“If more oil be consumed, it will effect a great impetus to our petroleum trade.  Pit-Hole, Tack, and Oil Creek stock will go up exceedingly, and an immense revenue will thereby accrue to the numerous possessors of oil lands, who will be able to pay such a large tax that the national debt can be paid off at once.  Besides that, the patent hermetical barrel trade, and numerous other industries connected with the oil trade, will prosper at an unprecedented rate, to the great benefit and glory of the country.

“Navigation would equally profit.  Thousands of vessels would soon be employed in the whale fisheries, and thence would arise a navy capable of sustaining the honor of the United States, and of responding to the patriotic sentiments of the undersigned petitioners, candle-merchants, &c.

“But what words can express the magnificence which New York will then exhibit!  Cast an eye upon the future, and behold the gildings, the bronzes, the magnificent crystal chandeliers, lamps, lusters, and candelabras, which will glitter in the spacious stores, compared to which the splendor of the present day will appear little and insignificant.

“There is none, not even the poor manufacturer of resin in the midst of his pine forests, nor the miserable miner in his dark dwelling, but who would enjoy an increase of salary and of comforts.

“Gentlemen, if you will be pleased to reflect, you cannot fail to be convinced that there is perhaps not one American, from the opulent stockholder of Pit-Hole, down to the poorest vender of matches, who is not interested in the success of our petition.

“We foresee your objections, gentlemen; but there is not one that you can oppose to us which you will not be obliged to gather from the works of the partisans of free trade.  We dare challenge you to pronounce one word against our petition, which is not equally opposed to your own practice and the principle which guides your policy.

“If you tell us that, though we may gain by this protection, the United States will not gain, because the consumer must pay the price of it, we answer you: 

“You have no longer any right to cite the interest of the consumer.  For whenever this has been found to compete with that of the producer, you have invariably sacrificed the first.  You have done this to encourage labor, to increase the demand for labor.  The same reason should now induce you to act in the same manner.

“You have yourselves already answered the objection.  When you were told:  The consumer is interested in the free introduction of iron, coal, corn, wheat, cloths, &c., your answer was:  Yes, but the producer is interested in their exclusion.  Thus, also, if the consumer is interested in the admission of light, we, the producers, pray for its interdiction.