Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-01

duty that ntont whether below IN
maximum revenue But, under the power regu
late commerce. it is competent for Congress di
rect and total prohibition of the importation of article
can be no objection act levyng duties that opc
rate in partially preventing Importation Whether it be Wis
or Just so to levy duties is another question What mea
to say now is that there is prohibition Of it in the Con
stituton The proposition is maintained. universally
true that the express grant of power Congress gives
that body the right of exercising that power in such
as in its opinion may be most conducive to the advantage
of the country.
AS instances of the exercise Of the power OF regulating
commerce. may be mentioned the prohibition Of mporaons
except at designated ports; the prohibition of the coastin
trade TO all foreign vessels and TO all American vessels
LICENSED and cnoed the prohibition of certain trade 10 70
reign vessels under the Navigation act of 1917 the pohbi
ton OF certain trade TO American vessels by the Non-ner
course act and of al trade by the Embargo the draw
back on the reexpoaton of foreign goods finally the pro
hibon OF the introduction of adueraed drugs into th
country by the act of 26th June, l645.
Under the power TO levy taxes duties and imposts rce
to the discriminating tonnage duties foreign vessels th
discriminating duties their cargoes the preamble hi
first law imposing duties passed under the Constitution
the enactincnts OF most of the subsequent ones.
These enactments show that at most all periods of
history the views which have expressed anpcar TO have
been sustained and acted on
H. All legislation designed to favor particular class TO th
prejudice OF Others or to nue particular class for the be
neht of others, is manestly unwise and unjust Nothing
can be more destructive Of the interests of the country
than such legislation except the refusal ofreay sauary c
gisiaon under an erroneous impression that might avo
one class 10 the prejudice Of Others while in fact the dena
| OF il Injuries all classes, and benefits nobody.
ILL., As every producer in branch of useful industry
also of the products of Others and his ability
to consume depends upon the profits of his production
follows that TO give prosperity branch of industry i
to increase that Of the rest Within each branch of indus
try there will be individual rivalry but among the
branches of useful industry there always exist
| broken HARMONY of interest.
No country attain due strength or prosperity ha
does not by its own labor carry its productions
y as possible to the point necessary TO fit them for umnte
consumption To export its material and rcmport the
articles manufactured from IT, TO neglect its
teals and import the articles manufactured from that
provided for its advancement
For instance exported during the fiscal year, ending
3Uth June S49 cotton the value Of about sixty-m
lions of dollars IL that had been spun and
home (supposng its value be increased fourfod by
uacre have produced value OF about ehunded
and ninety eight millions in addition. What would have
been the effect of this increased production the prosperity
of the country?
This question would not be completely answered by mere
pronohncng the added value of hundred and ninety
eight millions of dollars, 10 be large profit the manuac-
tuer than the question Of the effect of the produc
ton OF wheat would be answered by deducng the cost OF
wheat from the value of the CROP and pronouncing the
! remainder TO be large profit to the farmer
The manufacture of cloth is begun with the plant
ing OF the coton-t s carried certain point by t slam
ter and then taken up and perfected by the spinner and
ver The planter and manufacturer not engaged in d
ferent branches of industry, but in the samche orc
mences the process which the other completes Cotton seed
Of insignificant value being by regular stages of labor de-
veoped and brought 10 the form of cotton CLOTH has acqur-
ed value OF about two hundred and sxtyfour millions
The planting States have added many millions the
nua production of the country by the culture OF
BY continuing the process they could quadrupe that add
tion.
The planter would then have market at his door for all
his produce, and the farmer would ir like have
home market for his The power of consumption
breadsus but OF every article useful necessary in the
feeding clothing and housing of man. would be vastly in
creasedhc consumer and producer would be brought
Ter to each oiherand in fact stimulus would be applied
| TO every branch of productive industry.
