Newspaper Page Text
COSBREWION-*''
SB. UAYVK’H speech.
IX SKXJirE— I »lo.ndav,.lvn. *7;
The Senate resumed the coo,wdrrai iio.i
of the special order ol the day, hung th
following rcsolulioa submitted by i>*i.
Cj AY •
Resolved, That the existing duties upon
articles imported Iron, foreign countries,
nnd not coming into competition withm
milur articles, made or produced within
the United States, ought to be forth willi
abolished, except the duties on wines
nnd silks, and that they ought to be re
duced.
Resolved, That the Committee on fi
nance report a bill accordingly.
.Mr. Havnf. moved to amend the (Irst
resolution by striking out all alter the
word “ countries ,” in the second line, and
insert the following :
“lie so reduced, Hint the amount ol
the public revenue shall be siillieienl to
defray the expenses ol government, ac
cording to their present settle, niter the
payment of the public debt; and that, al
lowing n reasonable time fur ilia gradual
reduction ofthe present high duties on the
articles coming into competition with
similar articles inuile or produced in the
United Stales, the duties he ultimately
equalized, so that the duties on no article
shut, ns compared with the vain t at that
article, vary materially from the general
average.'’ ,
Mr. 11 a\ne addressed toe Sennte in
support of ais proposition as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky, { Ur.
Ci.vv,) commenced ids rennuks a few
days ago, by complaining of the advan
ces of age, and mourned the decay <d his
eloquence, soetoqurntly as lo prove that ii
was still in lull vigor. He then weal on,
Sir, to make a most able and ingenious
argument, amply sustaining his high re
putation as an accomplished orator.
With this example before me, i>:r.
PiiEsiDHNr, (said Mr. II.) 1 am almost
deterred from offering any apology, list
I should create expectations winch n
will certainly not he in my’ power to gra
tify. And yet, perhaps, it may be per
mitted to one so humble us myself (R say,
that it belongs not to me at any lime, or
under any circumstances, nnd, least of
all, at thin moment, nnd on this occasion,
to satisfy the expectations of those, if
any such there he. who may have come
hereto witness the graces of oratory, or
to he delighted with the charms ol elo
ipienee. I wotihl not, Mir, on this occa
sion, play the orator if I efaihl. I came
here lo day for higher and fur nobler
purposes. 1 stand on this floor in one of
the represent alivesol'n high-minded,gen
erous, and confiding people, who.-e dear
est rights and interests I am now lo \ imii
cate and maintain. In such a situation, 1
would lose every thought of myself in the
greatness ofthe cause, Confiding in the
indulgence of the Senate, and deeply
sensible of my inability lo do justice t>
tin* important subject embraced in these
resolutions, I shall proceed at once in the
plain, unadorned language cf soherm-s
--nnd truth, to the examination ofthe ques
tion before us.
The gentleman from Kentucky set mil
with the declaration, that heilid not deem
it necessary to oiler any arguments in fa
vor ofthe American system, ‘•that the
protecting policy stands sr j' I'iniliealed —tlmt
it has scattered its rich fruits over t he vvhob
hind, nnd is sustained by the experience
• of nil powerful and prusperou * uatio's,"
Mir, we meet these positions at once by
asserting, on our part, that the protect
ing system stands setf-eoiiileiiiue I; con
detuned in our ow n country, by the dr so
lalion ivhieh has followed ia its train, no A tin
Jiseontinls It has produced—tmiidt-amct
by the experience of nil the world, :m<
the almost unanimous opinion ol enlight
coed men in modern limes. And now
having fairly joined issue with the gen
lie man, wo might put ourselves upon tin
country, nnd submit the ease, w ithont ar
guiiient, nor should I have any tears fa
the result, ifihe issue w ns to bo tried am
decided by an impartial tribunal, f.ci
from the disturbing influence of popolm
prejudice and delusion, and the strong
bias of interests, personal, pecuniary, him
political. Hut, situated ns we mv. I feel
uud acknowledge the necessity of mak
ing out our ease lo the conviction oi this
assembly, and the satisfaction of lb<
count! y. Wo nro seeking iciicf from
nil abbllng ov il—redress from mi existing
wrong. We cannot stand where we
nro. Wo ennnot. like lla> gciitlcmmi
from Kentucky, rest on mere nn.-aippeit
cd nsserlionw. Wo iittl-l submit o:i
proofs and miiinlain our positions if vu
can. It is greatly to ho regretted, Imw
ever, that the gentleman has not seen ti
to present some of the strongest au i
ments In favor of his policy, as such a
course might have direct.-,! our inquiries
a few letui.ng points. inst< ad of making
it necessary tor us to wander -it bug.
