4th Tuesday of February, April, October and De cember. National Interests. domestic industry, to the citizens of the United States, No. IV. Resolved, That the meeting now proceed to the Address of the Philadelphia society for the promotion of choice of officers, agreeably to the constitution; when the following citizens were duly elected to the offices annexed to their names: William Patterson, President, Philadelphia, April 26th, 1819. We have presented to your view, fellow-citizens, a cursory sketch of the admirable and beneficent policy of Great Britain, on the all-important and vital point of fostering and protecting domestic industry-a policy, we repeat, and wish steadily borne in mind, in direct hostility with the doctrines of Adam Smith, which number among their supporters so large a portion of our citizens. We now request your attention to the policy of a mighty empire, whose situation bears considerable analogy to that of this country. Russia, like the United States, possesses territories of most immoderate extent, which are very slenderly peopled. The cultivation of her vacant lands, according to the captivating and plausible theories of many of our citizens, might find employment for all her inhabitants. And as other nations, if "freedom of trade were restored," according to Adam Smith, "could furnish her with commodities cheaper than she could manufacture them," she ought to open her ports to the merchandise of all the world, But, low as we fastidiously and unjustly rate her policy, she has too much good sense to adopt a maxim, so pernicious in its results, although so plausible in its appearance. And let us add, its plausibility is only in appearance. It vanishes on even a cursory In offering the constitution of the "Maryland Economical Association" to the consideration of the public, it is requisite to say, that its provisions, although patriotic, do not ask a sacrifice of private interest to public welfare; this is secondary, and individual emolument the first object of the as-examination. sociation. Russia completely fulfils the indispensable duty Necessity is the source of exertion; it has proved of fostering and protecting domestic industry, and so in nations as well as individuals who have be-guarding it against the destructive consequences of nefitted by it. the excess of population which can- overwhelming foreign competition. This is the not be usefully employed in the tillage of the soil, necessarily creates manufacturers. If England, a century since, had not been compelled by necessity to invite the distressed of other nations, her policy might, and either must, have placed her in the advantageous situation she now enjoys as to her ma mufactures, great platform of her political system, as it ought to be of all political systems: and it is painful to state, that so far as respects this cardinal point, she is at least a century in advance of the U. States. She is not satisfied with the imposition of heavy duties for the purpose of raising a revenue, which, with too many statesmen, appears to be the chief, if not the We have lived to see that necessity among our-only object worthy of consideration in the formaselves; already we are tributary to all the nations of tion of a tariff, No. She prohibits, under penalty the earth; already do we see the period approach, of confiscation, nearly all the articles with which her when, if we continue in the road which we have so own subjects can supply her, unaffected by the terfar pursued, we shall be ruined; a fate doomed to a rors, so powerfully felt in other countries, of giving people who voluntarily abandon their own resources a monopoly of the home market to her own people to the avidity of foreign nations. And can we hesitate ---terrors which have probably cost the United States to profit by the experience of ages? Can we refrain one hundred millions of dollars since the war-terfrom using the means which nature has so plentiful-rors which the profound and sage maxim of Alexanly placed within our reach? Shall we go for our der Hamilton, quoted in our last number, ought to clothing to foreign countries, when we have the raw have laid in the grave of oblivion nearly thirty years materials of the very best quality within ourselves? ago, never to rise again to impair the prosperity of -Shall we send them to Europe, to have them re-the nation, or the happiness of its citizens. The annexed list deserves the most pointed atten turned again, under great additional charges, which we may save? Or have we not skilful workmen, to tion, and cannot fail to surprise the citizens of a convert these very materials into the desired and country, where unfortunately nothing is prohibited, desirable fabrics? Surely this ought not to be the how great soever the domestic supply, and where case. Repeatedly has it been demonstrated that *Objections have been made to our statement of our cotton and woolen manufactures may vie with any foreign fabrics, and at prices, too, much lower the prosperity of England resulting from her prothan those imported, of equal quality. To encou-tection of domestic industry. Those objections are rage, then, these home manufactures, is the chief grounded on the oppression