they are able to meet, and in some measure overcome, universal competition?  It is not, Sir, by protection and bounties:  but by unwearied exertion, by extreme economy, by unshaken perseverance, by that manly and resolute spirit which relies on itself to protect itself.  These causes alone enable American ships still to keep their element, and show the flag of their country in distant seas.  The rates of insurance may teach us how thoroughly our ships are built, and how skilfully and safely they are navigated.  Risks are taken, as I learn, from the United States to Liverpool, at one per cent; and from the United States to Canton and back, as low as three per cent.  But when we look to the low rate of freight, and when we consider, also, that the articles entering into the composition of a ship, with the exception of wood, are dearer here than in other countries, we cannot but be utterly surprised that the shipping interest has been able to sustain itself at all.  I need not say that the navigation of the country is essential to its honor and its defence.  Yet, instead of proposing benefits for it in this hour of its depression, we threaten by this measure to lay upon it new and heavy burdens.  In the discussion, the other day, of that provision of the bill which proposes to tax tallow for the benefit of the oil-merchants and whalemen, we had the pleasure of hearing eloquent eulogiums upon that portion of our shipping employed in the whale-fishery, and strong statements of its importance to the public interest.  But the same bill proposes a severe tax upon that interest, for the benefit of the iron-manufacturer and the hemp-grower.  So that the tallow-chandlers and soapboilers are sacrificed to the oil-merchants, in order that these again may contribute to the manufacturers of iron and the growers of hemp.

If such be the state of our commerce and navigation, what is the condition of our home manufactures?  How are they amidst the general depression?  Do they need further protection? and if any, how much?  On all these points, we have had much general statement, but little precise information.  In the very elaborate speech of Mr. Speaker, we are not supplied with satisfactory grounds of judging with respect to these various particulars.  Who can tell, from any thing yet before the committee, whether the proposed duty be too high or too low on any one article?  Gentlemen tell us, that they are in favor of domestic industry; so am I. They would give it protection; so would I. But then all domestic industry is not confined to manufactures.  The employments of agriculture, commerce, and navigation are all branches of the same domestic industry; they all furnish employment for American capital and American labor.  And when the question is, whether new duties shall be laid, for the purpose of giving further encouragement to particular manufactures, every reasonable man must ask himself, both whether the proposed new encouragement be necessary, and whether it can be given without injustice to other branches of industry.