through the wide Held of t gnmotd pie
sealed by the protecting sj stem. Tin
gentleman, however, ims i-o fat- I'.tv.iivi
Us as to specify two of tile ;»dvan:;!; ■
which iu- asset Is have been d n ed from
it in tillse-mutry, ami ia oar day, I no:
perft-ctly willing to tty the merits of tin
system ay these tests which ho has him
self prop Red They shall—if the gen
tlem ie pleases—constitute the standard
by which Us true character shad he de
termined. la ihe first piece, then, the
gentleman asserts, "that the much abas
ed policy of the (protecting tarill'ut
that yen i,) lias idled our cutlers nml ena
bled us to pay -fl'tlte public debt." a debt
of#UH) bOd.(M) of principal, .V UUl.i.ikl,
000 of interest. 'Vow. Mu', if any tiling is
capable of demonstration, it may be de
monstrated, tlm; tin- protecting system
could nut. by possibility, havevontribiit
oo in (lie slightest degree to produce this
result. One would suppose, indeed, that
tl.e very last merit which would he us
soi-i aed to this system, was its tendency
t-- tiil the *• public roners.'* It is iimpics
tb.'i ably ton t-n-iir, arranged and adjust
Ctt with n «inglo eye tn revenue, that wt
-l“ look lor such a result. The object
ot i tooting tn-itr as such, certainly is
to 't-:ni,.i»h or exclude importations, and
o) ,uisc to lessen the amount ofthe re
v« derived from duties. The very
Ct a, !mm ol such n system is to suhsti
tu- f r the imported article, paying taxes
log rnuiei.t—the domostie article pm/
snf( ■ 7. i—to transmute the duty Hilo‘a
bet;; to the niuiuifacluiers. and just so
!ui 'its end is attained—that is to say,
just tiire.i the I a rill' is protective, must h
cut i .-. :,e public revenue. l>o wo not
. ‘ -■ t.ibi-i-, thnt the lending argument
in lav ar ol the protecting provisions «f
x -hniiiuiMiiiH ■! II >ftl»Tl i« llir-fi -n-in
riie turilTof IS3-I, was, that they were no
eess u-,v “ to put Uov u a rainons foreign
competition," nnd did not one of the fa
thers of that bill publicly declare that the
vital principle of the system was, "that
the nation should command its own con
sumption, and that when the nation did
command its own consumption, impor
tations mid imposts would censc. ’ Mir,
there are two distinct features in the ta
rid’of I>y2l—revenue and protection. It
is the former that has filled your coffers
ami paid oil’the public debt: n:.d, so far
as Iho latter has operated at nil, it must
have diminished the revenue, and delay
ed the extinction of that debt. Mir, I
will pal it to the candor ofthe ponlle
man. whether, if the protecting duties
under the turilTof IH-JI had been less, the
revenue would not have bren greater,
and that, too, v itlmut milling l<> .bat • n
tSic contrary, diminishing the burthens 1
the people, since they would have obla li
ed the articles of their eensiinij/lioii, in
inereased quantities, nnd nt it cheaper
rate, and been relieved from the heavy
tax which they have been compelled to
pay to the American nmmilaetui'es
Why, sir. thejmliey of IH'2-i actually tax -
od to prohibition!! large amount ofgoods
formerly imported, from a report made
by fho Secretary ofthe Treasury, in .1 hh
ISM), it appears that those prohibited nr
t les amount to about IH'O.fOi) per tin
n nil, being near one-sixdi part of the
whole of our imports, lias (bis pari of
the policy contributed to till your cotters?
Sir, the east* is too plain for further ar
gument, and tried by Ibis test, the poli
cy mils! be utterly coudt nined.
The next test by which the gentleman
proposes to try 0.. s ,-y stem, is -‘the rick
fruit . width it has sca’.t.-red over the
eolint'-y." Sir, vvlice me they lo be
found!’ Is it in the tvisi! I epponl to
(be gentlemen fiom liml ((imrter. We
have heard ;i great don! of ibe llonrisldiig
eoudilior. ol’ilu- mniinf’it tin ing establish
ments else where;, hut where me the
iimnidiu-turing villages, the j-iint stock
coiiipiiiot s, the splendid ilividemls. nnd
oilier n i.tenet s of pros) ority to he found
jo the west? i submit il to the candor
(iflbe gealleim-n. win liter tilt- benelilsol
(In- |-ro(i-etiiig syslt-in. so fir ns the west
is concerned. do m t still rest in lope—
whether the system vvt nlo i><- sustained a
di.y. il'it were not (in- its supposed eon
nextinn willi inti’iinai. r.iritov hmhxts —
whether il in not indeht'd fi.-r its populari
ly. in tlint quarter, to (he unhappy, the
fatal marriage between the lot 111 and in
tern'd improvements-—a imam which 1
Vet hope to see dissolved, il rats uI ft
lniiitlc'! —mi unlawful marriage. and sure
ly those whom (hiil hath nolJoined, man
may put asunder. Mir, there ore doubt
less some flourishingiti.mtshu-ioru-s scat
tered here and there (hrouuhoui the wes
tern eoantiy —ehiefiy e.onhned, however
to situations beyond the reach off-reign
competition, m.d owing nothing’ to the
prolr-iiag system. Hal the west has nol
!u-<-li n-mieri-il prosperous by these es
tablishments. i appeal confidently lo
I heir net mil condition at litis ;line ——V v it h
regard lo Ine getilleman's ow n Mtnle, I
will apply ate 4 which emmet di-eoiv.
us. When tin- policy ol ’2l vv;ts !»ef, ire
t’ongn-ss, the Menntor froai Iveatneky
stood lot 111 as its ehampinn, m.d il was
my lot 1 » iittempl, lo answer hla argu
ments. It is It tii', sir, that ins speech
was made in !be other House, and mine
on ties four; hat his organa ip bad been
sent forth ns lit;- mauif sto v I tlie party
—il was printed in pamphlet .-in mid «■»
the tallies of the Mete.o i'. e.ml. embody
ing Ilia views of (bo tariif pm-iy, it was
impiissi'iic lo: me lo pass Hover > well
remember, thereioee, Inal, on limt oi-ea
I sion, the e’ciillcmati iifgmd. tiiat !ven
(tteky was! . pttrliei; alt- in the protect
ing system by raising im-ge ipmntilies ol
hei:,j>, am! supplying the aeuinei n r-talcs
' with cello a bagging,—and he strongly
insisted that -he w,..-then only prevei.l
<>J from so doing, hy the ram ns eouq-.e
tiliou ofthe im onsidt-ruhie Meoteh
of l.tn'i'itms nnd And w iidflM|
Mir, timl wo- I;- o imw —niter the
eight Jem- 1 The vdd .-tori r«
Kentucky -liil clej rived ol tin- hens (it-; -I
the protet t mv sy.dem ! y those tbimidu
bit- rivals, invi-rness and Dimdi-e, Tbey
sti!l eetistitnle - the lii'ti in tii j-ttlii." mol
foreign ut.ieuf tetures < v er will be "o lion
in (he palti" to those vvlir.se pro-jo i ity
depends on tin- protecting sy-tem. t
know that l!u- nmuufaetureofeclton hear
giltgis u simple process, r;-<juiri«'g hard
ly any skill or capital, am! yo. I. the gi cat
Mtnle <•!' iventiieky ei luiolgel ..long with
it. it) eon-eqiienee of tin ■ firm id a Me rival
ship o! two miserable Meoteh towns, the
inhabitants ol which ere stml to he so
hoop nnd destitute, llo.t they mv ohhgvi!
