Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-10-21

agricultural. and other manufacturing interests
faithfully observedit. They did more Such theil
liberality and magnanmiiy, that they abslained roH
demanding earlier reduction Of duties than actual.
occurred-a right clearly sustained by the Conpromlst
the 9th section Of which authorized Congress- ''Ir
the contingency either OF cLctSs deficiency OF reve
nue., to alter the duties prior 10 the 30th Jnne, ~
and 'adjus the revenue TO either OF the said contIn
gences There excess of revenue in 1876
and IS millions loaned to the several States
Then, the Anti-Tarif party had right 10 require
reduction of the duties, and in iorbearing to do SO
they ev,nced towards the manufacturers hberality
not likely to be recprocated Alter the Southern peo-
pie had thus acted when the benefits OF The Compro
mise were about TO enure TO them by return, moi
TO free trade but to 20 per cent standard oil dntes
the manufacturers, eager for gain, thankless Tor pas
favors needless of past dangers and IN utter violation
of every thing like good faith called for renewed pro-
lection In his speech III support OF the Compromise
Mr.. Clay said, "give us lime cease all fuc,ua!ons
and agitatons for nine years, and the Manufacturers
in ecery brunch arW sustain themselves against J"retsn
competition" They have had protection again and
again during the last 20 years. and instead being able
to sustain themselves against foreign competition
We find them visiting Washington, appealing to Con-
gress, and like sturdy heggars imPlorIng protection
with an earnestness worthy off better cause "Who
(said j. g. Say) "are the classes OF the community SO
importunate for heavy import dutes' The producers
of the particular commodity, that apply for protection
from competition, net the consumers of that commo
dty. The public interest is their plea, but senerest
is evidently their object WE'LL but, say these gentry
are they not the thing: Are not orr gains ma
tona rains, By no whatever prof, Is acquired
in this manner, is much taken out OF the pockets OF
a neghbor and fellow citizen: md, 1t the excess OF
charge thrown upon consumers by the monopoly coud
be correctly computed il would be found that the loss
of the consumer exceeds the gain OF the monopolist
Here then individual aud public interest are IN direct
opposition to each other. There is in general Tar loo
little attention paid to the serious mischief oil raising
prices upon the The evil Is not apparent
mi
and is Eel, in very slight degree ON every purchase or
act Of consumption lut il is really most serious, on
account of its constant recurrence and universal pres
sure The whole fortune fevery consumer IS affected
by every hucua;ion OF price IN The articles oil MS con-
sump,on-thc cheaper they are, the richer he Is, aud
rice UerSn. If single article rise in price, he is so
much poore. in respect Of that article If all rise To-
geher, he is poorer in respect TO The whsle
/ The only protection which Government ought TO al
ford is protection against fraud oppression, violence
If particular pursuit is profitable, n sufficient num-
Der of persons will engage in il, without the stimulus
of legislative encouragement, and, if IT be Improbable,
il should be abandoned. Government have always
been too fond Of interfering with the pursuits oil man
kind individual sagacity sharpened by personal m
terest, is fully competent to Judge of the advantages
and disadvantages of any empoyment and 1t would
be dscredi,able 10 reemen, to suppose that they inter
esed in their and welfare, making 1t The SUD
lect of inquiry and deep study, are not as ca
pable as their Government OF Judging what pursuits
will best promote their and the national prosperity
We utterly deny the right of the Federal Government
to egislate, for the mere benefit OF any class oil Ia
borers and if the power had been granted we ~ouia
oppose its exercise because of its tendency 10 abuse
and mischief The labor employed III manufacturing,
is only one element Of home industry, and We nave
yet learn why s that labor thus applied, should be
encouraged by legislation, IN preference to LABOR en-
noyed in agriculture and other pursuits. The number
of persons in the United States engaged in manuac-
turing as compared with the number employed IN ar
ricuture, is as one 10 II ; and Notwithstanding TINS
great disparity in numbers, the manufacturers nave,
BY their activity combination, and other expedlens,
succeeded in obtaining the ascendaDcy, and are now
n enioyng the benefits OF law which, under tie DIS
guse of revenue offers insult, while it iGfcts INJURY
upon the other classes. Why should the rights and
interests of the vast majority he sacrificed upon lhe
altar Of the manufacturer, Why should fourteen 10
bacco planters of Virginia excite the patriotic solIc-
lude of Congress- less than cotton manufactures al
:, Lowell
7 The Committee on Manufactures examined several
manufacturers during the last session OF congress,
and appended their answers to the report oil the com
m,,ee Mr. Schenck 4 wealthy proprietor OF large
wooen factory in New York. stated 10 the committee,
that 'less than duty Of fifty per cent on The foe'sn
cost Of wooens, will not sus'uin the domestic innnu-
faciurcr." He has been engaged III the ~oolen ma
nuacure for many years, and in the coinmuncu-
ton he observes that "hsf if not o! the woollen
manufacturers, during the period Of nineteen years,
have become bankrupt! The census returns Tor lS4o
show, that the products of the labor OF each individual
labor of each individual, employed in manufactures
were S5O0-n other word., tina, the labor of each
nufacturer worth S72 more than that OF TWO lar
mers If Mr. Schenck told the truih-if half OF the
woocn manufacturers IN the United states nave 'aeo
during the last nineteen years, protected rs they were
by the Tariffs Of IG, 81, %, b. and the Compro
mise does the fac! OF such failure demonstrate the
folly of continuing to grant protection And II, on
the other hand admit the truth of the census re-
turns-i the products of the labor of each manufac
turer are worth ;S72 than the Productions OF Two
farmers there any necessity or justice IN protecting
the industry of class already prosperous than
any other the community
For our comfort and consolation, the Manufacturers
tell u.s. taey intend to make independent of foreign
nations, and give home market tor our Agricultural
products. This has been their song for quarter OF
century brief reference To facts will show the iu-
tility of such promises After having enjoyed protec.
ton for twenty years the cation manufacturers OF
the United States consume 100000 bales nf cotton
The annual production of cotton in country, IS
upwards of two millions of balrs-from which deduct
the home consumption of 100000 bales, aud we have
surplus Of 100000 bales 10 send 10 foreign markets
In 1920 the exports Of cotton amounted, IN value
to TWENTY-FIVE millions Of dollars, while those OF loIo
amounted TO nearly sxiy-four millions of dollars
After supplying the home market with Tobacco we
exported, in lSIl l47 700 hogsheads-worih upwards
of thirteen millions OF dollars
After supplying our home demand for rice, we ex-
port annual surplus Of about two millions of dollars
In lcdl after supplying our home demand tor Hour
aud pork, we exported nearly eight millions OF dollars
worth of the former, and two and half millions worth
Of The latter.
The foreign marke, is important 10 us than
ever. For than hundred millions of our pro-
ductons, have annually, to seek foreign market,
and goes there more cheerfny or promptly than
the domestic manufacturer, whenever he finds to his
, interest to do One generation has passed away
since the manufacturers promised TO make independ-
emit of the foreign trade, while, in fact we are now de-
pendent upon the foreign market for the sale of double,
or nearly double the quantity of agricultural products,
which were exported from the United States twenty
years ago In 1891 the domestic exports of the coun
try were forty three and half millions, and our imports
nearly sixty FIVE millions. In ISL the exports OF do.
mesc produce hundred and six millions, and
the imports nearly hundred and twenty eight mil
lions These facts are referred TO, as exhibiting the
progress made by the manufacturing interest, in real
iznG their utopian scheme. Of rendering independ