The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-10-26

xyn cure itself must appear perfectly iliusory.
The question is in reality one between the ex-
poriing and non exporting interests OF the
rountry. Here tAere 40 exports there scoald BE
ma Tariff. II would be perfectly useless. On
the contrary, so long as there are States which
raise The great agricultural staples with the
view OF obtaining their supplies, and which
must depend on the general market OF tho world
for their sales, the conflict must remain if the
system should continue, and the disease become
more and more invetcrate. Their interest and
thai Of those who by high duties would con6ne
the purchase of their supplies 10 the general
markell must, from tho nature of things in re-
lation TO the tariff, be in conflict. Till, then,
we to raise The great staples, cettoa, rice,
and tobacco, for the same markets, and till we
can find some other profitable investment for
tho Immense amount of capital and labor now |
employed in their production, the present un |
and dangerous conflict cannot terminate
unless with the prohibilory system itself
In the mean time, while idly waiting for lite
Termination through its own action, the pro.
gress Of events in another quarter is rapidly
bringing the contest TO an immediate and de-
cisiye issue. We are fast approaching a period
very novel in the history of nations, and bearing
directly and powerfully on the point under con-
sderalion, the final payment OF long standing
funded debt--a period that cannot be sensibly
retarded, or the natural consequences of it elud-
ed without proving disastrous TO those who may
attempt either, if not 10 the country itself
When it arrives, the government would find it.
self in possession of surplus revenue of $I0,-
0e0, 600 or $l2,000,000, if not previously dis.
posed Of, which presents the important ques
ton, what previous disposition ought to be
made question which must press urgently
FOR decision at the very next session of Con-
gress 1t cannot be delayed longer without the
most distracting and dangerous consequences
The honest and obvious course is, to prevent
ihe accumulation of the surplus in the treasury
by l.nely and jndcious reduction of the i'm
posts; and thereby TO leave the money in the
pockets of those who made it, and from whom
ii cannot be honestly aud constitutionally tax
en-, unless it be required by the fair and legiti-
mate wants of the government If, neglecting
disposition SO obvious and Just, the govern
mcnt should attempt to keep up the present
high duties, when the money was no Longer
wanted, or to dispose of the immense surplus
by charging the old, or deyisng new schemes
Of appropriation or, finding that TO be impos.
siblc, il should adopt the most dangerous, I'M
constitutional, and absurd project ever devised
by any government of dividing She surplus
among the States, "a project which, if carried
into execution, would not fail to create al an.
tagonlst interest between the States and gener-
al government on all questions of appropriations
which would certainly end in reducing the lat
Ter to mere Office of collection and distri5u-
lion y either of these modes would be consider
ed by the section suffering under the present
high duties, as fixed determination TO perpet-
nate for ever what it considers the present un.
equal, unconstitutional, and oppressive burthen;
and from that moment it would cease to look TO
the general government for relief This deep
ly interesting period, which must prove so dis
astIons, should a wrong direction be given, but
so fortunate and glorious should right one is
just at hand. The work must commence at the
next session, as have stated, or be left undone,
or at least be badly dono. The succeeding ses.
sion would be too short and too much agitated
by the Presidential contest, to afford the requi.
site leisure and calmness and the one succeed
ing would find the country in the midst Of the
Crisis, when it would be too late TO prevent an
accumulation Of the surplus which hazard
nothing In saying, judging from the nature Of
men and government, if once permitted TO ac-
cumulate, would create an interest strong
enough TO perpetuate itself, supported as It
would be by others so numerous and powerful
and mus would pass away moment, never TO
be quietly recalled, SO precious if properly used
to tighten the public burden to eoualize the
action OF the government TO restore harmony
ana peace; and to present TO the world the H.
iustrlous example, which could not fail to prove
most favorable to the great cause of liberty
every where, of nation the, freest and at The
same time, the best and most cheaply govern
ed OF the highest earthly blessing, at the least
possible sacrifice
As the disease will not, then, heal ITSELF we
are brought to the question, can a remedy be
applied; and if SO, what it ought to be.
To answer in the negative, would be to as
sert that our Union has utterly failed and that
the opinion, SO common before the adoption of
our constitution, that free government could
not be practically extended over large coun.
try, was correct; and that ours had been de-.
stroyed by giving it limits so great as to com
prehend not only dissimilar, but irreconcilable
interests. am not prepared 10 admit a con-
cIuson that would east deep shade on the
future, and that would falsify all the glorious
anticipatIons of ourancesiors, while it would so
greatly lessen their high reputation for wisdom
Nothing but the c]earest demonstration, found |
ed on actual experience, will ever force me TO |
conclusion SO abhorrent to all nv feelings /
As strongly as am impressed with the great
disslmIlarity, and must add, as truth compels
me to do, centrariety of interest in our country
resulting from the causes already indicated and
which are SO great that they cannot be subject
cd TO the unchecked will of majority of the
whole, without defeating the great end of gov
eminent, and without which it is a curse-jus-
lice yet see in the Union, as ordained by the
constitution, the means, if wisely used not only
OF reconciling all diversties, but also the means
ahu lhe only ehectuai one, OF securing to ms ius-
ice, pence, and security, at home and abroad 4
and with them that national power and renown'
the love of which, Providence has implanted .
Tor wise purposes, so deeply in the human heart;
IN all oil which great objects, every portion of
our country, widely extended and diversified as
it is, has a common and identical interest. If
we have the wisdom to place proper relative
estimate on these more elevated and durable
blessings, the present and every other conflict
OF light character, may be readily terminated
but II reversing the scale, each section should
put higher estimate on its immediate and ne.
cullar gains; and acting in that spirit, should
push tayorite measure of more policy. without
regard TO peace, harmony, or justice, our sec
tional conflicts would then indeed, without some
check, become interminable ex-
cept by the dissolution of the Union itself.
That We have, in fact, SO reversed the estimate
IS too certain TO be doubted, and the result is
our present dstempered and dangerous condi-
ION. The cure must commence in the correc.
ION OF the errors ; and not TO admit that we
ave erred, would be the worst possible symp-
ON. II would prove the disease 10 be ncurable,
Trough the regular and ordinary process Of
eglslation would compel, finally, resort TO
Extraordinary, but still trust, not only consti-
uilonal, but safe remedies
No one would more sincerely rejoice tIinn
myself, to see the remedy applied from the
luarter where 1t could be most easily and rep- ,
llariy done Il is the only way by which those ,
who think II ia ha orl., .,...,s.