to import their fuel, and semi to ! In t.-be.
twelve hundred mih-s n;i (he 11-aiiie. f r
llieir iionip. paying n f eight eqti.-.l to (he
lir.-t cost, it is» perfet liy clear. ;le*r<‘f t '-.
that Keidtit ky has ..ol i .-aii/.ed the pro
mist-d blessings ol t:n- protecting system:
uud. i am loin that Ims is substantially
trie-of I he vv hole west. flat. Mir. if the
vv**-1 Ins gaii.ed n -ihifg by tin-.--ystem.
~h ■ Inis had lu-i shi-.re ofthe ta xcs v\ it i t !.
>i imposes—sin- Im- paid ie-i propurtioti
of tint its tt’ the gov ei onset t. anil boa nth s
to the m’nnlaetmer.-; and. in eottse
tpieue*- of the dire • abiniities vv hit li t.be
- \ ,-tt-m has it>lf eleti on the sonlii—'dsi.-l
in v our emiiiiit-rt-e uml withering our
prospei-ity—tin- west has very neatly
lir-i-n th-privs-tl of her best enetomer
When the policy of'Cl weal into opera
lion, the south was supplied from the
we -t. through n single avenue, (tbs- Sain
tia .Mountain (Kip.) with live stock, ho"
se- cattle, and lings, to the p.n.en;:! ol
considerably upwards ol a mdlioM t !
dollars a year. Under the prepare t f i.be
system, this trade has regularly In-on .!■
niini.bing. It has nheatly ialten rlii
nit re than one half, nnd from an tintbea |
tie return, now before me. il appears that ;
i Ims been fm tliei- tliminislu tl m-nr otu I
hundred and filly thousand dollars timing ■
t o last year. Mo much for the rich
blessings bestowed upon the west by tat
protecting system.
We come now to the Movni. If any
portion of the rich fulls of tins system
h ve been scattered there, they imv e not
fillen antler my ib-ervntion. Mir. vv*
snow them not —we see them not —we
f,-el them not. It may he su ( posed,
however, limt wo are too full of preju
dice, or tow ungrateful, to ueknowlodge
the blessings it bus beslovvetl uj'tm us.—
Mir, we have heard of men having hon
or thrust upon them, anti perhaps there
may he such n tlnsig tis having benefits
thrust upon an unwilling people: yeti
should think, that even ia such ft case,
tiioy would soon become reconciled 1°
their lot, und submit to their late with.'*
pood grace, lint.l assure the gentlemen
that the condition of the south is not
merely one of unexampled depression,
but of great and all-pervading distress —
In my own Slate, the unhappy change
which has within a few years pustfaken
place in the public prosperity, is of the
most appalling character, if we look at
the present condition of our cities, (and
I will lake Charleston byway ol exam- |
pie.) vve find every where the mournful
evidence ol premature decay. Sir, the
ennobling memorials of our former
wealth and happiness, too ehmncntiy
tench us. that without some change in
yonr policy, the cays ol oar prosperity
]"aie numbered.’’ rdr, ii is within my
, 1 own experience, that, in the devoted city
| in w inch my lot ims been cast, a thriving
jfasign commerce, was, within n few
j years pn>*. carried on ilirrct to hnrope,—
; We had native merchants, with 1 >rge
• | earilals. engaged in the foreign trade.—
i We had thirty or forty ships, many of
i ' idem built, and nil ow ned in ( Imrlestou,
- mid giving employment to a numerous
■ and valuable body of mechanics ami
tradesmen. Hook at (ho slate ol things
■ now! Our merchants bankrupt or driv
en away— their eapital sank or transfer
- red to other pursuits—our ship yards
broken up—our ships all sold!— J cs, Sir.
• I am told I lie very last <f them was a few
I months ago brought to tln* hammer cur
■ mechanics in despair; the very grins
- growing in onrslrei Is, and houses falling
- into ruins; real estate reduced to one
tiiird part of its value, and routs almost
i to nothing. The commerce, which we
i, are still sntfered to enjoy, diverted from
. its proper channels, carried on with hoi'*
. rowed capital, mid through agents scut
, among us, and maintained by the Infill
■ policy, hearing oil’their profits to more
. favoied lands, eating out otir substance,
. and leaving to our own people the inise-
L . ralde einnihs v.huli fall from the table
ij of (heir prosperity, ll've fly from the
I j city to the country, what do we there he
ll heidf fields abandoned; the hospita
|. bln mansions of our fathers deserted?
1' agriculture drooping; cur slaves, like
1 tln ir masters, not king harder and fare
. lag worse: the planter striving, with ua
i availing efforts, t > avi rt the ruin which
. is before him. It has iTtcn been my lot
. Sir, to see the once thriving planter re
duecd to despair; cursing his hard fate.