/, !. gratifying TO know that the manufacture of cotton
has been already introduced into several Of the planting
States, (see document marked hereto annexed) and il
| tn bp dIxilth hn div ,d.d
The manufacture of ron WOOL and other staples would
lead 10 similar results The effect would be augnen
,pon the effects might be expected to be, ii
possible sin ed 1t is not enough To say that
cannty ever diminish its commerce by increasing its pro-
and tlia injury would therefore result to that
}heTe woe.J probably be, not only great increase
''', 5ri Improvement not less important in the
.ense ait on that would accrue to our internal
sting trade (NIch in every country forms tho great
ard most gcus olg of commerce) it is unnecessary
40 more na speak in passingbut il may be well TO
offer few remarks on foreign commerce.
/ Commerce is the machinery of exchange the hand
maid of agriculture and manufactss ~ Ne affirm
cd that il is ever ros'.y1y iDImic' oi
| less usefr = ,ductve
lncIstfl - = l0dities
| by Sc ,arrier
I great
e, oscd in
! - aat and
ton
see Js-.a. as
!ia c0.ion
+ ~ #r o. j,@ ihe
v sui.iH4e 'ln;ed IN
i i.-l t.tt, i..fIi ~hat
nrH faee .of OF the saic
/ :rti3rf VIZ. - ne 90,
to1 t.:e ich ns 10 flis icsh
l. ye nov * uf the ..ue of abo y, siy,,.i,. MI
lions, tue soin WIN co3ysrted MO cloth, ..oulc
export hcntrec and 81 -four millions
or 1 huncrei az orrfre niiols after deductjnp
the ii; n o '"cay .lons which would be required for
our cosunp,ion n addition to the portion Of our pre-
a
would be thereby In like manner incr sed England al
this moment derives large portion Oft power spin
ming and weaving When shal spin and weave
1t ourselves make ownron, and manufacture ohe
staples we shall have transferred 10 this country the grea
centres Of wealth commerce. civilization and political,
well as moral and intellectual power.
At present. We far from having the of foreign
commerce Which ia due to our position vastly produc
tive country with extensive coast good harbors great
ernal water courses and people unsurpassed in maatim
skill and enterprise.
o"r anoa products estimated by my predecessor il
this department three thousan million dollars while
average EXPORTS are about hundred and thirteen millions
and our IMPORTS hundred and six millions making
together tw hundred and nineteen millions, exclusive of go
and silver and of foreign commodities imported and
ported An eminent nrtsh authority estimates the
creation Of wsan in Great britain and Ireland between
two thousand ono hundred cnd two thousand Two hundred
millions. II we add for articles omitted by him. between
three AND four hundred millions shall have total of two
thousand five hundred millions. The British exports and
imports amount annually about five hundred and twenty
millions exclusive of gold and silver and of foreign
modes imported and reexported If their foreign trade
were brought down 10 our scale on this estimate would be
reduced to about hundred and eighty three millions
ours raised their scale, it would reach about sis
hundred and twenty -four nlin!cns
i Estimating the population of Great Britain and Ireland a
thirty millions and population at twentyone millions
their foreign averages cit SO for each individually our:
$40 49, II their foreign trade were greater than ours ir
proportion population it would be reduced from five hun
dred and twenty three hundred and twelve millions
foreign trade great in proportion to population as
is theirs it would be sweied in amount from hundred
and nineteen TO three hundred and sixtyour millions.
leading cause the existing difference Is TO be found in
the fact that Great Britain exports chiefly what she has frs
brought form i'll which ready for ultimate consunp
tom it at the stage ofits highest value and her market
| almost co-eytensiye with the civilized world
All history shows that where the workshops of tht
world there must be the of the world and the hear
of wealth. commerce. and power 1t Is vain to hope e
make these marts by providing warehouses; rs would b
| to make crop by building barn.
" Whether have workshops work up, at least
our own materials depend upon the question: whether
have or can obtain sufficient advantages to Justify th
pursuit of this kind of industry
The circumstances favorable production in this country
may be stated be- lst. Facility in procuring raw maeri
ais I'd Abundance OF fuel Sd. Abundance of food an'
other articles necessary for the and housing
the laboer 4th The superior efficiency of the laborers
comparison with those of other countries.
Tho circumstances supposed be uayorabe TO our pro
duction may be thus sed-
] lst. Want of capital
II labor with that of othe