Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-20


lis redemption, and the circulation was thus expanded
by paper money resting on no solid specie basis the
market value of property and labor estimated by
its value in this bank paper, and not in gold and sill
yer, and prices advanced; and men were tempted by
their imaginary wealth, and by the facility of OBJ
tanning loans, TO extravogant and waseful expen-
dure and consumption, and spirit Of wild speculation
pervaded the land The States catching the peryadng
spirit, constructed railroads and canals upon credits
abroad and thus gave additional employ ment TO labor
and the of greater consumption TO the aborer;
and consumption still keeping pace with productions,
the evil effects of production upon tie value Of
property and labor were not perceived or felt But
nolc, that great portion OF this spurious crcnia;cn
has been withdrawn, and other portions depIecaed,
from its irredeenabe character and want Of con!te
in its coHvertbIlity into SPECIE property and lfbnr
are again estimated by their value in specie, and Il
markets of consumption have been diminished, wEI,e
production is rapidly increasing both al home ard
abroad
In Europe, the superabundance Of labor both in ag-
rcuture and manufactures has reduced lis p,.ce, while
high taxation upon imports has prevented like reduc
ton in the prices Of food; and noc the day aborer
and the operative forced TO work at wages low
as TO be barely sufficient to sustain life, and fur
ther reduction of course be made. But us tho
price of the manufactured article hos decreased pro-
duction has increased upon consumption and the prico
Of labor there can be reduced no lower, reduction in
the price of the material Of manufactures, the pro-
ducton of which has also increased and kept pace with
the demand has become necessary TO the manuac
from loss OI raw
in this country been most especially felt in the article Of
cotton which furnishes than one half Of all do
exports Had the price food kept pace with the
reduction the price Of labor in Great Britain by the
admission offood from abroad under moderate duties
exchange for her manufactures, she might still have
tanned large portion of the market OF the world; but,
unfortunately for the great mass of her population,
her cagerness TO protect capitalists, whether in
nufacturing, agricultural, commercial employ, she
forgot the laborer, without other capital than his
bone and sinew and the consequence is, that she
presents a mass of wealth uneTuulled by any other
nation, in the midst of the most AFFECT poverty and
want, which sixth ofher population is subjected
Her system of high protection TO all her great inter-
ests is system of high taxalion not only upon all
those great interests, but upon the labor of poverty.
Her sgrculturis is taxed for The manufacturer; the
manufacturer, in urD for the agrculturlst; and both
taxed for the ship INTEREST," which, again, is taxed
for the benefit of BOTH and oil her people, and all her
interests taxed to benefit her colonies who are in
turn, taxed for the benefit of the mother county,
Thus there is complete circle of taxation, the pro-
ceeds Of which, after paying to her numerous tax.ga
therers large amonnt by way of compensation, flows
into the treasury of the kingdom, to sustain her might
and her glory, which the happiness and comfort Of
the OF her people are sacrificed AS evidence OF
the effect of this system upon the large landhoders
and upon the day aborer in England, have only 10
turn to any newspaper oftha country, which finds ts
way 10 this As instance nearest at hand, we give
the following extract from an English paper, found in
the National Integencer of the 10Th inst:
Cleveland his eldest succeeds TO 100000 year,
or nearly 1890 600; Lord William Pawelt has legacy
of f560000, than 1000, and Lord Harvey
another of f4i0000, upwards of $2,000O00; there
is legacy of f2O0,OO0, or nearly $l,OO0OO0, toa
grandson; the Dowager has the Yorkshire estates the
house in London, and immense amount of plate,
rwelry, and furniture. large portion of the
tailed estates in Durham goes 10 of his daughters
His grace said had 81 100000, about S6000000,
the 81 per cent consos besides plate and ewelry TO
the value Of 81 900 900, or 81 100000"
In the paper we find the death of the Marquis
of Hartford announced, with the remark that he died
worth f2,000,o00 or upwards of S9,O0O,000. Such
these may, doubt be found in every coun-
ty in England, and some even much greater. Now, we
do not mean 10 say that these immense estates have
been altogether created by the high protection afford
ed the landed interest by the high duties foreign
grain other products OF farming but that much Of
the accumulation has doubt been from that source
the expense of the day aborer IL the increase of the
cost Of his food.
Now, let US review the reverse side of the picture
We extract the following from the first paper at hand
as recent report. The cases stated are accompanied
by others of like character and are no doubt true re-
presentations Of thousands and tens OF thousands in
England, Scotland, and lreland
"Iet us peep into the report of the poor law com.
missoners that we may the better understand this
doctrine which the humanity OF Great Britain is about
10 engraft the law of nations.
These commissioners visited the poor in their obodes
of wretchedness, and the following few of the
facts selected from their report:
Zone witness says: 'l am counted good laborer, and
when there is employment TO be had, am seldom IDLE.
] am idle for about three months in the
year, on an average In the beginning of the summer
was idle for three weeks, one day after another.
had no provision | sold every article in my house,
rather than let my wife out you may be eat the
price Of them very sparingy; at last, sold the pot
had to boil my potatoes, and walked out OF the door
myself, my wife and SIX children. We went oil where
we were not known, and begged.
GA
every day in The year for eight pounds, without food
or support of any kind.
"Anoher, in answer TO the question, DO your family
generally use milk with their potatoes, says, 'Milk,
Sir | solemnly declare, before my neghbors here,
that have been lying my bed, having blister after
blister on me, and Did no drink quart OF milk, but
eat potatoes and salt behring's, and had drink Dut
cold water. A great many of us would pray the Al
mighty to take Oft would De better Tor than 10
live in poverty and need.
Yet il las been said even this floor, not once,
but often that Great Britain has been exalted 10 he-
present state Of wealth. and power and happiness, Ivy
system Of high protection and her perseverance IN
that system is held up 10 example worthy Of
our imitation. But we say that system, productive
of such effects upon her population, ought not TO be
favored by Government established, ours is, to
protect and preserve the rights and happiness Of all,
without regard ranks sectional interests, and
whose desire for power and for glory ought to reach
no further than may be necessary TO accomplish tina.
main object.
But the slHteSHleH vi IIHRdHu tHeHselFeS are NC
ginning TO admit the evils of that system, and now
cudeavorng effect cure, far may be in their
power by reduction Of the protective duties on many
of the necessares of life and bill, by the last &C
counts, then pending before Parliament, intro.
duced and supported by the ministry, 10 reduce some
of the duties which hav been found most oppressive
the aboring classes; and, among others, on some
of the very articles which included in the retalla
tory clause oil the bill reported by the majority OF the
committee and now pending before this House.
But, admitting that the system OF high protection
maintained by Great Britain not only necessary but
beneficial her people, which we Lave just seen de-
MED by of her leading statesmen, and, as We be-
ieve, only sustained by those who deeply interested
in sustaining it-that is, the great andholders-s this
evidence that such system is suited 10 our crcum-
Stances or that it will be in TO persevefe IN ~
We think not. We will say nothing Of her need OF
immense revenue maintain her vast dominion By sea
hera and he hnsis OF civil