Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-08-30

iui ness of the revenue cutters and other vessels ~
s'anty engaged in crcunnav atin the b, ,sh Islands
yet every attempt 10 suppress smuggling has
aborve. Nothing is or be more demoralizna thar
s business. All who either directly or indirectly LEM
their assistance to violations of the revenue lose ,bo
respectior the laws; by being compelled to resort to ov
habits of cunning and artcc, cvade ,he,
princples completely undermined and their honest,
nd integrity yield TO the strong temptations and seduc
i've prospects of obtaining aHucncc without either in.
dustry or economy. They corrupt the manners anil
morals of every class with which they are connected
and diencss, dssoucness and dcpravitv spread their
bancful influence around them.
IN the second place, great moral evil produced by
The sudden Changes to which manufacturing industry :;
subject Ef1er Invention, even the slightest improve
ment ia>hachdety, may and frequently do in single
day. enable the manufacturer dispense with the labour
of hundreds. The workmen are turned out of cnnlov
ment, and left destitute of the means of subsistence
surrounded by their families, by poverty and wretch,
cdness, they sometimes driven BY despair into the
PePe'ra'ion OF crime-sometimcs they become pana.s
to the vice and debauchery of others sometimes they
are thrown upon the parish and drag into misery and
want those parishioners who before this accession 70
er burdens could scarcely procure by hard labour and
rigid frugality wrccthcd pauce for their wives and
children
In TIC contemplation of tue distressing consequences
eiat How from tins SYSTEM apt to forget that we
nave neither leisure nor ability mnutcy TO investigate
H. ana that we must conine ourselves exclusively TO
ooJecuohs oil very general character. Having point
eu out some OF the moral evils resulting this policy
we sa now shew the political evils which attend in its
uain' And here we shall urge objection which is
decisive with US, and would of itself independently
vi all otcrs induce us TO every cxcrtion To prevent
IL ocihg ena'led on this happy countryside bloody laws
winch nations lave been compelled 10 enact 10 suppress
smuggling. The penal code of Great Britain is fillll
with statutory provisions disgracefu 10 people that
boast OF their humanity and liberty. Excise Officers
are invested with daPgereGs o expressing and
tyranptslng Oyer &c Citizens, by hrciby entering their
houfe starch of goods supposed have been landed
witlfeht paying the duties No of men, should in
Tree Government and among free people, possess the
authority which has been intrustcd TO them The
peace Ct families and the sanctity of private dwell
ngs should neither be disturbed nor violated cxcept in
cases of extreme egent necessity; AMI our citizens
would never submit to the insult indignv nd abuse o
power, Which they would experience from this priyi,
egea-class No manwho considers for one moment the
number of abourers that must frequently be deprived
IL
who reflects on the ascendancy which wealthy aris
tocrat can obtain over the worfnen and artfccrs en-
poycd by him; WHO has witnessed the degrading and
debasinS influence which he exercises over them: who
thinks of the prostraon of the spirit of pride and indie
pcndence which should always characterize an Amer
can and frceman man who knows any thing of the
immense expenditures that would be required TO
enforce the laws, who is not blinded by preu-
loo into
system firmly adopted as ''Ametican Po,cyn With
coast as extensive not all The ships If the British
Navy constantIy employed, would be able to carry
il into effect.
Other laws are TO be found in the British code, res
tricting The liberty of the citizen with the same view
and for the same purpose, the protection of domestic
manufactures, which utterly Incompatible with any
other tlan e despotic genius of Ibis restrictive sys
ten. man who refuses work for the usual tguges
may be sentenced to months imprisonment in the
House of Correclon-aud even the number of work,
ing hours is prescribed by statute. The rights of the
poorer classes of society trampled under foot with
insoence and contempt, and il has frequently happened
that when in consequence of the breaking up of man
ufacturng establishment the arfcers arc left without
employment and have 10 depend on the parish for sup
port, that from the nadequacy of their allowance com
bined with the restrictions upon the importation grain
which is never admitted till the high price of bread
stus indicates approaching famine, the whole coun-
try becomes convulsed with instructions and domestic
dissentions We reasonably expect this last
evil TO occur in these United States, but il only illus
raes the dreadful effects resulting from the ideness
tue people. We hope that shall afford REPUTATION
of the tite maxim, that no nation proftcd by The
experience OF others we atter ourselves THAT the Anne
rican Government by pursuing wise and enlightened
policy may set an example that will be followed by all
nations. We have experienced the advantages flow
ing from t!.c >Systcm which have adopted have
hitherto exchanged rude produce for the rnanufac
lures OF others; our merchants have carried ex
tcnsvc and lucrative commerce with foreign powers
our mechanics and agl4culluyi,s have prospcrcI Our
population is spreading Itself tie surface of tho
empire, and the wealth our citizens amassiDg il
every section of tie Union the tranquility, happiness
and contentmcnty that universally prevail conclusive