;. gathering no the small rcinrias ol ins
broken fortune—nail, with las wife and
f his little once, tearing himself from the
i scenes of ins childhood ; and the bones oi
- hisnncestoi's, to seek, in the wihlerness,
i that reward for his industry, d which
- your fatal policy has cli-j rived him.
!Sir, vvlien vve look at our fertde fields.
- and consider the genial climate with
!• which Coal has blessed the South —when
:i we contemplate the rare ft 1 is - .ty ol our
[> position, ns the producers of an article.
I which, under a system ol fee trade.
- would command the markets ol the
, world—i*t it not ••iiongh to till our hearts
i, almost to bursting to dud Hie richest
j blessings that an indulgent Providence
over showered down upon the heads i t
e any people, toi a from us by the n uei po
y bey of our own government, to Had the
s bounties of Heaven thus blasted by (lie
band of limn? (Sir. 1 will not deny that
U there uiv other causes besides ihe tarili’.
c whim have contributed to produce Hie
i, evils w hich Iha ve depicti I. 'l'radc can,
, to s me extent, he ca t ied on with great
er facility at New York, and cotton may
la* raised more profitably in Alabama;
s but, Itie-e advantages would not have
1 bn ken n|> the commerce or depressed
the agriculture of .■'■until (.'arolimi, while
- an unrestricted intercourse with foreign
ii'itions. cinddcd us to realize the most
if moderate pndiis. aien i!o net quit their
s .u enstoraed cinploymctils, or the homes
v of tiicir fathers, for ury small addition to
'- their j rollts. it is only when restriction
Ims reai*l)cd a point which leaves the
v door still open to one, while it closes it
K .against the other, that litis result is pro
■ diiccvl; and, therefore it is, that i riipi.t
„ ti rioter of capital and population i-* now
.( added to the other oviis w it.i vv t.ii h the
i o>d Sti-.tes are ailliclt d.
,V In tins condition of the country, where
*1 is tlo rt* to be found a fulfilment of the
n promises held cut to the ■ aith in i < -1 I
> \\ ew< re then told that we had inisink
i' en the true character of ibis system. —
■ \Ve were entreated only to try it lor a
1 short lime. We wire told Hint (he tax
t es imposed on foreign articles would lie
I* bat p-mporary : that the aiai.ntactares
j would wind protei lion im! t«*c a short
e | |i*ne —only to give Hiom :i slot t—and that
I they would soon be aide to stand alone.
■ Wo were to Im v? had a double maikei
for our cotton—high ptit-rs, reviving
r comimTce, and renewed prosp-crity.—
c !-ir. slier the espericnce of four year-.,
the tarai’of ’u’S <-mne tij* for considcro
tion, by which the protecting sjtem w.-.r.
t to in- further extended end enlarged.—
■ And what was found to have bit-n the
' result ol’ lour years expelicnee til the
■ r*oi!th.' Not u hope iidfiiieii, not one
• promise performed—and out* eondition
- iidiniu-ly worsi* than it had been lour
■ j years h< lore. .Sir, the w hole South rose
) up as one n.uu.nud protested against any
' j t’nrther experiment w hh this fatal system,
j The whole id the represeatutives ot sev
’ j en Slati*s,\ ii-ginia.Norlh t'nioiinu.South
I t’aroiimi. (.’coigia. Alnbnir.n. .Hississip
i pi, and 'i'onnessoe, (with I believe hut
| three dissenting voices,) recorded their
j votes, against that hill. Sir. do not geii
! tlemo!i find in this faet, sruu* evidence ol
I the liaugerons ehnraeler of that legisla-
J I ion on which this system is based. Can
| it la* wist —can it he just—can it he pru
j dent—to adopt and enforce a policy so
ies initially sioi >naiiu its charm ier? Can
we hope lor harmony, peace, and con
cord, wifle ens riingn system ngainsl
j which an entire section of your country
jso strongiy revolts’ It is Hie esseiti’n 1
i principle ol the representative system,
that a mutual synuuub of feeling nod
of interest, slu uUi ii n to got In r the peo
ple and Hu ir raters, ami i may he wvr
thy of profound retl'vtma how im* that
principle is essentially preserved by a
scheme of legislation, under w hich Ho
feelings and interests ei no large n por
tion of tin* eoaniry are onii-ogetl A. iniin
pied on. When ta\e» are imposed, m 1
hy Hie representatives of ■ lio-e who are
to benrthe hurtheis, but of those vviio are
to receive the bounty.
Now, sir, let us torn our attention to
the north, tnd hire 1 cannot spin
from my ov>. n know ledge, but cm fret- j . .
confess, Unit if we are t credit the uc- j
counts we have heard, the rich fruits of
the system have linen scattered in t-d
mmi-lcr with a profuse hand. \• e
told that manufacturing establishmtn
have sprung up every w here as H j.V 1
chantinent. Thriving towns <>n. ho u
1;f.,; villages cover the whole bice ot Hu.
itliliions ot capital have been with
drawn from other pursuits and investee
in nuini’.f i fares, doint stock compan
ies arc receiving enormous dividends .
„ml the people, (at least In Hie netghoor-
I hood o, the establishments built up and
sustained hy Hie system.) are rejoii ingin
prosperity unexampled in the history o
the world. Hut. sir, in the midst ol la»
universal joy, we hear occasionally Hie
voice of lamentation and complaint.
