The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-06-05

leftllltN. Inc UllIeTcuCe BtlNttu the Lust
the West has been greatly exaggerated. Sir,
on this subject do not speak without book.
1 have seen the principal grain-glowing States
Of the West in their harvest, and being par
iicularly familiar with agriculture, claim to
be able to judge of their productiveness. The
western people with all THEN virtues, and l
accord them many, are a little prone 10 talk in
Ercle's' vein; aud have heard on the parir-
les some gasconading abou. crops, which
would have done no dishonor to Ancient Pts
tol We of the East, as manufacturers and
shepherds, are, to some extent dependent on
you of the West Destroy our industry, turn
us to exchange the loom for the plough, the
sheep for the OK, turn us from customers into
producers, and you have lost your best Gus
tomer-we buy Of you no longer. Of the forty
millions of the produce of other States which
Massachusetts, consumes she will require
not dollar. Add to this the supplies demand
ed for the manufactures of other States, and
Won have not less then one hundred millions
of American produce, for which market
will no longer exist. Where do you look for
compensation for this loss! You have not
the smallest reason 10 expect that the British
corn laws will be repeaed-no other Europe
an nation Will take your produce, and when
you are ready 10 sell, none will be found to
buy.
Let the western farmer examine this bill,
and calculate the saving which he supposes
he would make by the operation of this anti
labor tariff. How many dollars would he
save on his cloths, how many on his IRON
ware, how many on his glass, his groceries,
and other imported goods Even admitting
the truth Of the false principle assumed by
the report. that reduction of duty is reduc-
ton of price to the consumer, he will find
that few families would save fifty dollars, the
aborer, probably, not ten. But, on the 9TH
er hand, would not this gain be more than
overbalanced by the inevitable reduction in
the price of his produce, resulting from the
loss of market which consumes, annually,
800, 100000 OF the products of the non-man-
manufacturing States! Sir, where the wes-
tern States would save one million, they
would lose ten. But, repeat it, il IS not
true that diminution Of the duty lowers the
price. Reduce them so as TO destroy domes-
tic manufactures, and do you think the Brit
ish artisan, when relieved from American
competition, will sell you his wares as cheap
ly as nowl Will he not rather take advan-
tage Of his monopoly of the market, and COM
pei you both to buy and sell at his own price
Attempts have been made to excite the
jealousy of the South and West, by infa.
ted statements in regard 10 the profits of
the manufacturers. 1t has been proved,
by calculations, emitting only the use of
capital. wear and decay of machinery,
fixtures,a and buildings, taxes ana insurance,
and the numerous contingencies TO which
these establishments are pre-eminently
liable, that the eastern manufacturers
must have cleared not less than twenty or
thirty per cent. per annum for series of
years. We have the best authority for
saying. that the profits of the cotton man.
ulacturers have for years not exceeded an
average ofslx per cent; and as to wooden
mills, it is within my personal knowledge,
! that there is scarcely wooden factory in
New England, which has not lost sum
equal TO its entire capital, since 1871
Under the tariff of 1912, these establish
menis can live, but they can never be a
means of the rapid accumulation of wealth
| wish 10 present another general con-
sideration. refer to the importance OF
domestic manufactures, as an essential ell
ement in system of national independ.
ence. Gentlemen need not to be told,
that during the late war with Great Brit
ain, the Government was forced to connive
at an illicit trade with the enemy, as the
only means fsupply of such articles as
neither Government nor people could live
without. Shall we again subject ourselves
fo tho Inconvenience md ehana IF Snuu-
Cling from hostile country the very ban
kets which cover our soldiers; and while
Stacking fire, that the smoke of our guns
may clear away, shall we negotiate with
the enemy for the purchase of powder
] am sorry TO say Mr.. Chairman, that
am not among those who discern in the
signs Of the times sure tokens of abiding
peace. The age of conqestit is said. has
passed away; but at moment when our
own administration is meditating a war OF
conquest, and has already virtually declar.
cd hostilities in that unholy cause. it lies
not in our mouths to say, that such wars
are no longer possible. Sir, have toe
much respect for the cool judgment of ouI
statesmen, and two much confidence in
the regard of our people for The principles
of justice and integrity of the Union, &c
believe that they will assent to the coasum'
nation Of a project. which. under the cir.
cumstances, can only be characterized as
supremacy unwise, and pre>eminently fla
gitious, and which must necessarily result,
not in dissension, but in disruption. | do
not therefore apprehend a conflict with
Mexico, or its necessary corollarv. an in,-
mediate war with England but cannot
be blind TO the fact, that we are in con-
slant danger ola rupture with the most
formidable power upon earth. Great Brit.
ain. sir, holds Canada on the North. her
fleets command the Atlantic on the East /;
on the South she has extensive possessions
in the West Indies and on the continent;
and she occupies to say the least,an equiv.
ocal position the West. But this is not
all. Her ships are traversing every sea.
and Selling upon every advantageous po>
sition. which is either unoccupied, or
too feeble 10 resist her entertainments ::
and an American whaler can scarcely
bring of kcg of water, or boatload of