Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-07-31
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even in the least favorable situations, ana inuef
The greatest disadvantages, may hourlsh aho ~.
vide aroc receipts. though OF course % less TAsn.
han o,hers more fortunately estaDllSneo. ohu'.
,hose cirrnc,s,anoes while the manufacturers VI
The North NAV divide twenty, 'hit'yi VI ioig H. H..
cent. profit The less.iavoreo adventures =, w
South NAV realize some Ten, ni'eeni VI !. -,
iy per cent, gains. But, SIT 'llen s, Whe,her
The tariff be maintained or repealed ne li,ne u
keen competition with the production OF lhe Noi'a
or the foreign production, or balh comoiheu, ''lus'
come Az have heretofore shown, tae dolles,c
aIone oyer s,in,nIa,e; MI inevitably gln The
market and The keen Struggle. first Tor reasonable
profit, then for mere existence, VIII ehsue.
Sir, the field will be ensrossed ny the most Ia
vored; The decisive advantages enJoyeu y .ne
North must prevail larger cap1a greater .nIa a.
ness oil production more eA'ehcc' Hduv' 1T
longer growth OF these esta - -" .,,,h
will l,a aoIra ,lie isrbler factories - '"e
snd pfeciDj,ate The projectors TO rum. Me aie
NOT wi,hou, warnings rom the past OF similar Cd,
las,ronhie* In travelling in my own STATE,
have MOI uufreouen.ly found IN some remote val,
lev by some ssouesiered stream, deserted anu
illuminated buildinr, which was known as 'lhe
lac,uryn I'm ;nonirng have learned that 1t
was established nndcr The protection OF The war,
or the early tariff of 1876 and for while Hour
shcd prosperously. BuI u mao soon gone uoMn
notwi,hstandin The protector as his enterprise
manifested was among the nos' INDUSTRIOUS anu
energetic of his vicinity, ana ne was ioi'und'9
indeed il his fortunes had mol oeen pahN'u pleu
with il. Ii stood monument 10 warn dsaihs Nm, ,'he
folly in The ntpre. So sir, in 1874, Mr.. Clay,
nrrcriv;ns ,s ,hs gentleman from Massachusetts
iMr. Win,hronl now. indications otmanniacturing
cn,ernriscs in my state, expressed his exu!lanl
conviction that Virginia would be The next state
10 wheel into line. and hitch herself 10 Inc car oil
nrocction. an the sinnlan's OF the tariff Of maj
wear and OF The bill Of denominations OF lo2o,
could not lorr save such efforts from The natural
fate OF their ;eebler position, and the inevitable
disadvantages 10 which they were subIccted-
They. too | believe, with scarce an exception,
likewise fell speedy sacrhce, ioVo'Vins loss lor
The time, but admonion Tor Inc future. h''el
the tariff ol 1882, and within M Own recohec-
ton similar experiments were repea'eu, ~. INV
few survived The glnis and revuls'ons OF 1901 ana
1889 The tariff OF 1912 has presented again
enlicemenis TOO strong 10 BE- by all resisted anu
once more, III some slight extent, lis iar sceihin"
Of profit has yelled from the unwary me rocks III
advance which have made shipwreck OF 'he lo',
tunp, of many. | trust greater pruGehce ahu
wisdom may with all such avert the cala'ni'ies
OF the past Bur, sir, my conviction Is, iheir e.
labIismcns are based on unstable foundations
which, sand by sand, will be worn away pY Tue
friction Of competition, growing every Gay tnoie
sharp until il timely refuge be no! lound, ~ 'he,,
downfall they will involve in common run dii
concerned.
have said, MIR. Chairman, that some lew
kinds of manufactures constituted exceptions 10
the general considerations have been urging,
and from peculiar causes may be successfully
prosecuted in the South Among these. nave
no doubt, superior facilities in ohIaiains the
raw material and the adaptation oil our slave Ia
Dor 10 employment in il, place The manufacture
of tobacco Similar advantages, coming IN anu
of the fac; that machinery is the CHEF agent OF
production, and that even where slaves cannot DC
emnloyed The labor required is, Tor The most
mari thai OF children and females, Otherwise al
mos, wholly lost, may likewise include The ma
nuactures vi coarse cutlonS in the exception. so,
likewise, o the manufacture OF nails, which are
made mainly by machinery; and, perhaps, also
OF iron in favored situations, where fuel and ore
abound. There may be other exceptions which
my limited knowledge Of The elements essential
10 their production will not allow me 10 deter
mine; but il SO, lusl The general principles
have cndeavored TO elucldae will enable any
possessed OF more practical knowledge readily
10 decide in each Case Beyond these exceptions
liiion with The North, and no, 10 essay the sup
Tly Of the general consumption Of the county,
10 limited extent, however, manufactures q!