she has exercised on, aim of the association; and, with these views, we re- and the abject state of, some of her dependencies. spectfully call on our fellow-citizens for their sup-This, we apprehend, does not in the least militate port and good example. Those who first recommended the association, will be cailed on in a few days, by Mr. Emmerson, for their signatures, as well as such other citizens as may think proper to become members. WM. PATTERSON, President. L, MATTHEWS, Secretary, with our view, which went to prove, from indisputable facts, that the protection of domestic industry in the island of Great Britain, had there produced as great a mass of wealth and prosperity as had ever existed. Her wars, which greatly impair that prosperity, and her treatment of her dependencies, have not the most remote connexion with our theory. there are hardly any duties deserving the name of An appalling reflection arises from the view here prohibitory, and very few affording adequate pro-given of the policy of Russia; a reflection which we tection. would willingly suppress, but which, fellow citizens, Articles absolutely prohibited to be imported into Rus-justice to the subject forces us to present to your Female dresses and Plates fashions in genera! Powder boxes of all cept belonging to Forte pianos travellers Fans Fishing nets Fire pumps of all Gin Garters of all kinds Gilded metals and every article made Hats of every kind of marble or ala baster Chocolate Confectionary of all Hair for making wigs Horse harness of eve- sorts Paper Pipes of all sorts kinds Pots Pewter and pewter Ribands of order 1819 Ribands Slippers Spangles and links Silks and satins sorts Horns of elks and Thimbles of all kinds stags Clothes-brushes made Ink and ink powder Lustres Linen of all kinds Looking glasses Lace and thread em. Linen, muslin and Dried or preserved Night caps fruits Dressed skins and all Nails of all kinds Pins Pewter milled and beaten out nor Tinsel beat out flat Thread, down, cha minds. We are imperiously led to offer it from a conviction, that to induce a patient to submit to medicine or regimen, it is necessary that he should be convinced of the existence of his disease. And in the present disordered state of our manufactures, trade and commerce, it is absolutely necessary to "hold the mirror up to nature," and "nought exte, nuate, nor aught set down in malice." The United States, as is admitted by writers of various nations, enjoy the best form of government in the world. It would therefore be natural to presume, that with such a government, and with a representation, probably as freely and as fairly chosen as any legislative body in any age or country, the solid interests of its various descriptions of citizens would be more scrupulously guarded than those of any other nation. Yet we have before us the most cogent and the most irresistible proof of the extreme fallacy of such a presumption, so far as regards the large and important class of citizens engaged in manufactures, on whose success and prosperity so much of the strength and resources of nations depends. This description of citizens must look with *It is common, we apprehend, for some of the farmers and planters of the southern states, to regard with disesteem, or, to use a common phrase, to look down on manufacturers as beneath them in point of respectability. To this source may probably be ascribed the inflexible refusal of that protection which was so earnestly solicited for the manufacturing interest throughout the union. It is hardly possible to conceive of a greater absurdity. We touch this delicate subject freely. We, however, mean no offence, and hope none will be taken. Our object, we trust, will be regarded by liberal minded men as not only innocent, but laudable. dice, which tends to produce jealousy and alienation It is to correct a deep rooted and pernicious prejubetween the different members of one family, who ought to cherish for each other kindly sentiments of regard and good will, and who are so closemois, or silk stock-ly connected in point of interest, that it is imposings Tinselled lace sible for one to suffer heavily, without the others beTinselled edgings ing deeply affected. We freely ask, and request a candid reply, can there in the eye of reason and common sense be found on the most impartial scrutiny any superiority in a South Carolina or Virginia planter, surrounded by five hundred negro slaves, over a proprietor of one of the extensive factories in Rhode Island, in which an equal number of free, independent, and happy workmen, with their wives and children, are employed? As our object is conciliation, we forbear to assert any superiority on the other side. But in order to afford a fair opportunity of deciding this important question of the merits, demerits and usefulness of the different descriptions of citizens, we state some important facts which bear forcibly on this subject.. In the year 1815, there were within thirty miles of the town of Providence red and white selled, and all kinds low Wadding Wafers Woolen, thread or 27,840,000 Tariff des droits dedouane de L'empire Russe, 1816, p. 79–99. Total value of the cloth Persons steadily employed envy at the paternal