No. 151.] 149 



rests and serf-labor, not only the deserving manufacturers throughout 

 all the States, but all classes of the community must eventually be 

 benefitted. In all the textile fabrics, with the exception of si lie, 

 which is still in its infancy, and but feebly protected, our manufac- 

 turers are now not only becoming familiar with the arts of Europe, 

 the growth there oi centuries, but are enabled to avail themselves of 

 the improvements of the age; and to take the lead of many of them. 

 Thus, many articles made in this country are now exported, because 

 they are already produced here cheaper and better than elsewhere, 

 and, to a certain extent, American skill and ingenuity is in this res- 

 pect countervailing the effect of cheap foreign labor and low value 

 of capital. But where labor is the chief ingredient of the manufac- 

 ture, it is evident, if we wish to -preserve our -present free and com~ 

 fortahle style of living, we cannot allow a levelling competition 

 from abroad. Not only the growth but the very life of some of our 

 best manufactures must be arrested. Adequate and continued pro- 

 tection by our own government, and the popular encouragement of 

 our citizens generally, are essential to their existence. 



The committee deem it important to express this conviction bold- 

 ly. Their familiarity with the details which enable them to form 

 an unbiassed opinion; their yearly examination of the goods exhibi- 

 ted; the reports of skillful judges and intelligent merchants and 

 manufacturers, and the whole tenor of their experience, com- 

 pel them to declare themselves in favor of a steady and liberal pro- 

 tection to American manufactures. We have entire confidence in 

 the faith, that home competition, if not cut down and thwarted by 

 vacillating legislation, will speedily furnish goods here at as low pri- 

 ces as they could be had by any mode of barter from abroad. Cheap 

 manufacturing, like cheap travelling, will grow out of individual, as 

 well as patriotic emulation, w^here domestic or foreign monopolists 

 do not interfere with us; and even if protection should cost us some- 

 thing at first, by depriving us of some of the cruel advantages of 

 enslaved or oppressed pauper labor for a while, the country at large 

 will eventually be more than remunerated by the comforts which our 

 own free and intelligent laborers enjoy, and by the division of em- 

 ployments suitable to all our tastes, climates, and education. 



Woolen Goods. 



The samples of woolen goods are not so extensive this year as 

 usual, but are enough to prove that there are scarcely any styles of 

 cloths, cassimeres, vestings, coatings, carpetings, flannels, hosiery, 

 blankets, merino, worsted, and other kinds of spun, knit and felt 



