Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-01
rwENTY-EIGHrH coNcREss--rirst session.
REMARKS OF Mr.. WOODBURY.,


the present tariff Continued
And now (said Mr. Woodbury. when old reasons for
retaliation have mostly become obsoetc-the reasons of
infancy IN the growth of manufactures so as to need d.
rect ao, ceased, we driven into prohibory system
more ura than was ever before attempted in the worst
me 20 th's anomaly opposed now, or was IT, in
pfacce opposed before 1876 because the friends of free
trade then or now resist protection. No They favor
projection 10 the persons and property OF all that is
equal protectionequa Justice But what has asnnish-
ed me most 49, that in this debate we'll where
attempts have been made 10 make the restrictive sys
tem iean on Franklns staff for support when, from
early lite, had always supposed that the opinions
OF FRANKLIN On Tree trade decidedly of the Col
osft ana Adam Smith school; and that, far from
| he Tree trade notions having originated since his
day here, and being likely in the vie VS. of the chairman
Hr. EVans not TO survive their authors thought they
hao hred already much beyond their authors abroad !;
and, as becoming better understood were making
Vets on both continents among the ablest minds, as
wen as Inc great masses OF society In order TO see
now Inc real truth this controverled point
concerning Franklin, and the conclusions TO which his
great experience and unrvaed sagacity had reached
on THIS subject, have taken pains to run through
portions oil his works. and without giving much that is
pertinent, will trouble the Senate with few extracts
| from them
In volume 6, p l57, he says:
awe see much in parliamentary proceedings, and in
papers and pamphlets, OF the injury the CONCESSIONS
I" Ireland wlll do 10 the manufacturers OF England
|
gu lie out oil the question Ii the irish can manufac
tare cconS, and stmfS and sHkS and Itaes, and on-
RI, and t0yS, and boo6s, Nc &c, &c so To sell
them cheaper in England than the manufacturers of
England sell them, not this good for the people of
| England who not manufacturers? And viii not
even the manufacturers themselves share the benefit;
Since, If co'tons are cheaper, all the other manuac-
turers who cottons Will save in that article; and
so with the rest"
Page o33:
/ CT oh, r . 10 49,
merce 10 opinion the particular question; and
| II does not behovc 20 do IL yet have much
emba assme aud 50 little advantage IN all The restrain
aud comPnslVe systems, that feel myself strongly
inclined TO believe that State ich leaves al her ports
open II all the world upon equal terms will by That
means have foreign commodities cheaper, and sell ii
own productions dearer, and be The Whole most
| prosperous
Volume l. p l70:
"Perhaps, in general. it would be better if govern
msnt medded no farther with trade than protect it,,
and let it take s course. Most of the statutes
acts edcts arrels. and placarts Of Parliament, Princes
and States for regulating, directing, RESTRAINING of
trade, have we think, been either political blunders, or
Jobs obtained by ariful men for private advantage un
der preience OF public good. When Colbert assem-
bed some wise old merchants OF France, and desired
their advice and opinion how H. could best and
promote commerce. their answer, after consultation,
was in three words only-'LaisSt. mas fairc Let
us alone. IL is SAID by very solid writer Of the same
Tics who knows The full force Of that mayim-pas trop
goacernor NOT to govern Too much: which, perhaps
would be OF more use when applied TO irnde than in
any other public concern 1t were therefore tn be wish
ed that commerce free between all nations Of the
world as 1t is between the several counties Of Enpland
SO would all, by mutual communication, obtain more
enjovments."
Or IL ts ateAk int a gss and approved IT, and it is
published in his works
Again, in en- essay entirely his own (voI. 5, p All
and 4lS,) lie SAYS:
"Several Of the princes of Europe, have of late,
ron opinion OF advantage 10 arse, by producing all
commodities and manufactures within their own do
minions as to diminish render useless their Inn
portatons, endeavofed TO entce workmen from other
countries, by high salaries, privileges, &c. Many
persons pretending to be skilled in various great ma
nufactures imagining that America must be in want Of
them, and that the Congress would probably be dis
posed to initiate the princes above mentioned, have
proposed 10 go over, condition Of having their pas
sage paid, lands gyen salaries appointed, exclusive
privileges for terms of years, DC. Such persons, on
reading the articles Of Confederation, viii find that
the Congress have power committed TO them nor
money put their hands for such purposes and that
# any such encouragement IS gwen, 1t must be by the
Government of some separate State. This, however,
has rarely been done in America and when has been
done has rarely succeeded, 20 establish
nufacture which the country not ripe for, rs TO
encourage private persons 10 set 1t up-lahor being
generally too dear there, and hands difficult to he kept
tDge ther every one desiring TO be master, anu the
cheapness OF land incning many 10 leave trades for
agriculture Some, indeed, have met with success,
and carried on 10 advantage but they are generally
such as require only a few hands, or wherein great
part Of the work 10 performed by machines Goods
that are bulky, and Of small value as not we'll TO
bear the expense of freight may often be made cheaper
in the country than they be imported, and the ma
nufacture of such goods will be profitable wherever
there is sufficient demand. The farmers IN America
produce, indeed, good deal of wool and ilax-aad
1 i,aI hat.
way OF domestic manufacture. The buying up guam
titles of wool and flax, with the design t. employ spin
ners, weavers, NC, and form great establishments
producing quantities OF linen and wonlien goods for
SALE has been several times attempted different pro-
vnces but those projects have generally failed, goods
Of equal value being imported cheaper And when the
| Governments have been solicited 10 support such
schemes by announcements IN money, or by imposing
duties importation Of such goods, has been gene
rally refused this principle that if the country is
ripe for the manufacture it may be carried by pr
persons to advantage, and not, II is folly to
| think of forcing nature.
| "Greu, establishments Of manufacture require great
numbers of poor to do the work for small wages; those
poor To BIZ found IN Europe, but will not BIZ found
in America TIL The lands all taken up and cut
waited, and the of people who cannot get land
want employment. The manufacture Of silk, they saw
is as natural in France as that of cloth in England
because each country produces in plenty the first
terial but if England will have manufacture of silk
rs well that OF cloth, and France OF cloth well
that of silk these unnatural ope !ations must be sup
ported by mutual prohibitions high duties on The
importation Of each others goods, by which the
wokmen are enabled In TAX HOME CONSUMER BY
GREATER rRIcEs while the higher wages they receive
make them neither happier richer since they only
drina and work less, Therefore, the Govern
'nents in America do nothing to encourage such pro-
| lects
But enough of this TO remove doubts in the most in
credulous Having shown that The present Tariff was
framed for the real protection of only class and
that this contrary to he spirit OF the Constitution
and every principle of equal justice in taxation pro-
lection, well contrary 10 the who'll practice Of
the Government for ih first quarter century of s
istence; and when resorted 10 since had created IN
tense excitement and wide d,ssa tsaction till after
few years the Union became convused and the sys.
ten was abandoned-l will next ask few moments
atent to it's character as syslem-no for prolec
| ton, but for raising revenue
| The Senator from Maine seemed to consider il good
bill revenue act.
MIR Evans observed that, in answering the Senator
from South Carolina, (who maintained that the act oil
1912 destructive to revenue,) he had shown it in
creased revenue, bet dd not say was exclusively an
| aci for revenue
| Very well, sir, | am happy to hear the gentleman
admit TINT he does not defend the tariff us ezciusirefy
L