and fostering care bestowed on persons of the same class by the emperor of Russia, one of the most despotic monarchs of Christendom. The contrast is immense, striking, and decisive.It reflects honor on the profound wisdom and sound policy of that prince-and, fellow citizens, cannot ful to excite painful sensations in your minds, to reflect how the United States sink on the comparison.] This is a most impressive point, and evinces how short sighted mankind are. It could never have entered into the mind of Hancock, Adams, Franklin, Washington, or any of those illustrious men, who in the field or cabinet achieved the independence of this country, that before the lapse of half a century, American citizens should be forced to make invidious comparisons between their own situation and that of the subjects of a despotic empire; and that the protection denied to their industry is liberally afforded to the subjects of Russia. a policy long scouted out of all the wise nations of Europe, and which now only lingers in, and blights and blasts the happiness of Spain and Portugal. The subject is too important not to warrant us in casting another slight glance at it, and placing the policy of the United States and that of Russia in stronger contrast. Russia raises no cotton. All her supplies are derived from remote quarters, and yet she prohi bits the importation of cotton fabrics, of every description, except cambrics, from all nations what. ever, friends and focs alike, in order to foster a manufacture which does not appear congenial to her. The United States are peculiarly fitted for the cotton manufacture, being capable of raising the raw material, as we have already stated, in quantities commensurate with the demand of the whole world. And yet cotton goods of every descrip In order to render this extraordinary and almost tion (except those below twenty-five cents per incredible fact more striking, we shall, fellow citi-yard, which are dutied as at twenty-five cents) are zens, compare the situation of a subject of Russia freely admitted at the very inefficient duty of twenand a citizen of the United States, engaged, for in-ty-seven and a half per cent. in consequence of stance, in the cotton manufacture. which, great numbers of the most promising es The former, we will suppose, embarks $50,000 tablishments have been destroyed. The raw main that business. He has no competition to dread terial is transported across the Atlantic, 3000 miles, but that of his fellow subjects. His paternal go-at twenty to thirty-five cents per pound, and revernment closes the door against his destruction, by shutting out all interference from any other nation. He has a large and beneficial market, and in consequence enriches himself, and adds to the wealth, the strength, the power and the resources of his country. occasion. For the present we shall barely state that the policy of England during the dark ages of Edward III. and Henry IV. as sketched in our last number, was far superior to ours. turned to us at the rate of from one dollar to five dollars-thus fostering the industry and the manufacturers of Europe, and consigning our own workmen to poverty, and often to mendicity--their employers to the long list of bankrupts which are daily increasing in our towns and cities-and impoWhat a chilling contrast when we regard the si- verishing the nation. On this system and its consctuation of the American engaged in the same use-quences we shall descant more at large on a future ful line of business. When he has expended his capital, established his works, and entertains what he has ground to deem a reasonable hope of success, and of that reward to which honest industry has so fair a claim, the market, on the supply of which he formed all his calculations, is deluged with rival articles, manufactured in Europe of cotton raised in his own country, or by Hindoos, at a distance of ten thousand miles, which can be afforded at lower prices than his, and which accordingly destroys his chances of sale. He cast an imploring eye to his representatives for the same kind of relief which England, France, and Russia afford their subjects and the refusal of which is a manifest dereliction of duty, His representatives, acting on the maxims of Adam Smith, and disregarding the admonitory lessons of those mighty nations, meet him with a positive refusal; and he sinks a victim of We trust that this brief view will serve to remove the film from the eyes of those citizens who, for want of due consideration, have cherished opinions on the subject of manufactures, and manufacturers, so diametrically opposite to the truth, and so pregnant with ruinous consequences. "Honor or shame from no condition rise, "Act well your part: there all the honor lies." And the manufacturer of cottons, woolens, watches, paper, books, hats or shoes, who "acts well his part" has no reason to shrink, and we trust he never will shrink, from a comparison with any of his fellow men, whether merchants, farmers, planters or men of overgrown wealth. At the close of the war, powerful and eloquent memorials were presented to congress from the cotton manufacturers of Rhode Island, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New