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

dPVIIUt.uTu I
lating commerce as well as tho other powers
To surrender this important principle, 1t Is
would be 10 surrender all power,
and 10 render tho government unlimited ana
dcs potic, and TO yield it up, in relation TO ihe
particular power in question, would be IN TACT
10 surrender the control of the whole industry
and capital of the country to the general gov
ernment and would end in placing the weaker
section in colonial citation with the stronger
For nothing are more dissimllar IN their nature,
or may be more unequally affected by the same
laws, than different descriptions of labor and /
property and it taxes, by increasing the |
amount and changing tho intent only, may be
perverted in fact, into system of penalties
aud rewards, it would give all the power that
could be desired 10 subject the labor ard prop
orty of the minority TO the viii of the majority,
10 be regulated without regarding the interest
of the former in subserviency to the will Of the
latter. Thus thinking, il would seem unrea.
sonable to expect, that any adjustment based
on the recognition of the correctness.o of con-
struction Of the constitution, which would ad
nit the exercise of such power, would satisfy
the weaker Of the two sections, particularly
with its peculiar industry and property, which
experience has shown may be so injuriously
affected BY its exercise. Thus much for one
side.
The jus: claims Of the other ought to be
equally respected. Whatever excitement tha
system has Justly caused in certain portions of
our country, hope and believe all will con
ceive that the change should be made with the
least possible detriment to the interests of those
whe may be liable TO be affected by it, consist
emily with what is justly due TO others and the
principles of the constitution. To effect this
will require the kindest spirit of conoiliation,
and the utmost skill but even with these, it
i'll ho ir,,,,OcsiiNle IN aEa
out shock greater or less; though | trust, if
iudiciously Effected it will not be without
many compensating advantages Thst there
will be some such cannot be doubted II will,
at least, he followed by greater stability, and
will tend to harmonic the manufacturing with
all of the other great interests of the country,
and bind the whole in mutual affection. But
these are not all. Another advantage OF essen.
| tial importance to the the ultimate prosperity
of our manufacturing industry will follow. IL
aoiU cheepen production and in that view
the loss of any one branch will be nothing like
in proportion to the reduction of duly on tina,
particular branch Every reduction will, in
fact operate as bounty TO every other branch
except the one reduced and thus the effect Of
a general reduction will be TO cheaper uuiver-
sally the price of production, by cheapening
living, wages and materials so as to give. il
not equal profits after the reduction, profits by
no means reduced proportionally to the duties
an effect which, as it regards the foreign mar.
ket, is Of the utmost Importance.
1t must be apparent reflection, that the
means adopted 10 secure the home ket for
our manufactures, are precisely the opposite Of
those necessary to obtain the foreign. In the
former, the increased expense of production in
consequence of system of protection may be
more than compensated by the increased price
| at home of the article protected; but, in the
| latter this advantage is lost, and as there is no
other corresponding compensation, the in
/ creased cost of production must be a dead loss
in the foreign market. But whether these ad.
vantages, and many others that might be men
toned, will ultimately compensate to the full
extent or not the loss TO the manufacturers on
the reduction of The duties, certain il is that
wo have approached point at which a great
| change cannot be much longer delayed and
that the more promptly 1t may bo met, tho less
excitement there will be, and the greater leis.
ure and calmness for cautious and skillful op-
GRAFTON in making the transition ; and which
becomes those more Immediately interested
duly 10 consider. Nor ought they to overlook
in considering the question, the different char.
acter of the claims Of the two sides. The one
asks from the government no advantage, but
simply to be let alone in the undsturbed pos
session of their natural advantages, and 10 Sc
Cuic WHICH, as idi as was CONSISTENT with Inc
other objects of constitution. was one Of their
leading motives in entering into the Union
while the other side claims, for the advancement
of THEN prosperity, positive interference Of the
government. In cases, on every principle of
fairness and justice such interference ought TO
be restrained within limits strictly compal ible
with the natural advantages Of tho other. He
who, looking to all the causes in operation the
near approach of the final payment of the pub.
lie debt the growing disaffecton and resist
anse TO the system, in so large section of the
country; the deeper principles on which oppo-
sltiou TO it is gradually turning; must be in
deed infatuated not TO see great change una
voidable and that the attempt to elude or
much longer delay it, must finally but increase
the shock, and disastrous consequences which
may follow.
In forming the opinions have expressed,
have not been nctuated by an unkind feeling
towards our manufacturing interest | now
am, and ever have been decidedly friendly to
them, though cannot concur in all the meas. !
ures which have been adopted to advance them.
believe considerations higher than any ques.
ton OF mere pecuniary interest, forbids their
use But subordinate TO these higher views OF /
policy. regard the advancement of mechan- |
cal and chemical improvements in the arts with |
feelings little short of enthusiasm not only MS |
wealth, but as the great means Of charging the |
domain of man over the material world and. |
thereby, of laying the solid foundation of
highly improved condition Of society, morally |
and politically, fear not that VIC shall extend
our power too far over the great agents of ma. !
ture; but on the contrary, consider such en-
largements OF our power, as tending more GER
family and powerfully TO better the condition
OF our race, than any one of the many powerful |
causes now operating to that result. With
these Impressions, not only rejoice at the cen.
eral progress of the arts in the world, but in
theIr advancement in our own country and as
far as protection can be incidentally afforded
IN the fair and honest exercise Of our constitn.
tlonal powers, think now, as have always
done, that sound policy, connected with the So
cnrity, independence, and peace of the country.
requires them TO be protected, but that VIC can.
mol go single step beyond without leonardo.
ing our peace, our harmony. and our liberty
considerations OF Infinitely more importance
sibly be. P0'
IN thus placing my opinion before the public.
have not been actuated by the expectation of !.
changing the public sentiment. Such a mo
I'VE, on question so long agitatcd and so DO.
set with feelings of prejudice and interest.
would argue on my part an insuferable vanity.
mo profound ignorance Of the human heart
10 avoid, as far as possible. tine mputatons off
'ither, ] have confined my statement on The
many and important points on which | have
ION of my opinion, without advancing any
ther reasons 10 sustain them, than what APP