The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-10-30

ever This was the commencement of
restrictions on colonial manufactures.
In 1719, the House OF Commons declared
that the erecting Of manufactures in the
American colonies tended to lessen Their
dependence upon Great Britain.
Complaints were constantly made to
Parliament by interested parties, that the
colonies were not only carrying on trade
Dut were setting up manufactures detri-
mental to Great Britain. These complaints
led to a report made by the Board of Trade.
under order of the House of Commons. in
1871, enumerating certain trades and man.
ufactures in the colonies injurious to the
trade, navigation and manufactures of the
parent country. Among the articles were
enumerated those of wool, flax, iron, pa
| per. hats and leather
| On remonstrance from the company of
| matters in London, complaining that great
quantities of hats were made in New Eng
land and exported to Spain, Portugal and
the British West India Islands, Parliament
passed an act, not only to prevent the eX
| pOrtatl0n OF hats from the colonies to for
eign countries, and being carried from one
plantation to another, but to restrain to u
certain extent, the manufacture of them
In the colonies. In 1882 hats were pro-
hlblted from being shipped, or even laden
upon horse, cart, or other carriage, with
the intent of being exported to any other
plantation, or any place whatever. At the
same time, no halter was allowed to en-
ploy more than tlco apprentices at once.
or to make hats unless he had served an
apprentice to the trade seven years.
On the subject of Iron. Parliament was
willing the poor cOlOnistS should reduce
the iron ore with which their lands
abounded intopig and even bar iron and in
That shape shipped to England free of duty.
In 100, Parliament permitted pig and bar
iron to be imported from the colonies to
London duty free, but prohibited the cree
tion or continuance of any mill or other
engine for Sitting or rolling iron, or any
plating forge, to work with tilt ham
mer, or any furnace for making steel, UNI
der the penalty of s200 More effectuallv
to carry this act into execution. every such
mill, engine, plating forge and furnace
was declared common nuisance, and the
governors of the colonies, on the lnforma-
tlOn OF two witnesses, ON oath, were di-
rected to cause the same to be abated with
IN thirty days or to forfeit the sum of
$500.
In 1861, the British government began
to draw closer the cords of restrictions. In
1865 the sugar act was passed, and the
same year the stamp act. The effect of
this throughout the colonies was electri
cal. The irritation continued until the
great revolutionary war broke out.-PH-
Inn 8 Political aud CirH History.
Making due allowance for the differ
eence OF our present political condition.
(says an able correspondent of the Nation
al Intetligeneer,) who does not see in these
features OF the commercial policy of Eng
land, in relation to the colonies, the same
system which she has pursued towards
them since they have became indepen-
dent, and which she continues to pursue
To Lessen the dependencen of the colonies
on her, was the bugbear with which their
domestic industry alarmed her. To per-
petuate this ''dependencen commercially.
has been and is the aim of the insidious
doctrines of free trade which her
agents in this country are preaching. 1t
is matter of deep atfiiction that any por-
ton of our population is so short-sighted
as to be incited by their preiudices to play
into her hands. We must be manufac-
turing people to be a prosperous people
ID. I.