The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-01-16
Communications.
PROTECTING DUTIES.

- fRO IECIING DU TIES.
We should have presented the following com
munication to our readers without any remarks
Of our own, had we not been informed, that, at
the meeting spoken of, it was agreed to publish
the proceedings in Boston paper in conse-
quence ofits being stated by gentleman pres
ent, that the Forester papers were closed
against any thing on that side ofthe question.
We heard similar intmation, publicly made
by the same individual, on another occasion.
As applied to us, it is as ungenerous as il is I'M
founded Firmly believing, as we de, that the
protective system is the only one unde. which
the agriculture of New England can flourish,
that it is that which has checked the tide of
emigration, which was exhausting our strength,
depressing the value of our property, and drain
ing us of our resources-yet we have ever kept
our columns open to those who entertained
different views; and the files of our paper will
shew, that the liberty, thus given, has been i'm
proved to a greater extent by the opponents,
than by the advocates of the protective system
We are the more surprized that such a charge
should originate with one who has, personally
had the fullest evidence of our courtesy in these
respects If the subject is susceptible of any
explanation, the honorable feeitngs, which we
have supposed him possessed Of will induce
him to make it.
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY
Mr.. EDIToR-I feel myself happy that
my lot is cast in land of liberty as well as
,enSy, that fortune has so far smiled upon me
to permit my location in a village, the in
,ahitants of which are noted for moral and
religious habits. Though we may some
times have had " rumor of war" circuat-
ed IN our territory. the efficiency of our mi
htla prevents the fear of invasion of any for
elgn foe. We feel as safe as did for a
while, the inhabitants of New Amsterdam
when under the government of that valiant
General, Peter Sturveysant As there are
always two sides to all questions, we have a
few among us who occasionally mistake the
right side, and view the wrong with such in
tenseness that to them right appears wrong,
and what is more remarkable wrong is very
apt to appear right.
Prompted undoubtedly by patriotic mo-
tives, and a desire to settle the affairs fthe
nation in proper manner,an invitation was
recently given out, at the Especial desire OF
several genttPmen," requesting those of our
citizens who are opposed to an increase of
duties son the essential articles of imported
qOoolLenS" to assemble g for the purpose OF
expressing their seIttm ntS on that subject"
at the meeting, am told, after notice was
given that no one would be heard exceptino
those who accorded in opinion with the
moving spirits of the meeting, the subject OF
protecting manufactures was brought for
ward. 1t was clearly prooed by unGnswered
argument, that the manufacturing interest
could not be protected but at the expense
OF the mechanic as well as farmer. If du-
ties to much amount on imported woolens
were to be added to what now exist. and
should it amount to prohibition, then i,
would evidently follow that as our govern.
ment is now supported by revenue. itcosts
the farmer and mechanic nothing. but. if re.
sort was had to direct tax, the burther
would oe too grevous to be borne, though
they were now consumers and payers of du.
ties, Of almost all imported articles.
The closing sentence of the notification
OF the meeting was peculiarly pathetic, urg.
ing all Farmers andMechanlcs" to attend .as
they were Uitatty interested" Before this
VIC h1'i IhC Pl C6ull plIOu 10 Dell6Ee tndt those
of our young men who have made them
selves acquainted with mechanical bust.
ness, and who are constantly leaving town
and finding employment in Factories, or in
villages of which Factories are in oreat
degree the life, did it solely because it was
for their advantage to find full employment
and high wages. One evidence of the bad
effect of Factory corporations on mechanics
is, that two of the gentlemen who.at the
meeting, were most strenuously opposed to
the tariff, have each a son who are directly
engaged in factories, and receive for com.
pensaton probably much greater amount
than they could earn at home.
Prior to the above meeting. | had dared
to rank myself among the friends to the
great " American SYSTEM" but since. INV
faith is small and my hope but faint. | am
not 'CltIing to believe that Ihave been view
ing the wrong side, but "truth must pre
vail'' and prevail it will, yet hope assisted
by more eloquent reasoning than were our
anti-tariff men, when so anxious to demon
strate the injustice and injuries in protect
ing that class of people engaged in this
country in manufacturing. c. c..
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS spy.