London, and various other parts of the United States, in which they implored the aid of government, in the most respectful terms. To narrow the range of objection, they bounded their requests generally to a prohibition of cotton manufactures, except nankeens, from the East Indies, and to such an increase of duties on those from other quarters, as would save the revenue from injury by the prohibition.The memorials were filled with predictions of the ruinous consequences that would result from the contrary policy. Their simple request, enforced by a most luminous train of reasoning, was unhap pily rejected: and it is almost demonstrable, that to this rejection a large portion of the difficulties and embarrassments which at present overspread the face of the country may be ascribed. All the gloo. my predictions of the memorials have unfortunately become history. A consideration of the rejection of the first pray er of the memorials, which respects the prohibition of East India cottons, is calculated to excite an equal degree of regret and astonishment. The East India trade, during the continuance of the wars in Europe, when we had markets in that quarter and in some of the colonies of the belligerents, for the surplus of our importations from beyond the Cape of Good Hope, was probably adatageous, or at least not injurious. But as at present carried on, it is highly pernicious, by the exhausting drain of specie it creates. On this strong ground, and more. over as the coarse fabrics from that quarter, as stated in the memorials, are made of inferior materials, and as we possess a boundless capacity of supply, every principal of sound policy, regard for the vital interests of our country, as well as the paramount claim on them from so useful a body of citizens, for protection, ought to have insured compliance with the request. To all these considerations no attention was paid. Policy of Federick II, of Prussia, From the view which we have given of the policy of Russia, we invite attention to that of Frederick II. Of his integrity and his regard for the rights of his neighbors, there may be more than doubts entertained. But on his profound wisdom and sagacity as a statesman the world is agreed. A dissenting voice is no where heard. On these points he would stand comparison with any monarch of ancient or modern times, and would rise paramount over ninety-nine out of a hundred. His system of political economy is therefore worthy of the most serious consideration, and cannot fail to shed strong light on the important subject we are discussing. needy artists and manufacturers, to enable them to establish their various branches of business. He purchased large quantities of raw materials and filled magazines with them to be sold at reasonable rates. He offered and gave liberal rewards to artists and manufacturers for excellence in their various branches. He moreover exempted them in various places from military service.† În a word, he devoted all the powers of his great mind, and made most liberal drafts on his treasury for the accomplishment of this mighty object, which has attracted so small a share of attention in this country from those whose peculiar duty it was to promote its success. Here the calm and candid observer, who casts his eye on the system of Frederick, and contrasts it with that of the United States, cannot fail to feel the same degree of mortification and deep regret, that the contrast with that of Russia produced. He will behold on the one side a grand, liberal, and magnanimous policy, which disregarded expense in sowing prolific seed, that sprouted forth abundantly, and repaid the cultivator tenfold, nay, a hundred To the promotion of the industry of his subjects, fold. Loans, bounties, premiums and important he bestowed the most unremitting attention, well immunities, as we have stated, were freely and li knowing that it was the most certain means of in-berally awarded. creasing the population of his dominions, and of In the United States the seed was sown by indicourse the wealth and happiness of his subjects, as vidual exertion and enterprise. It required but litwell as his own power. From this grand and para- tle care to foster and make it strike deep root. mount object he was never a moment diverted by There was no demand of loans-of bounties-of prehis ambitious wars; and notwithstanding the desola-miums-or of immunities. All that was asked-all tion they caused, he doubled the population of his that was necessary, was mere protection from fopaternal estates during his reign. To foster and reign interference-a protection that would have protect arts and manufactures, he spared neither cost the government nothing, and would have enpains nor expense;* and was so completely success- riched the nation. It was fatally withheld, and a ful that he not only doubled and trebled the num- large portion of the seed so plentifully sown and so ber of artists and manufacturers in those branches promising of a fertile harvest, has perished! and already established, but introduced a great variety those who withheld, as well as those who besought, formerly not practised by his subjects; † and thus, the protection, are now in common, suffering the instead of being tributary to other nations, as she most serious injury from that mistaken policy. had formerly been, Prussia was enabled to export her manufactures to an immense extent to distant countries.