The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-02-09
WHOLE NO. 3O19.


tion must be confined TO the warm regions of
our country, where the great staples of other
parts are uncongenial. But it must be reject
ed according to the rule. Its production 10
local. not general.
The same may be said of cotton and wool
of every article named in the tariff The
greatest and most valuable productions of do
nestle industry are more or less local in their
origin-not general Hence, if the rule is, that
every portion OF the country must alike contri.
butte 10 the production of an article which the
Constitution will low to be protected, there
never can be protecting tariff at all : human
wisdom could not devise one which would con.
fer the least benefit on the country.
The rule that any particular object of do
nestle industry must possess " national impor.
tance' to entite it TO protection, may be safely
adopted, if properly understood and applied
broad view must be taken of the condition of
our country, Of its productions, of its various
! business, of its perpetually blending and ming.
ling interests. We must see the mutual rela.
tions which exist between the narrowest sec.
lions of our country, and ascertain how widely
and generally the various productions of do
nestle industry are distributed among the peo-
Pile. We should ascertain, for the practical
purpose of legislation, what articles of domes.
tic production, great or small, may be requir-
ed for general use; what articles the people
want; what their comfort and convenience de-
mand what articles are gathered up and dis.
tributed by the trade, business, and commerce
of the country.
The name of the articles may be humble
it may be broad-cloths, wood screws, thimbles,
bar iron, steam engines, or the fabrics of cotton.
But whatever its name, the right to protection
must be considered with reference to the great
principles before mentioned. By these princi.
Piles, 1t is believed the present tariff can be full
ly sustained
The President has advised Congress that the
tariffs considered by almost all as defective in
many of its parts. Suppose this correct it is
proper TO inquire whether greater perfection
can be obtained? If so, how? The President
has left Congress unadvised. The representa-
tiVes of the people have recently, after their
maturest consideration, come to their best re-
suit The details may be imperfect. ASS
system, it "works we'll" Those whose inter-
ests are involved are generally satisfied. II 10
subject of SO much delicacy, that it should
be touched with the utmost caution" The
committee must be fully convinced that i'm
provement can be made, or they cannot, with
proper respect to the Extended interests it
involves" hazard an effort.
Such is the "in6rmity of our NATURE" that
the enemies of the protecting system would re-
oice to have the benefit of little" likes and dis
likes to aid them in their attack.
The President also expresses his opinion, that
the effects of the present tariff are doubtless
overrated, both in its evils and advantages. -
The committee are confident that its eUits are
most unreasonaby " overrated." Its advan.
tages are so manifest, that they have been, in
the estimation of many, too greatly underval.
ued
The President advises US, that the decreased
price of raw material, manufactured articles,
DrOVISiopS and lands ariena from, ssdpan.
er and more pervading than the tariff of the
United States " He supposes " it may, in a
measure, be attributable TO the increased ualus
of the precious metals" The committee are
unable to say how far this remark may apply
to other countries. AS applied to this country,
it is clearly erroneous Appreciation in any
commodity, gold, silver, corn, or lumber, de.
Ponds in great degree. on abundance or scar
city. lfcurrcncy, whether composed of silver,
gold, or bank notes, is plenty, the nominal price
OF all articles required for general consumption
0iu rise, because the owners of currency must
use it for profit. The greater the plenty, the
more it will be used. In such case, less profit
will satisfy. This cause enhances the price of
every thing that currency purchases; for it
must and will be employed. 60 The precious
metals are the base Of our national currency.
Our commercial emporiums are filled with
them Exchange on foreign nations was new.
err lower; and fit seems to be against us, it is
only because we have, By lac, established a re-
lative value between silver and guild which tho
rest of the world will not adopt. 1t cannot,
therefore, be supposed tina; il" tho reduced price"
of domestic productions is caused by 6 the in
creased value" of the precious metals, 1t Is to
be attributed TO domestic competition, and to
an addition 10 the great supply of the world
and that the advance in the price of cotton,
and the steady support of other agricultural
products, is owing 10 the diversified employ
ments encouraged by the protecting system.
Had the precious metals " incrcased in value,'
the benefits of The tariff would have been far
more pe'spicuous. Prices would have been
lower still. The tendency of such opinions Of
the President, as to the cause of the low
prices of domestic manufactures, is to ex-
cite prejudice against the protecting system, to
render it, in the estimation of our felow-citi-
zens, an object of little Importance. The error
of such opinions, the committee considered it
their duty to expose.
Tho President has informed US that /" the
best well as fairest mode of determining
whether, from any just considerations, partic-
ular interest ought TO receive protection would
be to submit the question singly for elaboration.
If after due examination Of its merits, uncon.
nected with extraneous considerations, such as
a desire to sustain general system, or TO pur.
chase support for a different interest, it should
enlist in its favor a majority of the representa-.
tives of the people, there can be but little dan.
ger of wrong or injury in adjusting the tariff
with reference to its protective effect" Tho
! committee pass over she caution against" ex-
traneous considerations = that will be duly ap.
preciated by the representatives of the people.
Tho suggestions of the President, which relate
to the manner in which protecting tariff
should be formed the committee believe, can.
not be adopted. If such views had prevailed
since the adoption of the constitution, no tar:
! if for the protection of domestic industry wonld
have existed. Ifthey now prevail in all branch
es of the government, the tariff has no escape
| from total destruction.
The trainers of our constitution were equal.
/ ly distinguished for profound intelligence and
the purest patriotism. In their great design to
provide government for this republic which
should promote and secure the various inter-
ests of every portion, did they adopt single
provision but with open and avowed desire to
mako general system3 Did not every State
present in bold relief its separate claims and