The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-06-16

Eeods answered the description OF No. l. OF the IN
voice Here was no fraud; but it is manifest that
at the custom house to learn what they contain
I'd, or the error would have been detected. So;
too, the Chairman of the Committee has informed
US, that British factor was indicted for frauds in
the importation of goods during the last summer if
New York, and, under a sense of his guilt and in
fanny, absconded, and has not since been seen in the
United States. But we are no: indebted to the
vigilance of the officers of the custom house for
his detection. No, Sir, for aught but appears, he
might have carried on his trafick in fraud and per-
Jury TO this day, had not misunderstanding and a
quarrel rose between him and one acquainted with
his scandalous conduct, which oceasioned the dis
closure and presentment by the grand jury.
would do no injustice to any one and there
fore here take occasion to say, that the gentleman
from Vermont, (Mr. MaIlary,) has declared his be-
liefthat the collector of New York exerts himself
to discharge his duty faithfully, but has hitherto
been frustrated for the want of sufficient power to
execute the laws according to their spirit and just
Interpretation. If this be so, it is time efficient
measures were adopted it is time these abuses
were reformed: and this custom house, which
seems to be but rail road for smugglers, was or
gained in such manner as to arrest the bold
strides of vice and corruption Ithere be not force
enough there to discharge the arduous duties re-
qured let us send additional aid, at once repeal
our statutes-for the consequences resulting from
the present state of things too injurious to be
tolerated. The American importing merchants II
speak of the wooden trade have, as the gentleman
from Vermont has conclusively shown, been forced
from their business, or overwhelmed with bankrupt
cy; so that but small remnant of large body of
valuable, hgh-minded men, is left to recount the
tales of their embarrasments, while their business
has been usurped by class of unprincipled for
cgners, who consider it meriorous to violate their
oaths to cheat the government out of its revenues
and to trample its laws under foot. The dignity
and insuted honor of the nation demand remedy
for this evil oppressed citizens, robbed of their
just rights by illicit trade demand the parental
protection of the government.
But the fatal consequences reach beyond the
merchant, and strike at the prosperity of the manu-
featuring interest We have seen the establish
ments of our country fall one after another victims
to the capital, and treachery of foreigners, who
have stained our honor, and stolen birth right
They reach alike all great interests, for you
might well say that the giant oak of the forest
will not crush the shrubbery under it when it falls,
as 10 say the overthrow Of the merchants, and
ufacturers will not also PROSTATE the farmers and
mechanics We live together as great family,
and by exchange of the products of labor we are
fed, clothed, and lodged The farmer has wants be-
yond the produce of his land-the manufacturer
and mechanic have wants beyond the produce of
their labor-each supplies the other out Of the fruits
of his industry, and thus it is, whole community
is made comfortable and happy oy demand for the
produce of the labor of each other Foreign agents
and factors, by this system of frauds break in upon
us, and parayze the industry of the country. They
offer merchandise to our farmers but will take
nothing they produce in return. They offer it to
our mechanics, but deny them all benefit of en-
pioyment. They offer 1t to our manufacturers, but
the policy of their country is so regulated as to
keep our products out of her market. While Great
Britain pursues this selfish course of which we
have no right to complain, if can understand the
tone OF her newspapers and periodicals, they hold
1t to be not only mertorious but patriotic to vio-
late the revenue laws of this country and if can
understand the state of sentiment in Parliament it
is FAR from discountenaAcing smuggling While
this state of things exists in that country; while
this determination to force themselves upon us re-
gardles5 OF our policy, and of our laws, continues
we have alternative left but to meet it with en-
ergy, and protect the rights of those who have re-
posed confidence in us. As things now are he who
commits the most fraud, reaps the most benefit.
Sir, cannot persuade myself there is an indvidu-
al in this House who will advocate the state of
things | have described Your laws ought either
to be repealed executed and my Laliss ia tho.
the interest of the country requires that they should
be enforced, and that some such plan as that pro-
posed BY the till is a suitable remedy for the evil
But the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr
McDufie) entertains, as he says, opinion widely
different, and has proposed as an amendment the
repeal of the laws of 1923 and 1926 in other words
he proposes to reduce the duties. | do not com
prehend in what way this is to restrain men from
injuring us who regardless of oaths, and desti
tute of all moral sentiment-men who hold it meri-
torious to cheat, and patriotic to commit perjury
You cannot appeal to the consciences of such men
with any hope of success it is to their fears you
must address yourself; you must operate upon theil
interests, and make il difficult and dangerous fol
them to pursue their career of wickedness any
thing short of this will be worse than unayailing
money is the idol of such men, and gain whether
great small affords sufficient temptation to evil
and they must be made to understand, that the
chances OF loss greater than the chances of gain
The gentleman has indeed had the candor to ac-
knowledge, that his object is not so much to cor
rect abuses, as to revise, and modify the revenue
system, by reducing the duties generally, and his
long impassoned argument has been addressed to
us with the apparent intent to convince us of the
proprety OF adopting such measure. did hope
this bill would be suffered to rest its own merits,
and receive the appreciation, or disapprobation of
the House according to its unbiased judgment
did hope the exciting subject of modifying the tariff
OF duties generally, would not be brought forward
to embarrass IT, but as the gentleman has thought
the opposite course wise and expedient | shall
meet it, not with detailed examination of his
elaborate speech, but of the leading propositions on
which his discursive argument was founded If
the premises can be proved false the conclusions
must be erroneous. | am aware that this subject.
though one OF deep interest to the country one on
which hangs its prosperity and happiness, is in its
details dry and calls for exercise of patience on
the part Of the Committe, yet hope to be INDUCED
with their attention, though may fail to reward it,
Inc t7rih as 1t Is called which means nothing
more than the revenue system, which has existed
under various notifications ever since the forma-
ton OF the Constitution, has occupied much of pub
JIG attention for several years past. The tone of
complaint from the South, against the laws, has
been loud, vehement, and almost unremtted The
support Of or opposition to, the policy, has almost
become the test Of parties; and as often as the SUBJ
lect has been agitated here, land it is up in one
form or another every session,l il brings with il
great ardor and power Of argument into the discus
sion from all sides Of the House. The advocates
OF the policy have commended that since the peace
OF 1910, we are placed in a new condition. the ma
tions OF Europe having resumed that trade, which
fell into our hands by the chances of war, and dry-
en- US back upon our own resources-that demand
for the products Of the farmer no longer exists TO
any considerable extent in Europe and If labor
cannot be SO employed here, as to supply our most
pressing wants, we should be poor and miserable,
Tor i matters little whether man have the surplus
products Of the earth his hands not, ifhe have