304 
Manufactures • 
duties than 35 per cent.; indeed, there is no doubt that after a home 
manufacture is under way, and has for some time got possession of 
the market, it can combat the foreign one with greater effect at a 
duty of 10, 5 or no per cent, than it did in infancy at fifty.* 
Compared with the duties of importation imposed by foreign 
nations, 50 per cent, is low. I think the duty on a yard of woollen 
goods imported into Britain is % 6 22 cents, be its quality what it 
may ; even the raw materials of cotton, turpentine, logs of wood, 
See. exceed in France and Britain, what is here charged on their 
gewgaws. 
The mischievous effects on the settled regular business of a 
country, from excessive importations, arising out of particular 
causes, such as a country being instantly shut out from some mar- 
ket heretofore enjoyed by her; sending the excess here, gluts the 
market, and stagnates in the hands of the manufacturer, many 
months produce : this is a serious evil, and Britain wither has 
guarded herself against this, or soon seizes the event, and by new 
duties, turns it to the account of her revenue ; some such provision 
should be made in the United States ; I am strongly impressed 
with the opinion, that from this will come the min of many of our 
manufacturers, and even some of the manufactures themselves^ 
but 50 per cent, would extend to them, a fair chance of success, 
and nothing farther should be tried at present. 
In such a population as Philadelphia, there are now numbers 
not employed, who in the existence of manufactures would gain 
considerably ; and the aggregate of their annual wages, wfculd be 
an immense sum added to the nation’s wealth. 
Indeed, it has been stated by some political writer to Napoleon, 
that it was in the villages of France, that he could conquer the Bri- 
tish navy. Bonaparte was a better judge of military affairs, than 
of political economy, and rejected the plan. Industry is not so 
brilliant as military exploits, but its effects are frequently more 
successful, always safer, and it increases the resources to support 
the latter. If congress does not very soon act decidedly in favour 
of manufactures, the spirit will generally languish, and probably 
some of the establishments perish : which would be a circum- 
stance much to be regretted, as in this part of the controversy 
with the enemy, we have been surprisingly successful, 
I am respectfully, 
J. R, 
* it would appear to me protection quite sufficient, if beginning with SO per 
cent. 5 per cent, were taken off every two years, till the permanent duty should 
be reduced to 15 per cento To C, 
