Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-03


age the manufactures proposed most 10 be beae.
fitted by the BILL principally those Of woollcn and
cotton cloths, by prohibitory duties. That re-
siriclions, such as we have never before imposed
| shall be laid on commerce. by way OF bounty Oh
particular manufactures. For his own part, he
had supposed that restrictions on trade and com
merce, in order TO benefit particular classes OF
manufactures, were now very generally under
stood to be mischievous, and inconsistent with
just notions of political economy. They were OF
two SORTS, such as arise from treaty stipuialions
between nations, and sch as each nation may
create for itself by its duties on imporlations.-
The understanding between England and Porlu-
gal, relative 10 the imporaions OF wines OF Por-
lugal into England, was an instance of The FIRST
sort-the prohibition OF French silks into Eng
LAM, an instance the latter
"Both these and all other modes Of giving great
preferences TO some occupations, and some
modes OF investing capital, over others, he be-
lieved had almost universally proved detrimental.
They not only restrain private enterprise, but Oh
ten exceedingly embarrass the operations OF 60
yernInent. In the instance above mentioned, the
English Government at This moment experiences
the bad policy OF such measures NUtwilhstand-
ing The general peace of Europe, the commerce
between England and France is understood to be
almost nullty Whyl Because England can
not agree to receive on fair terms, and in e1-
change Tor her commodities, such principal ani-
Giles as France produces for expectation, VIZ:
silks and wine: And why cannot she agree 10 re-
ccive these from France7 Because, as to wine,
there is the old treaty with Portugal-and, as 70
silks, the manufacture of that article has been
unnaturally forced by high bountes at home,
and, if those hounlics should now he withdrawn,
some thousands Of persons would be thrown out
OF employment. So thatthe particular agreement
with Portugal, and concern for the silk manu-
tacturers OF Coventry. completely tied up the
hands of Government on subjects supposed to be
of the highest national Importance. To indiv-
duals, this policy is as injurious as il is TO Go
yernment. A system Of artificial government
protection, leads The people 10 loo much reliance
on Governmental left 10 their own choice oil
pursuits, they depend on their own skill and their
own industry. But il Government essentially
affects their occupations, by lis systems OF bonn-
lies and preferences, il is natural when in dis
lress. that they should call on the Government
for relief. Hence perpetual contest carried on
between the different interests of society. Agll-
culturists taxed to-day 10 sustain manuiaciures-
commerce taxed tomorrow 10 sustain aSricul'urc
and then were imposilions perhaps on both
manufactures ana agriculture, 10 support COM
merce-and, when Government has exhausted
its invention in these modes OF legislation, IL
finds the result less favorable than the Original
and natural state and course of things He could
hardly conceive of any Thing worse, thar policy
which should place the great interests OF this
country in hostility 10 one ano;her; policy which
should keep them in constant conflict, and bring
them every year 10 gh; their battles in Tie Com
Mite Rooms Of the House Of Representatives
al Washington.
'Wc see the most enlightened n; ions, which
have adopted this artificial system, are lir.i OF II.
We see The most distinguished men in England,
for instance, of all parties, condemning il. The
only difference of opinion is, whether the disease
is not 50 inveerae as 10 yield 10 NJ remedy,
which would not produce great evils. The only
difference is, whether il be an evil gricvous, but
TO be borne; or grierous evil not TO be borne
He alluded 10 England because her example had
been 80 often quoted as a model for our imila-
ton. But why should we adopt, on her example,
what she herself lamenls, and would be glad - be
rid Of? We hear the first Minister in Great ijii-
tain give his opinion emphaiicalir, that England
has become what she is, not ~ means Of this
system but in spite ~ a. Why. then, are we so
eager to adopt a system, which others, who have
tried il, would he glad 10 repudiatel Can any
thing, he would ask, in this general vicw of the
subject, be more unwisc than that This country
Shonld adopt such course Of policy? policy.
of which he would say that no nation had entered
upon, and pursued il, without having found il 10
great national injury-nor hanGoned without OK
tensive individual ruin. To leave men 10 their
own discTelion-lo conduct their own concerns By
their own skill and prudence, and TO employ their
capi,al, and their labor, in such occupations aS
thew themselves found most expedient las been
found the wisest as il IS the simplest, course OF
political legislation. As there is an order in the
natural wcrld, which holds all things in place-as
the air we breathe is wisely combined and com
pounded for cur use BY The course of na:ure-so
there is principle Of regulation, sort OF Us ne
dicd.rir natnr@-in The social world. Excess coz
reefs itself Ii there is loo much commerce, II
will lie dimnishcd-if there be too few m2nIiac-
| lures, they will be increased, with bnt oldInary
care and protection. For his part, he believed
| that, however derided the principle OF leaving
| such things very much 10 their own course, in
! country like ours was the only true rolicy-and
that we could no more improve the order, ami
habit, and composition of society, b. an artificial
balancing Of trades and occupations, than We
could improve the natural atmosphere rs means
OF the condcnsers and rariliers of taa chemists.
"olhcr nations have deemed il an objcc: Of i'm
rorarce TO make their country an eairepot o..
commerce, and. for this end 10 encourac - the i'm
portation Of such articles as were likely 10 hc
again exported Such mad been our SYSTEM
| heretofore II was very obvious to what ex;cn.
| foreign commerce was encouraged, By allowing
drawbacks; and, if The present proposed measures
he what he had supposed, he admitted that this,
| among others, was means tltly chosen 10 Pre-
duce the end There were many gentlemen pre-
sent Who knew much better than he did, 10 what
extent our foreign trade consisted, al The present
moment, of foreign articles imported into this
country, and again exported. ]! was certainly
very considerable He found, by reference TO
Mr. Seyberl's tables and statements, that the ave-
rage value Of foreign merchandise exported from
the United States, from 1905 10 1917, amounted
42-l00;hS Of our whole expectations. In some
years, The expectation Of foreign had exceed
ed that Of domestic produce. II had been STA
ted, and was doubtless true, that in some years
notwithstanding the quantity Of India goods con-
sumed in this country, the amount OF sales OF
those exported within the year. exceeded the
amount OF all the purchases in India; an imror-
iant fact, by the way, for the consideration OF
those who consider the East India trade 50 de-
struc,ive.
"Mr w. said, he hoped he had msapprehend-
ed the object of those who proposed these inca
surcs. He hoped they saw a mode in which 10 re-
conclc them with the existence and the fair rights
Of commerce, but he confessed he had himself per-
ceived no such mode He found that, on intro
ducins and recommending the bill, The sentiments
of the Committee were thus expressed by lis
Chairman: Commerce has been TOO long a pet
the spofled child Of Government, 10 think there
are any other interests worth projecting The
mere creature Of legislation raised 10 Importance
BY our laws, and the expenditure ola great portion
OF our revenue for lis support, commerce has pre-
scented herself as the Atlas which supports The Go
vernmeal, the country, and all its great interests
now il seems she cannot support herself
"He (Mr. W. begged TO differ most widely
from these opinions. He by no means agreed
that the commerce Of the country was the mere
creature Of Congressional legislation. The com.
merce of the country was older than Congress
older than the present Government. This Com.
monweallh had a great and profitable trade, not.
wihstanding its embarrassmcnls, before Con.
gross had the power 10 legislae upon The subject
The county OF Essex alone, possessed more tons
Of shipping before this government was framed
than belonged 10 the whole of England in the reign
Of Elizabeih-at The time of the rerel!ing By hcl