Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-29

Ichtte the product OF lahM OF auo
> by live themselves upon the hard earnings OF u
poor, let Il be known II this is their doctrine, ls
them proclaim il upon this door, and vi
engage that this will he he las, Congress IN whie
4 they will ever make the proclamation. And .;
confess with regret that hnd the gentleman tto'
E Georgia mir Iabershsml eontsndine, as he doe
in his minority report, that wages should be so 70
duced that the handy aud industrious laborer sha
receive hut fifteen dollars modth and board HIM
SET. The wealth OF nsuon is IN its labor ant
there be ties, Of the prosperity Of Peo
pie, than the price which the laborer can eommind
One argument, aud in TACT the great argument witt
, me in favor of tariff, is drawn from the eneour
age reni il offers TO donest c intusty.
| wish TO see the manufacture prosper | wi,i
4 to see investments which have been made in 'h'
branch OF national industry yielding fare return
the enterprsing citizens who have embarked thei
capital therein. But confess that this Is not TIT
greatest object OF my desire. No, cir; desir'
above all things to sec the homes, laborer, who's
only ca pita in his own sinews, thrive and prosper
, wish to to his labor rewarded that eomfJr
and plenty may be seen in his habitaton. and tina
he may have the mean, uf educating his children
and training them up for usefulness.
But II is sometimes said that, II manufacture:
produce so much wretehedness as is found IN Gtea
Britain, this is good reason why we should moi
encourage them in this country. But nothing can
be moro unfounded thar this objection. Manuiae-
turing does not produce this poverty and suffering
they rise from a crowded population, and exist IN
spite of manufactures. Manufactures give employ.
ment 70 thousands who could not otherwise be en-
ployed at ll Blot out the numerous man uisctories
from Great Britain, and thousands who now fnd en-
ploy and obtain a comfortable living would be
thrown out ofall business and consequently would
| siarve. Manufactures, instead OF being the cause
OF low wages and poverty, are, in fact, the effect
| Of poverty and low wages. Thousands are driven
into manufactures because they can ind no other
employment. Ii rs. then, = great blessing TO the
people in England tina, manufactures do exist.
But, whatever might be the case in Grea; Britain,
4 H.. d..
our own country. Evsn in the manufacturing dis
trets We have large quantities OF uncutvnted land
and then there is that uabounded world OF the West
which is capable of supporting untold millions. So
long we have vacant lands, there IS nothing TO
fear from manufactures And with what propne,y
those who oppose manufactures make III schare,1
They profess TO be great friends Of commerce. But
does not every person know that, IN all our gtoit
mart, of commerce, the population is more dense
than in our manufacturing villagesl And If gentle
have such holy horror Of crowded population.
how can they rejoice 1.-THE increase ofour commerce.
which 10 IDS directly to build up thiekiy settled
places7
But the gentleman from Indiana mir KENNEDY
s fearful that tho morals OF the people will be
rupted and their health mpsired by manufacturing
establishments / have neither the time nor the in
clinaiion to go at any length into this part OF The
subject. | will simply say that in New England
our manufacturing population is as intelligent and
moral as the portion engaged in agriculture; and
whether the moral atmosphere Of New England is
as pure that Of the South and West, will leave
to tho gentleman TO decide. l bring no accusation
against his consutuen,s-I desire none in return.
