The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-02-05
FELLow-C CITIZENS

As there has been no choice of a Represent
alive for this District, you will probably soon
be called upon to assemble again for that pur-
pose. And it is of Importance that you should
be cautious, and look well to the qualifica-
tions OF him whom you hold up as a candidate
to fill that important office. And in that, as
in every otlier transaction, we should be gov
erned by principle, and not by prejudice or
favouritism.
And apprehend that the great (and per-
haps the only question ought to be, when
candidate is proposed to us for our support,
Is he honest, is he capable - that is, does
he understand the nature of our system of
government in all its various ramifcations p
Does he know how to adopt rules and make
laws which will best promote the interest of
the people? If SO, has he integrity and firm
ress (although his private interest should die
tate different course) to appropriate his time
and talents to promote that interest?
1t is undoubtedly true that some men may
and do possess one of the qualifications, and
be utterly destitute Of the other; and indeed
the people are frequently deceived, and e.
lect man to office, who they thought and
had good reason to believe was qualified in
high degree but who, when he came TO be
weighed in the balance was found wanting"
Hence the Importance of frequent elections.
But it is of little Importance that we have the
privilege of electing our rulers, if we do net
exercise that privilege according to its true
interest and meaning.
II is not only the right, but the imperious
duty of the electors TO examine into the con-
duct of their rulers, and ifthey find that their
conduct is such as will not bear the test-that
they have not promoted the interest of the
community-but have, either from want of
knowledge or integrity (and it is immateral
which) endeavoured (although they may not
have succeeded) to have such laws enacted
as would foster and promote the interest of
one portion of the community at the sacrifice
of that of another, and thereby injure the
peace, happiness and interest of the nation.
say it is the duty of the people in such case,
to determine by their votes, that they will not
have this man to reign over them.
Two years since, the citizens of this Dis
trict were governed by the above principles
at the election of Representative.
Why was not Mr.. Kendall chosen? Because
! he voted for the new Tariff which laid an adj
ditional duty on foreign goods, for the further
assistance of our own Manufactures, mot Tor
the purpose of revenue) at the expense of the
agricultural and mercantile interests. And
was that wise and politick Was it honest /?
Would it be proper to compel every man TO
give two dollars more for coat that he might
have the pleasure of seeing few manufac-
turing Dons ride in their coach and six
! But it may be said, that that would not he
the effect. VIII it be pretended that if there
was an additional duty of twenty per cent
( laid on imported cloth that the manufacturers
! of that article would net raise the price of
their cloth Certainly not.
The object of that measure undoubtedly
was to lessen the importation of foreign cloths.
, If not entirely to prevent it. And it requires
no great depth of understanding to know
that the price of an article is always raised or
+, lowered In proportion to the quantity in the
market, and the demand. And the effect
| would be the same, whether the government
lay such duty as that the merchant would
not sell the article for a sum sufficient to pay
the cost, freight and profit, or that it should
entirely prohibit the importation in either
| case, the consumer must resort to home man
ufactures only, and pay their price, and the
| government would lose the revenue, and
smuggling would consequently ensue.
E! A free intercourse between nations is as
/ reciprocally advantageous, as between indi-
! viduals; and the mode of transacting business
! between individuals which would be the most
| beneficial, would be equally beneficial to ma
tons; and any restraints or prohibition of COM
merce between nations would be as injurious
as between individuals, and government
should never lay any duty or throw any OBJ
stacles in the way Of free commerce, except
for the purposes Of revenue. Mankind will
always attend to that branch of business by
which they can make the most, and that
without the aid of government and the peo-
pie have grown the richest under those gov.
ernments where they have been left to attend
to such branches of industry as they chose,
and where commerce was under no restraint
instance the free States of Italy in the middle
ages, and the Hanse towns of the north of
Europe. Although England has grown rich
under her restrictive systems, navigation acts,
and monopolies, it is not in consequence of
them, but in spite of them, and would have
done much better without them. So Ameri-
ca has been growing rich with embargoes,
restrictions, and war to boot; but l presume
it will not be pretended that we should not
have done better without them.
should not object to encouraging our man
ufactories so far as it can be done without
prejudice to other branches Of industry, and
consistent with the interest of the nation.
But has not the manufacturing interest been
already sufficiently encouraged?
1t is said, and believe il to be true, that
their nett profits amount TO from 90 to SO per
cent. would ask what other branch of in
dustry can make such profits? II is possible
that the mercantile do but | doubt it very
much. 1t is very certain that those engaged
in agriculture do not realize more than three
per ceit.
Would il be just would it be wise for the