Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-09

per labor of Europe, why should we deprive him OF
the profits of such exchange: And, above all, why
should we endeavor to reduce his wages By law TO the
level Of those Of the foreign pauper' To this complex
ion must it come at last Sir, if the restrictive system
be pursued TO lis ultimate results Bat give our la
bor.r access 10 oil the markets, both at home and
a5resd-pcrmit him to choose his own employment
and time and American enter prise will do The rest
As YOU have reduced the taxes upon the commodities
wh ct h. consumes and have opened for him the mar
ses OF The world, he has exhibited new capacities to
take possession Of the field before him. | lhuk have
shown Mr. Chairman, that the elements other than
labor in the cost of manufacturing p:oductiou, when
taken as whole cheaper here than abroad have
also endeavored to prove that, with low duties upon
the foreipn articles which he consumes, should be
able TO give The American laborcr than the foreign
manufacturers can give TO theirs, and still meet HIM IN
the markets Of The world upon equal terms. But, IN
mint of fact the relative Importance Of LABOR, as an
element in tie cos. Of manufacturing production, rs
clearly diminishing under The vast improvements IN
machinery aud the increased elciency which IS gwen
10 iuanimatc power. The improvements IN tie ma.
cbnery for manufacturing cotton have enabled The
Euopean TO suppanl the cheaper labor of the Hindoo;
and Mr Baines informs that 100000 operatives IN
the spinning mills of Great Britain produce as much
warn cs could have been produced by 4OOOU,ooo WIN
The one thread wheel These results increase the I'M
potance Of cheapness in the material agencies IN ma
nuactures and enhance the relative advantage which,
in this respect we possess over all other civilized ma
lions. The American manufacturer already occupies
the home market 10 a very great extent and indeed,
is probable if the peace OF the world continues, that
each civilized nation Will manufacture The greater pof
lion of its own consumption, where has equal ntvan
,ages for obtaining the raw material. In s respect,
our OPPORTUNITIES are .emlnent-we have not only
mineral resources, which are equal 10 those OF any
other nation, bu; we command The great staple oi
cotton, and shall continue to do SO unless we dis
courage its production by taxation. 1t 10 not 80
much at home as abroad that the American manu-
fac,urer should now direct his attention. The mar
kes for which civilized nations will chiefly con-
tend are those afforded by ieebler and less cult
waited races. The higher reiinements IN the manu-
featuring arts will enable the first to command The SIM
pier forms of production which engage the industry OF
the last The contests OF trade TO be for the mar
ke,s of Africa of Asia, of the islands which stud the
Pacific and of the vast peninsula OF 3 America That
instinct which seems to give the English statesman
forecast as TO every new combination IN which power
NAV be developed, never more sirkIngly display.
ed than in his late attempt 10 control the great staple
ofcotton. He the immense advantages which TINS
"a We us-the rival from whom he has most 10 lear,
not only in agriculture but in manufactures, and es
pecally in navigation The manufacture and the trade
in cotton constitute an important item IN the pro-
duciions of most civilized nations. In Great Brit
tain alone, Mr. Barnes computes the number of peo-
pie who depend either directly or indirectly, upon The
cotton manufacture for subsistence, At 500,OC0. Our
command Of this staple ought 10 give US the larger por
ton oil the re!hts OF the first voyages which the raw
material makes 10 say nothing OF the accessto the pors
of every nation which this article OF universal demand
rves to our vigaiing and commercial interests And
are we couline the consumption ot this great staple
10 The home market, which one heth OF The present
production will supply, and shut cut twenty ninr lhr'
tielbs from the markets there IT finds profitable
SALE Are to deprive ships of this universal IL
cence " hch enables them TO enter almost every port
free of duy-so far least the cargo concerned,
and this too, period when the prizes oil trade are TO
be those also of empire and power aud when The hoat
ing walls which commerce MAINTAINS are the best oe-
fences of naiiOns'
Mr. Chairman, it has been said that, 'for n9es, The
plains of Southern Europe have been the ttng yard
Of nations" II | could be permitted 10 Pfophesy,
should say that it upon another element and on ano
Their arena TIA. nations are 10 meet in the rude en-
counter for power, and 10 play :or such prizes rs the
world is destined hereafter 10 covet most. Those
prca, jousts viii NEST probably be held On the steep
Atlantic stream, around whose shores have Clustered
most Of the wealth the civilization, and The power oil
the world and whosc bosom the largest rivers
of the earth as tributaries bearing IL" gifts which CON-
mercc COLLECTS from the most fertile and cultivated
portions ofthc globe Isolated rs we n7e from all pow
erfui neshbors, why we should not plny
part as great as any npon this arena, whose SHORES
we occupy midway, and to SO vast al extent. why
should the manufacturing interest more than any other,
refuse the trial, fear the contest Who believes
that the destiny OF this great country IS ,o be fulfilled
within the narrow limits Of the coasng trade or that
the march Of American enterprise is to stop with our
own shores Isl not already familiar with every sea
Does it not bear its appropriate oiterHg 10 almost
every cline; Do we nct daily see II searching the
deep for its treasures, End exploring the earh ior
its fruits Where, Sir, are the pillars which tins
infant Hercules has reared, cs yet, TO marx tne
end of his progress, or the consummation of his
achievements Strip him for The race, Mr. Char
man-s,rke every frtter from his new born limbs
and if he does not develop resources as yet un.
known, pnrsne paths tn glory and renown winch
are now untrodden, and daily add TO the means by
which mind exercises mastery over matter, all augures
must fail If we ourselves impose no limits by weak
or wicked cgis!a.ion-what mountain heights, what
sandy wastes, what wide and tracasss sea, what ny
perboean cline that cars its icy BARRIERS shall arrest
The progress Of American genius, or prevent It's lnu
cnce from extending far human wants exist I" be
supplied SIR, will return to you from snch e3peo'
tons with argosies richly laden than if they bore
the wealth OF "OFmus Of Ind and adorn your land
with trophies gathered from every race and zone
Who is it that would forge the feitcrs TO bind down
tie Young giant of the West cripple liz march IN The
Chinese shoe of the restrictive system: Are they Aliens,
s,angers, enemies: No. Sir, no. American hands
have offered the chains and American voices are heard
TO persuade it to confne lis views within the narrow
horizon of selfish and exclusive policy. Sir, II there
he any one hope in the American bosom prouder and
brighter Than all the rest, it is that in which we
trust that our beloved country is to lead the van
in the progress OF the human race ana 10 conduc tue
triumphal march of civilization And yet the Com
mtee of Ways and Means would have us waste The
opportunities which were given not for our use only,
but for all mankin and would fct:er down this young
and free born spr, which only be trained by ad-
venture and fer which the world is nat theatre too
vast This House may perhaps be induced to try the
experiment proposed by the committee, but The people
never will submit he thus ,axrd and tied The cry
of "Repeal! re pea will resound throughout Tie land
The true American spirit will spu,n the restraints Of
these anqnacd systems devised by bnrbarnns, and tit
only for saves to pursue career better suited TO Us
genius, and worthy Of its aspirations
pIaNK BOOK MANuFACTORY