The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-07-10

Two Of the papers published at Columbia Is. c.
tho Telegraph and tile Palmetto S,ate Banner
are engaged il a controversy upon the expedieney
Of encouraging manufacturing establishments in
fhai State. Il il contended on one side that the
eheapness Of labor, and the possession Of the raw
material on the spot, make it the interest Of the
planters to become manufacturers and encourage
The building Of factories. The other side opposes
the whole policy on abstract grounds, from the APP
prehension that the introduction Of manufactures
would work a change in the habits Of thinking,
among the peopleson political subjects, and create
interests which would lead to support IF the poll
cy Of Protection by the Federal Government, and
all the consolidating doctrines in regard to Federal
power, associated in South Carolina with the Tariff
policy
The objection strikes us as very unscund The
advantages which would make South Carolina a
desirable place for the profitable employment Of her
own cheap labor ia factories constitute in them
selves a degree Of natural protection, which It
seems unreasonable to renounce and refuse 70 en-
plov because avarce may demand more, and seek
to gain additional advantages BY law. Cannot the
State Banner rely upon the consistency Of its own
friends in the maintenance Of their own principles
Of Free Trade Or does it apprehend that the inn
pulses OF interest will Immediately change their
views Of constitutional doctrine Must The legili-
mate profits Of an honorable branch of industry,
and the natural advantages Of the State, be disre-
garded, from the apprehension that they will cor
rupt the whole frame Of the State by llindling an
uncomfortable passion for gain, even by means of
oppressive systems and odious monopolies The
whole subsiratum Of the reasoning is the supposed
mpossibiiity that men can act on public questions
on any other motives than those Of interest. They
must be kept poor that prosperity may not have
the opportunity Of corrupting their simplicity and
d;sinteresiedness
This method Of handling questions Of protection,
BY treating manufacturing industry as though it
never thFives but by the power of an unjust law,
and cannot thrive without melting zeal to obtain
unjust privileges, has done good deal of mischief
Manufactures are not the growth of protection laws
only; and prosperity in manufactures does not by
any means beget Of necessity scheme for project
i've duties. The error runs through great deal
Of the newspaper writing on the subject, on bothi
sides Of Che question. Il is often thrown ap as
reproach to Free Traders that manufactures are
spreading il the South, and that portions Of the
country conspicuous for their invetsrate opposition
protective industry are embarking largely in the
various branches Of manufacturing. But there is
no real inconsistency in lltis, and no abandonment
Of principle. No party Of men ever expressed de-
sire 70 discourage manufactures. All men unite il
the wish that manufactures may thrive and spread
naturally, as the wants Of the country may Justify
and as its skill and capital increase. Such an I'M
forced growth is a totally different matter from the
hot-bed luxuriance, stimulated by high duties, al
The unwilling cost Of other branches Of industry.
Il is clearly the produce Of the Free Trade pTnci-
! pie. The same principle requires that when South
Carolina, any other Stale, is ready 10 manufac-
ture proftably, manuietories should be introduced.
To reason Otherwise is to deny the first elements
Of the political economy which South Carolina
teaches, and to insist upon the most extraordinary
sort Of pfoteetion-a protection against any change
Of pursuits, for fear they may lead to a change Of
opinions The proposition states its own refutaton.