There are those north of the* Potomac,
w isc. and experienced and patriotic men.
well uccjuainteU too with the actual con
; dition of things, who tell us Hint this ap
parent prosperity is.in a great measure
• delusive; that the system has operated
• in building op a lavored class at the ex
pense ol the rest of the community. That
l it has, in fact, made the *‘rich richer, mid
. the poor poorer.” 1 have before me set -
, oral statements, nil going to prove these
1 assertions, ns to several ol the most
flourishing manufacturing establishments
of the north. I will trouble llicSenate
with hut one of them, and that merely by
. way of illustration. The article is from
. the pf n of one of Hie ablest political eeo
i nomists in tin* I'nion, one wlio has laid
ins country nutlet* a lasting debt el grali
i tude.
; [Vr. llav.m*. here read a statement from
■ the Ilanm-rof the (Constitution, proving
1 that n nourishing cotton manufactory at
■ the rails village, in New Hampshire,
’ w as. from thrir min nhrmini!, maintained by
-a tax oti the community) exceeding Hu*
' entire profits of the c.-.tahlisliincnt, by
I' £|(lI.(1(H) per annum; and that if n parse
was made up, and every operative man,
> woman, and child, paid tgUIO per annum,
' for standing idle or turning grindstones,
' the public, weald be gainers by £IOI,OOO
annually.]
It will be seen, therefore, that, with rc
, gard to some, at least, of oar most Hour
’ ishing maun facia ring establishment, Hie
r ’ ,ro(ils derived are drawn from the poi k-
Its of the people, but, it will he said,
“ bore is a ea-c in which the south parti
-1 eipntes in the bounty; hero is » home
market lluji.d lor three tlioasand bales
oft 'smdina cotton.” Sdr, 1 seize the op
' s orfnnity to dispel ft-rever the tielusion,
i that the south can derive any compensa
tion in a homo market (ortho injurious
operation of the protecting system. The
' ease Ir lore ns r.U’ords a striking illustra
' Hoimil’Hils truth, The value ofthe raw
’ iaateriul is uliont one-fourth part of the
manufactured article. Now if the cotton
' goods nmnaliu iutcd at the Falls village,
’ wen* imported from England iasteait tu
being made in New Hampshire, we
; sin old fnui a market for twelve thousand
bales of our cotton instead of three; so
that instead of gaining a market for three
thousand hales of cotton, wo have lust a
mm lit t of nine thousand. 'She heme
cmiket for our cotton is not a new, or ad
'V diiicnal. hut a substituted mariiet. II
1 I Hie trade were free, the goods manufac
I lured ia tills country would be imporU i)
e iroin r.'iglmul, and paid for in our cot
'' (~n ; but in cutting oft’• he imports, you, ot
. course, to the same extent, diminish our
;; exports. Now suppose, to make this
1 matter too plain for cavil or dispute, that
' we exported to Ureal britain i.'.ie hun
dred then and hales of cotton, worth, (at
Ibidy dollars a hale) three niiiliuns ol
( doibirs. A: tinit we received in exchange
, (in ,•> millions of dollars worth ot Urilish
' cniimi goods. How much of our cotton
1 would it take to mamil’netiire thccc
1 goods? Why,just twenty-live thousand
hales, while the remaining seventy five
1 tiiousand would be disposed of on the
” eoabnent. but snppo~e the importation'
ol’lluse goods prohibited, in order that
' they should lie made at home, what par
tion i.f tins cotton would find a home
market ? Only twenty live thousand
] (tales, and the remaining seventy-live
thonsmul lie left upon our hi lids. Thus,
1 it will he seen, that tl*e i fii.il of substi
-1 fating a homo market in the place cl ii
foreign market for our cotton, would he
p to d. priw* ijs entirely of a market for
! ‘ tiiree--fourths of our productions. This
■ result is inevitable, unless the domestic
manufacturer can enter into competition
' uii ii (lie Hrilish in forrign mitr/>’c's,aii ideti
:l ..-Hcgetlier too extravagant to he w orthy
of serious notice; for surely, if any thing
can htMtoiisitlcrcd Certain, wc may safely
' as.- nint* that articles w hich cannot ho
: manufai lured at home without a protoct
-1 ii*g duty of from (!liy r to one hundred per
■ cent., cannot enter into competition w ith
■ I’./ieign mauufaclnres in Hie markets ol
; the world, where they w ill, of course,
■ Irive no protection whatever. Hut to re
turn to the eondition of the north under
the protecting pulley. If the rich traits
' of the system in that quarter were great
er even than they arc alleged to be, I
should still think that, they have been
pnrehasfd at too dear a rate. It has
even there depressed our commerce,
disturbed till the relations ©('society, and
hud a It latency to produce that inequali
ty if fortunes, which mny, one day or
oilier, lie fatal to the liberties ol'lhis coun
try.
Surveying with tin. Toolings of an American
tlio iictiiiil condition ol*tilings, (should emtainiy
In.* disposed to exchange all the blessings which
the protecting system has produced, even in
New England, for those whir-hit has destroyed.