all kinds may be prosrcrously conducted III our
Southern cities. Around each there is always
disrci, mere or less extensive, which trades
with, and obtains supplies from, it, This con-
slitules 10 such city home market, in which,
from vicinity, habits of trade, and facilities OF
access il must enjoy decided advantages over
more distant marts; and 10 the extent oil me
wants OF such neighboring region is supplies
will be preferred, and il may probably embark
in their production. The true policy OF such
Southern city is, as far as possible, 10 en-
gross The trade Of such surrounding areas, and
10 enlarge their circles by Improvements Tor
communication, and by opening new avenues 10
fertile districts cut off from market. Al the same
time, b. all practicable means, they Should seek
10 develop The resources, enlarge the productions,
and enhance the wealth Of such home districts
that thereby their increased means oil trade, more
numerous wants, and enlarged capital, may react
upon and advance in prosperity the cities with
which they deal. The protective system, so far
from aiding. directly conflicts with this wise poll
cy. The excessive sli'1u mis- of high duties in
duce, as we have seer even in the most favored
sections, excess and -p!odaction, and The in
tense competition that follows, forces, THE low
est rates OF profit, and often al great sacrifices,
The manufactured products OF the North in every
direction, and 10 the internal markets OF The most
distant sections. They thus come in direct con-
fct with hs courses of trade and the accustomed
supplies 81 unr Southern cities 10 their respective
honie mafkeis and PROSTATE al who had Before
prosrcred BY engrossiug such limited areas. In
addition, a il Is manifest that such nome trade
depends for its extent and importance on The
means and ability 10 consume oi The surrounding
population, who are aim 81 invariably engaged
in agriculture or The mechanic arts, the depress.
ed prices and oppressive exac,ions OF the proec-
tive system on them must react upon, and cores
pondingly diminish, the trade and prosperity OF
those interests in he cities, which had lhriven on
their supply. The manufacturers, Then. OF the
South no less than all ulher portions ni lis popu-
laion are in interest cirectlv opposed 10 lis esla-
bShment or continuance. To The South and her
whoe people il is system Of gross inJasIice-ot
burdens ard -xacliuns unredeeIlec even b. palli-
aing al!ev:atiunS.
| have, Mr. Chairman, many other views
whcn | should he happy 10 develop IN exhibit
If he generally vicious tendencies -! the irocc
live poiicy; but nv rapidly waning time warns
Inc to forbear must hasl;n Ia conclusion-
The bill offered by The Committee OF Ways and
Means, although il does no. fully attain, yet APP
proximales as nearly perhaps as the circnmsian.
ccs Of the present. and due regard Tor established
interests, which | for one would never consent
wanony 10 overthrow will allow, to that sys-
lem of comprehensive justice and wisdom-ot
trade as free as i consistent with revenue duties,
which we offer in contrast 10 the restrictions, the
inequalities, general and sectional and the OPP
pressiors Of The protective system. Ours is The
system al freedom striking OIL The trammeIs from
trace and commerce, from capital and labor rs
re have already 50 eloronsly broken the shack
les oftyranny over The person and privileges OF
men. II approxmales 10 the provten'ial gov
eminent Of God himself, WIN, though endowed
with omniscience, essays not 10 regulate or con-
troll The industrial pursuits OF man; but with
only The stern fiat, that BY the sweat Of his brow
shall he earn his bread intrusls him 10 The in
Clemens Of interest and his own sagacily
for The selection Of his pursuits and The re-
wards OF his industry. II aims, too, al The de-
velopment Of the peculiar resources aud gifts
with which each people and cline have been
endowed BY Providence, and the free inter.
change and communication of the blessings OF
all among The family of man. lis only the par
tisl extension of system peculiarly our own