Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-07-12

~ .o"0iuS'"S 'ne pOlcy OF introducing and eS-
tablishng manufactures in our country it has al
ways appeared to me that we should take a broad
and extensive view, looking to seasons of war, as
well as peace, and regarding the future as well as
the past and the present. National existence is
not to be measured By the standard of individual
life. But it is equally true, both of nations and of
individuals, that, when il is necessary, we must
submit to temporary and present privations for the
sake of future and permanent benefits. Even if it
were true, as think shall be able to show it is
not, that the encouragement of domestic manufac
lures would produce some sacrifices, they would
be compensated, and more than counterbalanced,
by ultimate advantages secured, combining togeth-
or seasons Of peace and of war. If it were true
that the policy of protection enhanced the price of
commodities, it would be found that their cheap
ness, prevailing in time of peace, when the for
eign supply might be open to us, would be an
qnlvalent for the dcarness in period OF war, when
that supply would he cut off from III. Lem ma
old enough to recolect the suiierngs of the SOL
dery and population of the United States, during
the warof Independence; but history and tradition
tell us what they were they inform us what lives
were sacrificed what discomfort existed, what hard
ships our unclad and unshod soldiers bore, what
enterprises were retarded or paralyzed. Even, dur
ing the last war, all of us, who are old enough to
remember it, know what difficulties, and, at what
great cost, the necessary clothing and means Of de.
fence were obtained. And who does not feel con
sclous pride and patriotic satisfaction that these
sufferings in any future war; will be prevented or
greatly alleviated, by the progress which Our in
tdnt manufactures have already made? If the pol
ICY OF encouraging them wisely, moderately, and
certainly, be persevered in, the day is not disau,
when, resting upon our own internal resources we
may be perfectly sure of an abundant supply of al
our necessary wants and, in this respect, put For
elgn Powers and Foreign wars at defiance. | know
that, from extreme suffering and the necessity oi
a apf,t. oftro. int hal
rise and sustain themselves without any encour-
agement from Government, just as an nnaided in
tlnt child would learn to RISE to stand and to walk
put IN both instances, great distress may be AVOID
ed, and essential assistance derived from the kind
ness Of the parental hand.
| The advantages arising from the division of the
labor OF the population of country, are too mani
fest TO need being much dwelt upon. | think the
advantages of home, as well as foreign, market
is equally manifest but the home market can only
be produced by diversified pursuits, creating sub
Jects OF exchanges at home as well as abroad. II
one portion OF the population of country be en-
gagged in the business of manufacturing, it must
derive its means OF subsistence from the agrcul-
tural products Of the country in exchange for heiI
fabrics. The effect of these mutual exchanges is
beneficial to both parties and the whole country.
The great law which regulates the prices of com.
modities, is that of supply and demand. If the
supply exceed the demand, the price falls if the
demand exceed the supply the price rises. This
law will be found TO be invariably true. Any aug
nientation of supply is beneficial to the consumer
| but by establishing manufactures in the Uni
ted States, an additional supply is created. Again
another principle, universally admitted to be bene
fetal to consumption, is, the principal of compet
| ton. II Europe alone supply the American con
sumption of manufactures, Europe will enjoy mo
nnpoly in that supply That monopoly, it is true
Will be subject to the competition which may exis
IN Europe; but 1t would be still restricted to tina
competition. by the existence of manufactures
III the United States, an additional competition is
created, and this new competition enters tbs Amer
lean Market, contendng for it with the previous
! European competitors. The result Is, an increase
in the aggregate of supply and consequent re-
dnciion Of price But it has been urged, that the
fabrlcs manufactured in America take the place un
ly Of so many which had been before manufactured
III Europe; that there Is no greater consumption in
consequence Of the home manufacture than would
exist without it; and that it is immaterial 10 the
consumer whether the theatre of manufacture be
Europe or the United States But think this is
an extremely contracted and fallacio view of the
subject. Consumption is greater in consequence
OF the existence of manufactures at home. They
create demand for labor, which would not exis
without them, and the employment of labor create:
an ability to consume, which would not exist with
out it. How could the American labor employed
IN manufactures, at home, supply its consumption
OF Luropein commodities, If it were deprived O
that employment? What means of purchase woult
It possess 1t is IN vain TO point to Agriculture
for every department of that is already producing
super-abundantly. 1t cannot be questioned tina
the chief cause of the reduced price of Cotton j
the excess of production. The price of it woul,
rise, 1t less were produced, by dverting portion
OF the labor employed in It's cultivation TO SON,
other branch Of industry. This new pursuit would
furnish new subjects of exchange, and those who
might embark in it, well those who woul,
continue in the growth of Cotton, would be boti
benefited by mutual exchanges. The day will
come and is not distant, when the South will fee
an imperative necessity voluntarily to make such
diversion of portion Of its labor. Considering
the vast water power, and other facilities of manu-
featuring, now wasting and unemployed at thu
South and its possession, at home, OF the choice
the raw material, believe the day will come wlel
The Cotton region will be the greatest nanutactur
ing region of Cotton in the world.
The power of consuming manufi ctured article:
being increased, III consequence of the domesti,
establishment of manufactures, by the wages OF la
Dor which they employ, and by the wealth which
they create, there is increase also in the use an,
consumption Of Cotton and other raw materals.-
To the exte of that increase, the Cotton grove
is directly and positively benefited by the location
OF manufactures at home instead of abroad.
But suppose it were true that the shifting to
certain extent Of the theatre of manufactures from
foreign countries to our own, did not increase con
sumption at all, and did not augment the deman
for Cotton there would be no just ground OF con-
plant with the Cotton planter and the most tina
he could say is, that 1t would be matter of lndif
ference to him. All that would happen to Inn
would be, substitution Of certain number of A
merlcan customers Tor an equal number of Euro
pean customers But ought it to be- can it be,
matter of indifference TO him, whether any p ,rtion
Of his fellow citizens in the United States are in
state of prosperity or adversely? II, without pref
ndlce to hini, his own countrymen can acquire
part OF the wealth which arises out OF the prosec1
ton of manufacturing industry instead OF the for
egner ought lie not to rejoice at il? Is 1t TO hin
a matter of no consequence that certain amour
of wealth. created by manufactures, shall be in hi,
own country. instead of being in foreign countries
If here, It's influence and effects will be felt direct
ly or indirectly all the departments of human
business and in greater or less degree in al
parts of the country. 1t becomes clear addition
10 the aggregate wealth of the nation, increasing
Its resources and forming basis Of taxation AM
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