In the place of the splendid villages, Ii mri-liing
manufactories, joint-stock companies, and loul
ly propriotois, clothed in fine linen, and fining
sumptuously every day, ns a patriot, 1 should be
disposed to say, give me back the s.bi s which
have boon destroyed, the merchants which have
been reduced to’ bankruptcy, the sailors that
have been forced into foreign service, the “■ lun
dci o*l ploughmen and beggared yeomanry” who
have been driven from the pursuits of their
choice into the gloomy walls of a manufactory;
give me back these, and, above ail, give me
back content—restore the peace and h irrnony
which this system has destroyed, and I will con
sent that every manufacturing establishment
shall be razed to its foundation, which lias been 1
built up, and cun only be sustained, by this ac
euised system. Sir, if wealth wore the highest
good ui'a nation, and pecuniary pretil the only
standard by which u wise policy could bo me a
sured, it would even then bo more than ques '
tionablo, how far tins system could lie justified. 1
out there are higher and more sacred principles 1
involved in this question, which cannot ho safely -
disiegarded; there are considerations of justice, ’
and political equality, which iise far above ail 1
calculations of mere profit and loss. Sir, what *
will it profit you, if you gain the whole wo. id, 1
1 and lose the hearts of your people ! This is a '
j confederated government, founded on a spirit of ‘
( mutual conciliation, concession, and cumpro- *
uiise; and it is neither a just, prudent, nor right- 1
‘\il exercise of the high trust wi h which you arc 1
nvcstcd for Iho common goo, , to voso.i ion
n'steiu of legislation by which benefits anJ bur j
liens arc uno-'ually distributed. bur, can an) 1
'"'ntletnan look this subject fairly in the l ice, <
ami not perceive that such a government as outs j
i instituted for a few definite purposes, 111 which I
every portion of the Onion must, flout the veiy <
nature of things, have a common interest) can- '
nul turn aside from their high duties, ami under- i
take to control the domestic industry ot indivi- ■
duals, without undermining the very Inunda
tions of our republican system. It is contrary
to the whole genius and character of oui institu
tions, the very form and structure of our govern
ment, that it should undertake to regulate whole
labor and capital of this extensive country. A
perseverance in this course will sow the seeds ot
dissension broadcast throughout the land, and let
it bo remembered, that discord is not a plant of
slow growth, but one that flourishes in every
soil, and never tails to produce its f.uit in one
, season. What a spectacle do'you even now ex
hibit to the world 1 A largo poition of your fel
low-citizens, believing themselves to bo grie
vously oppressed by an unwise and unconstitu
tional system, are clamoring at your doors for
justice, while another portion, supposing that
they are enjoying rich bounties under it, aie
treatin' 7 ill .tr complaints with scorn and con
tempt. God only knows where all this is to
end. Cut, it, “ will not, and it cannot, come to
! .rood.” We at the South still call you our broth
jen, and have over cherished towards you the
strongest feelings of aflecliou; but were you the
brothers of our blood, fur whom vro would coin
our hearts, it is not in human niilu-o that we
should long continue to retain for you undimin
ishod affection, when all hope of redress shall
have passed away, and wc sh ill continue to be
lieve tiiat you arc visiting us with a hard and
oiuel oppression, and enforcing a cold, heartless,
and selfish policy.
I shall now proceed, Mr. Phesident, to exam
ine the character of the proti cling system, And
here, L shall assume, that the protection it ex
tends to the American manufactures is some
thing substantial, and affords some advantage,
he it more or less, to the protected interests, I
■ shall take it for granted,' that it is intended to
, enable the Arncrlean manufactut ers to enter into .
that successful competition with the foreign,
which they could not do without such protection;
| that the effect of the system is to enable the
American manufacturer to obtain more fur his
goods than he could otherwise command. In a
word, that it affords substantial protection; and
is not like that extended to cotton—a mete
‘ name. For, on this latter point, let it ho re
membered, that the li st cotton produced in this
, country found a market nluoad ; and that, even
now, nearly the whole of it Is disposed ol m 1 ii
, rope, whose it maintains a successful compel!
. tibn against all the world. It is idle, therefore,
’ to talk of the benefit of a protecting duty to cot
ton, at homo. It is beyond all dispute, frir, that
’ if any duty ha necessary to prate, lion, it can on-1
■ !y he, because it enables the manufacturer to
; sell his goods for more than he could otherwise
! obtain for them. Now, in this view of (ho sub- j
■ jeet, let us see how the question will stand.— j
■ Mow must such a system operate, fh’.st, on flio j
, different interests, and skcoxw.v, on the different i
! sections of tlie country? Wo will assume, that j
a parlieubu’ manufacture cannot be produced in ,
1 the country, within fifty per cent, as cheaply at I
home, nr> the same article could ho obtained from j
abroad; and that a duty which, with charges, I
I should he equal to about fifty per cent, was ah-1
! solutely necessary to introduce and to sustain it. I
■ Such a duty must operate as a tar. on every olli- j
or class in the community, for the benefit of the 1
■ manufacturer; and supposing it to ho irn osetl, ,
not for revenue, but protection, would bo a{
double tax , Suppose Iho value of the imported I
article to boa million of dollars, the duly would j
bo half a million ; and if the protection amounted j
to an equal vum, hero would boa tax ot a mil- !
’ lion of dollars imposed upon the whole people, to
! secure a bounty ol half a million to one portion!
‘ of tlie'", lint it ia said the bounty is not con-j
lined to the manufielurors, that other classes '
participate. I admit that them is a circle cm
. braced within lire range of the manufacturing
influence, that partake of the benefits of the sys
tem. Fanners, in the neighborhood, who sup-'
ply ilia operatives with food—mechanics, who
construct the buildings and inacliinoiy—do gy
nicn, physicians, lawyers, and others, who make
up a manufacturing village, all come In for a
share of the gains, and constitute, in fact, the
1 protected class, which enjoy the benefits ofllio
system, hut all other classes in the community
■ must obviously ho laid under conti ihutiou, to
i make that a profitable, which would clliorwise j
[ ho an unprofitable | ursuit; and in the case as
sumed, would bo taxed to the amount of one
( million of dollars, to secure to the favored class
. a bounty of half a million. Now suppose, Sir,
such a system as this to ho extended to all the
cottons, woollens, iron, and sugar, made in any.