# The measures he adopted for attaining these great ends, were worthy of the high character he enjoys as a statesman. He made large loans to “The king protects and encourages manufacturers in every possible manner, especially by advancing large sums of money to assist them in carrying on their manufactures, animating them by rewards, and establishing magazines of wool in all the little towns, for the benefit of the small woolen manufacturers."--Hertzberg's discourses delivered at Berlin, 1786, p. 25. "Before the commencement of this reign, Prussia had but few silk manufacturers, and those of little importance. But the present king has established and given liberal encouragement to so great a number, that they employ more than five thousand workmen; and the annual value of the goods manufactured by them is two millions of crowns. In the course of the last year 1,200,250 ells of silk stuffs have been manufactured at Berlin, and 400,000 of gauze.” – Idem 26. "The cotton manufacture alone employs nearly five thousand workmen."-Idem 25. *If the king has greatly increased population by his encouragement of agriculture, he has advanced it as much, and perhaps more, by the great number of manufactures and trades of all kinds, which he has caused to be established, or to which he has given encouragement at Berlin, at Potsdam, and in almost every city and town in his dominions."-Hertzberg, 23. "It is with a view to encourage trade that the inhabitants of Berlin and Potsdam are exempted from military service; and his majesty grants nearly the same indulgence to the inhabitants of the circles of the mountains of Silesia, where the poor, but industrious and sober weavers, and who are settled in a narrow and barren district, carry on those flourishing linen manufactures, which produce us an exportation of so many millions; and to the little city of Hirchberg only, a trade of two millions of crowns annually The king has in this district a canton for his foot-guards, but from his unwillingness to disturb the population of the district, he seldom draws from thence any recruits."—Idem 25. "As national industry forms the second basis of the felicity and power of a state, I shall endeavor to prove here, in a summary manner, that the Prussiar "We are in possession of almost every possible monarchy possesses it in an eminent degree; and, kind of manufacture; and we can, not only exclusive- perhaps, immediately after France, England, and ly supply the Prussian dominions, but also furnish the Holland; those powers which, for two centuries, remote countries of Spain and Italy with linen and have had the almost exclusive monopoly of manufac woolen cloths; mail our manufactures go even to China, tures, of commerce, and of navigation; of which the where some of aur Silesian cloths are conveyed by the Prussians have had no part, but since the close of the way of Russia. We export every year linen cloth, last century, and the beginning of the present. This to the amount of SIX MILLIONS OF CROWNS, and wool- is not the place to make an exact and general table en cloths and wool to the amount of FOUR MILLIONS." of the Prussian manufactures: I shall, therefore, con*lem 23. fine myself to giving a general idea, and some parti lar examples. We have almost all the trades and Looms. Manu. facturers. Produce of the manu- For the establishment of forty weavers at For establishing work shops for carding wool 1,360 For rewards, intended for the encouragement of spinning in the country 2,000 For the erection of silk mills at Berlin 24,000 80,000 9,000,000 For purchasing the cods of silk worms, and causing them to be well spun 58,000 8,000,000 rix dollars. 6,000 3,000,000 For machines for carrying on the Manchester ANNO 1786. In Brudenburg. 10,000 10,000 In leather 4,000 2,000,000 3,000 22,000 In tobacco, of which 140,000 quin 17,000 tals are the growth of the coun try 2,000 Sugar 1,000 Percelain and earthen-ware 700 Paper 800 Tallow and soap 1,000,000 4,000 20,000 Glass, looking-glasses 200,000 Manufacturers in gold, silver, lace, embroidery, &c. Silesia madder 300,000 Oil Yellow amber In the New March. For several small manufactures of wool and In Pomerania. 165,000 30,250,000 For a manufactory of cotton stockings at 4,021 6,000 Gartz 4,000 For a manufactory of leather at Anclam For a manufactory of leather at Treptow For a manufactory of sail cloth at Rugenwalde 5,000 For a manufactory of cables in the same city 4,000 3,500 For a manufactory of cloth for Hags at Stettin 3,000 3,000 In East Prussia. 1,000 For a manufactory of morocco leather at Ko200 nigsberg 3,000 1,500 3,000 3,000 For a manufactory of English earthenware in 4,000 For a manufactory of leather 1,000 For establishing a manufactory at Griffenhagen For a manufactory of ribands and bags 1,500 For establishing a manufactory of fustians and cottons at Frederickshold *Hertzberg's Discourses, p. 103, Idem 41. 1,000 Premiums for manufacturers and for encou- For a manufactory of fine cloth at Culm - 7,200 17,000 260,413 |