The Democratic Whig., 1843-08-24

hia + Hfuation. He was no manufactureFs 10 |
wac not from that portion Of the country sup
nosa5 10 Be peculiarly interested. Coming, as |
he dil. from the South, having, In common |
with hin immediate constituents, no interest," |
but in the cultivation Of the soil, in selling its
products high. and buying cheap the wants and
If life, n0motive could be aitriO-
uted to him but such az were disInterested.
He asserted that the subject before them
was connected with the security of the country.
II would, doubtless, by some be considered
rash assertion, but he conceived It to be suscep-
tible of the clearest proof; and he hoped with
due attention, to establish il to the satisfaction
ofthe House.
The security Of the country mainly depends
on its spirit and its means; and the latter prln-
cipally on its moneyed resources. Modified as
the industry OF this country now is, combined
with our peculiar situation and want OF a naval
ascendancy, whenever we have the misfortune
to be involved in war with nation doml-
nant on the ocean-and it is almost only with
such we can at present be-the moneyed re-
sources ofthe country to great extent must
fail. He took it for granted that it was the
duty of this body to adopt those measures OF
prudent foresight which the event of war made
necessary. We cannot, he presumed, be IN.
A:as.a.4t tn aa<saxs from abroad, unless. indeed
the House is prepared to indulge IN the phan-
tom of eternal peace, which seemed to possess
the dream of some ofits members. Could such
a state exist, no foresight or fortItude would be
necessary to conduct. the affairs of the Repub.
lie; but, as it it is the mere illusion of the ina
gination, as every people that ever has or ever
will exist are subjected to the vicissltudes of
peace and war, it must ever be considered as
the plain dictate of wisdom and peace to pre-
pare for war. What, then, let US consider con.
stitute the resources of this country, and what
are the effects of war on them? Commerce
and agriculture, till lately almost the only, still
constitute the principal sources of our wealth.
So long as these remain uninterrupted, the
country prospers; but war as we are now cir
cumstanced, is equally destructive to both
They both depend on foreign markets; and our
country is placed as it regards them, in stu
stion strictly insular; a wide ocean rolls be-
tween. Our commerce neither is nor can be
protected by the present means of the country.
What, then, are the effects of war with a
maritime Power-wi.h England! Our COM
merce annhilated, spreading individual misery
and producing national poverty; our agrcul-
ture cut off from its accustomed markets, the
surplus product of the farmer perishes on his
hands; and lie ceases to produce because he
cannot sell. His resources are dried up, while
his expenses are greatly increased, as all man.
ufactured articles, the necessaries as well as
the conveniences of life, rise to an extravagant
price. The recent war fell with peculiar pres
sure on the growers of Gotten and tobacco and
other great starles of the country; and the
same state of things will recur in the event of
another, unless prevented by the foresight of
this body. If the mere statement of this fact
did not carry conviction to every mind, as he
it is calculated to do, additional ar
guments might be drawn from the general ma
Iure of wealth. Neither agriculture, manufac-
lures, nor commerce, taken separately, is the
cause of wealth; IT FLOWS FROM THE THREE
COMBINED, AND CANNOT EXIST WITH
OUT EACH. The wealth of any single ma
ton or individual, 1t is true, may not in1naedi-
gtely depend on the three, but such wealth al
ways presupposes its existence. He viewed
the words in the most enlarged sense. With
put commerce industry would have no Stimu- |
us: without manufactures, it would be without
he means of production; and without agricu- |
ure neither of the oilers can subslst. When
separated entirely and permanently they per- |
sh. War in this country produces to great
,xtent, that effect; and hence the great en-
,arrassment which follows in its train. The |
allure Of the wealth and resources oEthe nation /
necessarily involved the ruin Oft finances |
md its currency. 1t is admitted by the most |
strenuous advocates, on the other side, that no /
country ought to be dependent on another for
ts means obedience; that, at least, our musket
md bayonet, our cannon and ball, ought to be /
IF domestic manufacture. But what, he asked |
8 more necessary to the defence of country
han It's currecy and finance! Circumstanced
Is our country is, can these stand the shock of
war! Behold the effect of the late war upon
hem. When our manufactures are grown to
certain perfection, as they soon will under |
he fostering care of Government, we will no
onger experience these evils. The farmer
will find ready market for his surplus produce;
md, what is almost eff equal consequence, a
certain and cheap supply of all his wants. His
prosperity will diffuse itself TO every class in
n the community; and, instead oftf at languor
of industry and individual distress now incident
% state of war and suspended commerce, the
wealth and vigor of The community will not be
impaired. The arm of Government will be
1erved; and taxes in the hour of danger, when
essential to the independence of the nation, may
be greatly increased; loans, so uncertain and
1aZardous NAV be less relied on; thus situated,
he storm may beat without, but within all may
De quiet and safe. To give perfection to this
state of things, II s0ill be necessary to add, as
soon as possible, A SYSTEM OF INTER
NAL IMPROVEMENTS, and at least, such
IN extension of our navy as will prevent the
cutting off our coastlng trade. The advantage
IF each is so striking,as not to require illustra
ion, especially after the experience of the re-
;ent war. 1t is thus the resources of this
Government and people would be placed be-
1ond the power of foreign war materially to
IMPAIR. But 1t may be said that the derange-
nent then experienced resulted, not from the
cause assigned, but from the errors or the
weakness of the Government. He admitted
hat mlny financial blnndersIwere committed.
or the subject was new to us; that the taxes
we're not laid sufficiently early, or TO as great
in extent as they ought to have been; and that
he loans were in some instances iniudiciouslv
made; but he ventured to affirm that, had the !
greatest foresight and fortitude been exerted. /
he embarrassment would have been still yerv
.reat; and that, even under the best manage. | {
nent. the total arrangement which was actin |
lily felt would not have been postponed eigh. | I
cen months had the war SO long continued :
low could it be otherwise? A war such as
ms country was involved in, in great mea. | r
ure drles up the resources of individuals. as he
lad already proved; and the resources of the f
government are no more than the agprecate | ]
the surplus incomes Of individuals called into
ction by system of taxation It is certainlv | !;
great political evil. incident to the characser :
the industry of this countrv. thar ho,,,o,,~- :