• country, and wc will take that country In he the
U. Stales.);, Wo will suppose further that cel
i toijk «Duld not be profitably manufactured with
-1 out a protecting duty affront jjK’enly fire loan
■ hundred percent. woqllqnsmom forty five to■
. two hundred per cent.—iron front one bundled
and to lwohimd-ed per cent. —sugar from one
hundred to one hundred and fifty per cent, and
that these duties wore accordingly im| orsed on
these several articles, (amounting in Iho whole
to the sum of nine millions of dollars annually;)
that, iu consequence of these duties, the protec
tion on all the cottons manufactured in the coun
try was equal totlneo cents a yard, and amount
ed to six millions of dollars per annum, —wool-
lens to eight millions—hen to one million-—and
sugar a million nod a half-—producing as the re
sult ofllio whole system, a tax of nine millions
on iho foreign article to secure a bounty of six
teen millions and a half to the homo matiufactucr
ors. I have supposed protection to bo the ex
clusive object of this system, and it then clearly
follows lb at al other classes would be taxed
twenty five millions of dollars per annum, in or
der to secure to the fivorod class a protect inn of
sixteen millions. The Government would, in
deed, lucoivo its nine millions: hut it would be
an aggravation of the evils of the system, that
this amount should bo levied when it. was not
wanted, iu ordor to secure the protected classes
in their monopoly. The rates of duties \vJri ■l l
I have hero assumed, are those now actually I
imposed on the protected articles; (and which
it is proposed to retain as essential to nroteriinn,)
and the amount ofllio protection enjoyed Uv the
manufacturers is stated at the very' lowest’ that
has ever been estimated by any person who Ins
undertaken to examine the'subject. If veil: u i
pose half of the duly here slated to he necessa
ry for revenue—this would not diminish the
weight ofllio burden, though it would lessen to
that ext cm t the injustice ofllio lax, —and let gen- ,
tlcmcn make what deductions they please, eith- :
or from the duly imposed or the bounty received, j
and it will make no difi'eience whatever in the
principle. \S bother it he one million or twenty, 1
just so far as the system t< protective, in its char- 1
acter, and imposes any tax upon iho foreign nr- 1
tide, and affords any protection whatever to the !
domestic, is the system a tax imposed upon the i
other classes to render profitable the industry of )
the manufacturers. And when this tax amounts, (
as it unquestionably does in iho case before us, ,
at the very lowest estimate, to twenty or thirty .
millions n ycar.it becomes a scheme oi'tnonstrous
injustice and oppression. Now let ns trace thgi 1
system one slop farther. Suppose such a system *
applied to a country of a liumogenious cbnrao- •
ter, with the same capacity for manufacturing I
every where, and that manufacturing establish
ments should consequently ho equally diffused
through every section. The benefits and the
burthens of the system would, in such a case,fall
equally upon every portion of the country,
though not upon the different interests of the )
Slate. It has been said that if the profits of
manufactures were raised by sucli a system, (
above the average ofllio 1 "fits of the whole j;
community, that the labor and capital absorbed
in other pursuits would flow mlo flic new em
ployment ; and thgt the whole would uUimgle-
’SWifiaJg-Jcac?- vsumcs; .v'Jn - ■
ly be equalized. Admit that in process office <
this might bo the result; yet it could not uko ]
place at once, because men cannot tittnefer ut I
pleasure their labor and capital f,om flair B ' s . ■
oustorned pursuits to others. Hut if ;he p.roliu I
should be thus ultimately equalized in a putlicu I
lar community ; yet if. the favored pursuits u- H 8
only rendered profitable by the protection exleu
dod to it—it is clear that the scheme would re. 1
suit in an aggregate loss to the whole cctiur.uniti; i*
equal to the full amount of the bounty. J I"
I have assumed the case of an unprofitable.
pursuit being rendered profitable by the protect
ing system—for to any other case iho system is s’
wholly inapplicable. If the domestic inarm lie'. Sj
Hirer can make his goods as cheaply end supply
■the domestic market on as favorable terms'
they could bo obtained from abroad, then it ls
clear that no protection whatever would be tic.
cosstry, It may be that in the very infancy of#
manufacture, on its first introduction into a cuuti- <
try, a small protection for a short lime might \
hasten its advancement, but at most, the wnii*
holding of such protection, could have no other
effect than to delay its introduction for a few
yearn—for the existence in any country, of un<
employed capital, and individual sagacity ami
enterpiizo, sufficient to direct it prudently,
would soon lead to the introduction of every
branch of m'nivfnclurcs, for which such country §
was really prepared. But this stage of infancy m.
once passed, it is preposterous to talk ofllio tm- I
ecssity of protecting any article that.cun really j
ho made as cheaply at home as it can he obtain
ed from abroad—and to assert, ibat to reduce ■
such protection to twenty or thirty pur cent.,
would ho iltinous to any inanttf-cluio, is to ad- A
mil al once, that such a: tide cannot be profitably jig
made at homo, and consequently that it canon- I
!v he sustained at the expense of the other inter- I
c'sts in the community. Now, Sir, let us sup. I,
pose another case, and it is unhappily the very f ■
ease which now exists in the United b'iatcs.— I-
Wo will suppose an extensive country, of which r,,
otto poition is exclusively agricultural, and in- |;
capable of changing its pursuits, and that the I
other portion embraces within its limits, all the I
manufactures and mamtfactui ing caw.cifies of I
the whole country. The bounty would then bo H
exclusively enjoyed by one section, and the uih- l i
j er would share only in the binlliens of die tys- I"'
I lent. To make the inequuily still greater, it is I
| only necessary to suppose liial the agricultural I:
section is not only incapable of Hinnul'uc'uriiigat I*
home, but is prevented by insuperable obstacle.', I
from emigrating of teinuving their properly in I
the nianufiiolu,ing region: that their industry ■
can only b;i profitably employed in exchanging I
their agiicnllural productions, for the very foreign B
articles which enter into competition with the I
elomcstic manufactures, and which are heavily <■
taxed for tlie protection of the latter, —that the S
effect of such tax is not only to inter, upt tlie in- .*
turcom se and impair the profits of (heir mdustiy, jfe
but that the agricultural soelioa is thereby cs- ■
posed to the imminent hazard of having the mar- I
| hot for their productions eutiiely cut otf, and ti |
. nally, to cap the climax or tuts txjusTtrs ssn I
! orPKi.ssioN, tiiat the taxes levied on the fon-igu I
j articles, are expended almost exclusively in Ilia I
1 fivoi'cd region, ami you ilieu have, M . I'lavt- r
! nest, the whole case ofllio South spread ojiut |y
before you. Their pursuits aro altogether r-g.t- [
| cultural—liter cannot change them— they canncl I
, transfer limit- labor am! capital to the f.ivoted re- ll
I gion—they cannot find a market for their pm
j liuclious, except by exchanging them tin the rrry !
