretend that The
present Tariff bill IS designed simply to encourage the
manufacture ofsnch articles as are essential, particularlr
for military supplies; Little did the s1ges of that day
dream they were setting n precedent thus TO be tortured
into the support of monopo'es, designed to fabrica,e ar
,iclps Of iugury. But, notwithstanding the extent 10
! which gentlemen are now disposed to press their favor.
lite protective policy, YET, in former days, at least, one of
their distinguished iavorites did not then urge it upon
the country to the extent IL Is now proposed. | allude
TO a speech delivered by II. Clay in this Hall, as report.
ed in ths InteIligencer of March 18th, 1916.
(Fram the National Rtehgfneer.J
rHousI OF Representatives, March 70, 1916.
MI Clay said the object of protecting manufactures
was, that we might eventually get articles of necessity
made as cheap at home as they could be imported, and
thereby to produce an independence of foreign conn
tries. In three gears, he said, we could Judge of the
ability Of our establishments to furnish Hose articles as
cheap as they were obtained from abroad, and could
| then legisiate with the lights Of experience. lie believed
that three years ,couid Ge sufficient to place our manu-.
features or this desirable footing"
How does this simple, unsophisticated speech com.
pare with the pompous parade gentlemen are in the
habit Of i~ndulging in? Mr.. Clay's object then was to
encourage manufacturers that they might make ar;i-
cles of necessity as cheap as they could be imported
In "three gears" he said, We could Judge of the ability
of our establishment MS 10 "(lyaiSA those articles as
chfap' as they were obtained from abroad, and could
"tae,n i~egisais" With the Sights Of experiences" What
has been ire result: Why, we have protected and pro-
tected those very sam articles, and the nngrateful cry
now is more protection. The three years have passed
by-aye, six times three years have gone by, and they
have had protection on protection, and yet the demand
crows louder and louder for more protection. ] hope
The interest Of the country, and the good sense of this
House, will prompt Us now TO pratt by the 'qiehts Of
experience, and put a stop 10 a system, so confined in
its origin as not to have excited The apprehensions Of
the wise of former days. but which has grown and
spread itself to such an extent as threatens now 10
control both the Government and the energies Of the
country.
AS one of the leading inducements heretofore urged
in 1924 and 1928, in behalf Of O Tariff, was TO induce
the protection of manufactures adequate 10 the home
supply, let us look at the subject in that point of view.
Formerly our manufactures were very limited. We
were dependent on foreign countries almost for all arti.
cles of general use as well as of luxury. Even aIti-
cles Of war were produced in the United States to a
very moderate extent. But what is the state of the
Gaze now Will gentlemen pretend that, with all the
protection heretofore extended, they have failed to ma
~nufactnre adequate supplies, and that they need it now
as much as ever? A few facts are worth many elabo-
rate and refined arguments, and the country will he no
less amazed than graiiied when | announce TO them
the results of recent computations.
IF,em Dec. No. 300, 81 Session Of 9Th Congress and Census
The average annual value of the manu-
features Of wool imported from 1887 to
1910, is about sll, 247,32s
Estimated value of American manufacture
ed woollens in 1910, is about 20,696,999
The average annual value OF manuiactur-
ed cotton imported from 1887 10 1910, is
about 9,73G,7G3
Estimated value of American manufactur-
ed cottons in 1870, is about 46,350,433
The average annual value of manufactures
of iron, and iron and steel, and iron IN
ls4o, is about 9,3lo,522
Estimated value of American iron and iron
manufactures in 1910, is about oO,s20,9D|
manufac,ures in 1870, is about 5s,3oO,54
Amount of importations upon which 1t IS
Is obout "a, 0GO, 900
Norr.-Hon. J. F. Randolph, in his speech on the Tariff, esli-
mated the American manufactures fai,000,o0O, which strength
ems ny argument.
SoIg.-Tt - stated in the Tables Of Industry in Massachusetts, Is,
thai The value of the articles manufactured or produced by the
seyerai specific branches of industry carried on by the citizens OF
that State during the year ending April !, 1857, was Ss6,aH! 6ls
Capital invested only oi,saI,JI5
Hands employed Iir11
Allowing one half Of the manufactured products 10 pay for the
raw materials, (Which all must admit Isl very liberia! allowance
then there will remain, as the product Of their labor $751; il,No
Tbis ,i piv. ner hand about S315
This table presents highly important facts, and deserves The
mature consideration of Western and Southern farmers and pan
tiers. Dn the farmers and planters maxi, per hand, the enormous
s,m Of s37G? II not, how can they consent TO be taxed TO increase
the wealth Of the manufacturers:
Thus we find the aggregate value of manu-
features is 1855, 800, 542, with a proposed taxao!e IN
portation OF S94 ,000, 900, consisting of foreign goods
Upon this amount Of inportotions, you propose 10 RAISE
a revenue Of about S27 600, 000.
The admitted design and effect ola Tariff is to aug
men, the value Of goods; therefore any law increasing
the price of the foreign article 20 or 80 or 40 per cent
would seem TO that extent also to increase the prce OF