But gentlemen tell that they wish TO be left free
to buy where they can buy cheapest, and TO sell
where they can obtain the highest price. This doc
at first blush Appeals very plausible, but 10 far
ON being sound. Let us test II 10y example In
time OF war a citizen nigh, buy cheapest OF the
enemy, and in return dispose Of his products 20
them at the best prices. But, sir, would this
be allowed Would the plea that this is the "ar-
gest liberty" avail such case2 II nigh, be for
the interest OF some individuals 10 enjoy this FREE
trade IN time of war but the VINO should |
attempt TO carry il would be restrained for pur-
poses OF STATE. He would be informed that his |
interest and that OF the public were at variance, and
that his aim yield 10 theirs. The same princi
pie holds good IN time OF peace. Ii may be for the |
interest ofan individual in time OF peace 10 tmuggle
goods, but, as his interest is adverse to that of the
public, the one must yield 10 TIE many There may
be great national interests in peace as well IN |
war, which demand Certain restrictions upon trade |
Discriminating duties are necessary to sustain he
great interests OF the country and the public good
IS promoted by their importation. Ii is with ma
ton es it is with an Individual: the marke. where
we can buy cheSpes; is not always the best, in
q pecuniary point of view. Il may be good policy |
in an individual TO buy IN the dearest market It |
may be nearest at hand /; may be the hest |
market in which to sell his products. The cheapest
market for purchase may require specie payment,
waile dearer market may receive other commodities
in return. The doctrine that should a: all times
purchase in the cheapes, market is far from being
sound principle in political economy.
The cotton manufacturers a. the North might
purchase their cotton in lndi, they undoubtedly
would IN some degree, II the duty on that article
should be taken of; and they might find il profitable.
for themselves. especially as they could buy cheap
er, eni al the sans time open 10 some extent new
market for their fabrics: but, this would impair
the home sfkei for the cotton grower Of the South
the injury inflicted upon The plant ns States would
be greater than the bench. obtained by the Nor |
thern manufacturer. For reasons OF State, pre-
ference Should be given TO domestic cotton. The
Northern manufacturer who consumes one hun
bred bales Of cotton grown in this country, |
not only gives employ indirectly 10 those who |
stor TO produce that article, but he gives employ
TO those who raise the meat and the grain which |
the laborer consumes while taisng the Gotten;
whereas the manufacturer who consumes one hun
dred bales of cotton raised in India encours ges |
foreign instead OF domestic industry In the former
case, oil the profits OF the entire business are kept
in the country, while in the latter half OF the pro
fits accrue 10 foreigners. The same remarks may
be made upon manufactured articles. He that
pa,ronzes the home manufacture encourages hons
industry, and creates homs market. Our friends |
IN Tennessee, for example, by wearing American !
coilons, even II they cost them trae more than
the fore en- fabric, would thereby promote not only
the interest Of the country, but their pecunia-
ry interest. By patronzing the domestic manu-
faciure, they not only prevent greater competition
in the production Of their great staples, but, by
sustaining tne manufacturer they increase the dc
nand for their own products The Southern plan.
ter while growing the cotton, and the Northern
manufacturer while converting IL into cloth, are
both living upon the corn and wheat Of Tennessee,
Or which is practically the thing on the corn
and whslt Of some other Stale which comes into
direct competition with their own But ifttey wear
the fabrics Of British looms, made OF cotton grown
| in India, they lose all these advantages. The in
te'est OF the country and the ultimate interest Of
! the individual, then, would be promoted by the
i rff 81 Nr-. Il IL. T.
were higher, the incidental advantages which would
result from such policy, would more than balanc.
the difference IN price. Is II not soi Does not
every practical man that this is the natural ten
dency, The certain RESULT
The ide that we must purchase pb-cnd rather
than menufactuTe az home, is a dang fous one; and
home industry will define. There may be articles
not suited to climate or pursuits not apIed TO
tho condition OF nstoni In such cases, they must
ook 10 foreign countries; and. If they can raise
some ether articles which they can give in eK
change for foreign products, it would be vice to sell
and purchase abroad. Bu, If this exchange can lie
carried on between the difFeren. psr.s OF our own
country, where the business cannot be disturbed
by foreign legislation, II is the dictate Of wildom
md OF prudence TO seek supplies Of home and thus
lie independent Of foreign nations Il We adopt the
policy that VIC W 10 procure every thing abroad be-
cause it can he Obtained cheaper, we shall, in
short time find our own industry parayzsd, md our
means so reduced that even cheap articles will he
b, yond our reach. Ask the industrious mechanics
or the hard working farmers in the couniry-ihoss
whose means arc limited and who are compel ed 10
Il md