The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-07
AMERICAN COTTON I'm INDIA.

The New York Journal of Commerce endea-
vors to prove, in long and able editorial arti-
Gle, that American cotton cannot be made to
thrive in india owing, as is supposed, to the pecu
liarty of the climate, which does not offer suf-
ficient alienation of heat and cold to give per-
lection to the fibre. The object of the article in
question is to prove that our Southern planters
need be under no serious apprehension as re-
CARDS the continuance of the demand for their
raw material in Great Britain. Whatever may
have been the results of experiments heretofore,
the efforts that have been made show the desire
on the part of Britain to get rid Of the obliga-
ton to draw her supplies from the American
producer. If such be the case, is it not wise in
| our countrymen to cherish home market which,
| in the event of necessity, may render them in
dependent of a foreign exclusive policy? With
out having recourse to high and unreasonable
protective tariffs, would it not be judicious that
the purchasers Of manufactured goods in Anne
RIGA should at least avail themselves of home in
dustry when it can be done on terms equally
advantageous? To say nothing of the prodi-
gious Improvements in cotton faorics, the rapid
advances made in the manufacture Of .woollen
goods, is calculated to astonish and crafty us
in the highest degree. 1t was only the other
day that a friend from New York, whose dress
was of the finest and most durable texture, as
sured US that it was entirely the product of Anne
rcan looms In the manufacture Of iron also,
particularly in cutlery and edged tools, the
improvement has been very surprising in
a. al
last named articles, that our mechanics inf
nitely prefer the American article for its supe-
ror temper, independently Of its cheapness.
Who that has witnessed the praiseworhy ex-
hibitons of the manufactures of our own coun-
try, at New Y ork and elsewhere, can fail to re-
cognise the superiority that our artisans and
manufacturers are destined to acquire over their
foreign competitors We are not exclusive in
our feelings, nor do we desire to see one portion
Of the community fostered at the expense Of
the others but we do wish to see an end put to
the everlasting drain to meet Indebtedness
abroad, that has heretofore made the American
consumer tributary to the foreign producer. 1t is
all nonsense to talk to US about ciprocity, where
in fact no reciprocity exists. The policy of
looking to Great Britain for supplies of what
we can make ourselves, is as one-slded as 1t is
ruinous to us. In vain will we attempt to sus-
tain our own establishments and preserve an
equable currency, so long as the right, on the
part of foreigners, to draw from us our coin
shall exist. We might just as well attempt to
| fill bag that has no bottom to it, as to enter
tain the expectation that our circulating medium
will be sustained in its equality of value, so
long as the debtor portions of the country have
10 pay New York merchants, or, in other words,
British manufacturers, IN coin, without receiv-
ing any thing from that quarter in return for the
products of our soil.
1t is hoped that our Legislators will have an
| eve TO this in the formation of the scale of
higher duties, which, as is admitted by all par
ties. has become indispensable to the creation
| of revenue adequate to the wants of the Gov
| eminent Let them look to the luxuries drawn
| from abroad, and, with just discrimination,
| impose duties on such articles, as the least
| required Tor the comfort of the poorer classes,
| and if People will be so foolish as to entertain
| ridiculous prejudices in behalf of foreign pro-
ducts, let tnem De maue 10 pay wen lot 'neii
preferences. So far as this goes, there can be
| no valid objection urged by the most tenacious
opponent of protection, purely as such, TO the
American operative. A word by the way, in
passing, with reference to these operatives,
whom zoe regard as bearing no comparison
whatever with the classes known under the
same denomination abroad. In passing sen
tence upon incidental protection, it should be