The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-08-24

0ut 10 uIt CulUNAAuN o. Tie a4liI III AoAlN AA /
products high, and buying cheap the wants and
At life, no motive could be attrib- |
uiod 10 him but such Is were dismiorested.
He asserted that the subject before them
was connected with the security Of the country.
It would, doubtless, BY some be considered a
rash assertion, but he conceived It 10 be guscep-
tible Of the clearest proof and be hoped with
due attention, to establish il 70 the satisfaction
Of the House.
The security Of the country mainly depends
on It's spirit and lis means; and the latter prin-
cipally on is monoyed resources. Modified as
the industry Of this country now is, combined
with our peculiar situation and want ola naval
ascendancy, whenever we have the misfortune
10 be involved IN a war with a nation domi-
nant on the ocean-and It is almost only with
such we can at present be-the moneyed re-
sources oftho country to a great extent must
fail. He took il for granted that i was the
duty Of this body 10 adopt thnse measures Of
prudent foresight which the event Of war made
necessary. We cannot, he presumed, be IN
4;iEs-ssat q lager. from abroad, unless indeed
the House is prepared TO indulge IN the phan-
tom Of eternal peace, which seemed TO possess
the dream ofsome Of It's members. Could such
a state exist, no foresight or fortItude would be
necessary to conduct the affairs Of the Repub.
he; but, as il it is the mere illusion Of the ina
gination, as every people that ever has OF ever
will exist are subjected to the vicissitudes Of
peace and war, il 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 theml Commerce
and agriculture, til 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
eumstanced, 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 annlhilated, spreading individual misery
and producing national poverty our agricul-
ture cut off from its accustomed markets, the
surplus product Of the farmer perishes on his
hands; and he 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 staples of the country; and the
same state Of things viii recur in the event Of
another, unless prevented by the foresight Of
this body. II the mere statement OF this fact
did not carry conviction to every mind, as he
conceived Il is calculated to do, additional ar
guments might be drawn from the general na-
ture Of wealth. Neither agriculture, manuiac-
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, it is true, may not immedi-
atsly depend on the three, but such wealth al
ways presupposes its existence. He viewed
the words in the most enlarged sense. With
out commerce industry would have no stimu.
| lus; without manufactures, 1t would be without
the means Of production; and without agricul-
lure neither the o hers can subsst. Wien
separated entirely and permanently they per.
| ish. War in tins country produces 70 great
extent, that effect; and hence the great en-
barrassment which follows in its train. The
| failure ofthe wealth and resources olthe nation
necessarily involved the ruin olits finances
and its currency. It is admitted by the most
strenuous advocates, on the other side, that no
country ought to be dependent on another for
It's means obedience; that, at least our musket
and bayonet, our cannon and ball, ought to be
of domestic manufacture. But what, he asked
is more necessary to the defence Of a country
than It's currecy and financed Circumstanced
as our country is, can these stand the shock Of
warl Behold the effect Of the late war upon
Them. When our manufactures are grown to
a certain perfection, as they soon will under
the fostering care Of Government, we will no
longer exre-ience there evils. The farmer
will find ready market for bis surplus produce;
and, what is almost ef equal consequence, a
certain and cheap supply ofall bis wants. His
prosperity viii diffuse itself TO every class in
in the community; and instead Oft at languoI
Of industry and individual distress now incident
TO state Of war add suspended commerce, the
wealth and Vigor Of The community will not be
impaired. The arm Of Government will be
nefved; and taxes in the hour Of danger, wher
essential TO the independence ofthe nation, may
be greatly increased; loans, so uncertain anc
hazardous, may be less relied on; thus situated
the storm NAV beat without, but within al may
be quiet and safe To give perfection to tim
state Of things, Il lOiH Be necessary 70 add, a
soon as possible, A SYSTEM OF INTER
NAL IMPROVEMENTS, and at least, sucl
an extension Of our navy as will prevent The
cutting of our coasiIng trade. The advantage
Of each is so strikng,a as not to require illustra
ton, especially after the experience ofthe re-
cent war. It is thus the resources Of thi.
Government and people would be placed be
vond the power Of foreign war materially {,
| impair. But It may be said that the derange
ment then experienced resulted, not from tht
cause assigned, but from the errors or ths
weakness Of the Government. He ADMITTED
that m,ny financial blundersIwere committed
/ for the subject was new to US; that the take.
were not laid sufficiently early, or 10 as grea
an extent as they ought to have been; and tina
the loans were in some instances iniudiciousll
made: but be ventuFed to affirm that, had ths
greatest foresight and fortitude been exerted
the embarrassment would have been still very
great; and that, even under the best manage
ment, the total arrangement which was actu
ally felt would not have been postponed eigh
teen months had the war 20 long continued
How could il be otherwise A war such a,
this country was involved in, in q great mea
sure dries up the resources ofindiViduas, as b,
had already proved; and the resources Of The
Government are no more than the aggregate
ofthe surplus incomes Of individuals called int
action BY a system Of taxation. Il Is certainly
a great political evil, incident 10 the character
Of the industry Of this country, that however
prosperous our situation when at peace, witt
an uninterrupted commeTce-and nothing thei
/ ro,,Id eveaod 1.-THE naouaenf that We ,rsra in