\ foreign mamifactures which are taxed almost t.t
j | rohibition, and the taxes thus raised are tx- m
j pended in other sections, lit ilioro a man ia this &
| assembly who can lay bis hand tq on his lieu. I, I
I and say that it is a just and equal syslem I It j
may be s.ii.t, however, that all ibis is merely llm I
I result ofottr peculiar condition, ami the nulnia I
j ofotir pursuits, (t is not so, Sir. All we ask, is I
! to bet.KT At-otvE. I.ouvn us to tlie free enjoy- I
! ment ofllio bountiesofiioavcn, and the advati
‘ tngcs of our situation, and wo ask no nm.c,— I
But where is tlie justice and equality of a srv I
! tern oflegislation wiiicit is to m .ka prolituula P|
the industry of others by tlie destruction of out '
own? And by what right is it lb.it we am in «
be made victims to the pros; erity of others? I .
will here borrow an illustration, to make this j |
matter plain. The southern Stales supply them- j |
selves with woollens, cotton, ami holt, by tats- J
ing cotton, rice, and tobacco. Now, Hqqem I
we sbonlcl exchange a bale of cotton for a bale
of coal so woollens, for the use of on slaves. |
containing, wo will say, a bund cd j ieecs. Tina
bale of cloth is ours. Ills the f.ui of cur mvil 4
labor, of American capital, and homo imfit-i'>• I
We may he said to have tuamifaciured it, m ’
wit it the spindle and the loom, but with d'c
: plougl, and the line. Now, Hir, we w ill siq • r,
pose that a not ilium mutmfueln.i.'r has, by the
ap| liealion of an 0.,ual amount of labor and cap.
lal produced a similar halo of woollens, ot pre
cisely llio same ipiality and value. In what h
sped is the manufacturer entitled to be regard
ed wiilpmo.o favor than the planter ? D.iesil,
i eight which we may have paid to the ship o\v
nor, and the otnpluyrnent given to navigation,
entitle us to less favor in the eyes of die govett*
ment. Are tint plough and the boo less fiivcrra
instruments of p oducliou than the iq hullo and
the loom ? Peifed equality, Sir, would seen.
♦o require that wo should, ai toast, on the same
footing, and that, whether these woollens were
wanted for consumption, or for sale, they should
bo subjoded to exactly the sumo lax. Uttl Imvr ■
ato vve lieated by a just and paternal govern
ment, who caretlt, wo arc told, equally for all j
her children ? Our bale of woollens is stopped
at the custom house, and fluty pieces aro taken,
out, as a tax to the govcinmenl, whereby out f
slock is reduced to sixty pieces, while the bale fl
of the manufacturer is lice flotn all taxation. It j
those articles are wanted for our own consume- a
lion, wc can consume but sixty pieces; while I
the manufacturer letair.s his ItumJred pieces.— ]
If the goods .at o wanted for sale, wo have bat
sixty pieces to bo com c ted into money, or to be |
exchanged for other commodities; while the
mamifitdu.cr has fits hundred pieces for tin;
same purposes; & if vve should happen to meet st
the market, as the two articles must sell at the
same price, being of the same quality, the maun-
I'm in it will, of eon so, real.zo forty percent
more limn the planter.
Now, c;r, whit a; c wc to do in this dildurau ?
How are wo to esespe this unexual bu-dcu! I
( To he Continual.J
tWJHI ilT*
f - v i Tlill utuicfsigncil
rc'sj:<’r{fi;!ly ii;f:ifin« his
fficttils, anil the public
» Si »0L that h« lias
ncl cluftul ids House.
l't liOxiiitrlon, or rc
movoil. ns hn tiuiloisttir.its has been to- •
pot ted !>y fotne evil liispcsr d persons,
but «t■!! keeps it open, mid will continue
to do so. He rot urns* his thunks for the
liberal patrounyve hitiierto nottlerml, and
takes this opportunity 'of inlbnnkig
them, tliul his estahlishment has
undnigatno eonsidefubie repair, and is
now in excellent order for the rocention
of HOAUHIVIJs and TUAVEbLLKS.
w ho may ro-t assured that every possi
ble eii’ rt will be made for their comfort
and snlisliietory tiecommodation, in ev
ery respect, ills stithies are large, in
fine order, and provided with attentive
Hostlers, and the best of provender.
.IA.IIKB WUhLBOKN.
' JiexilHTton. Ikni, |*OW. !>“
roll’ll C'opailacrsltip licrototbre. exis
-M. ling under the lb in of Jlor.i o.m; A
C'AMrriKLD, is this dny dissulvctl Iry mutu
al consent.
JOHN C. HOLCOMBE.
EDW’D.CAJII’FIEI l>
Augusta, Feb. 20th, Ibßi l’t o‘>