The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-02-02

denotes, should intimate 10 lhe representa-
tives of the people, what particular business
of life has been too warmly cherished
what too coldly neglected. In adjusting
the details of the Tariff, Congress has done
what il deemed best for the general good
To reach the employments of life, it must
co. down to particulars, If the President
is still dissatisfied, it might have been hoped
that he would have designated the precise
error. 1t will always be borne in mind, by
practical men, and they compose the mass
of the nation, that abstract theory, however
SPLENDID, does but little good, unless it
comes to the aid of every muscle of labor.
In what consists the defects of the existing
Tariff Individuals may discover imperfec-
tions, but the collected wisdom of the nation
has repeatedly declared that material
change is not demanded. Nothing better
under existing circumstances can be done.
Then let doubt and uncertainty be avoided.
They are evils next to the surrender of the
whole system.
The message advises Congress that sob
leets OF National Importance alone ought to
be protected. Ofthese, the productions of
our soil, our mines, and cur workshops, es-
sential to national defence, occupy the first
rank" II is to be presumed that Congress
has not been unmindful OF productions les
sential to national defence" But the Pres
idens says, the present tariff taxes some of
the comforts of life unnecessarily high"
They are not defined In the minds of many,
what might be essential to national defence,
might also promote the comforts of life. If
the message meant only guns, powder and
bullets, difference of opinion, even then
might exist, as to the extent of protection,
10 o nE, Id .,
elements, of which they are composed. Its
practical meaning is, therefore, obscure
Iron, it is presumed, would be considered
essential to national Defence" and being
the product of sour mnes," should be pro-
.tected. But that protection which would
produce the material for musket, would
also furnish it for axes and ploughs. a
duty that would give US domestic bullets, is
all that might be required to supply the
country with domestic lead for every use.
But are muskets, and powder, and bullets,
all that may be essential to Irrational de
fence :" An army might be NEST album
dainty provided with these, and yet lie in
efficient in the field, if it wanted bats, and
coats, and shirts, and shoes, and blankets.
The condition of our country, during the
last war; furnishes a well defined illustfa-
tioh Of this sentiment. Various manafac-
lures, then, were considered Of national i'm
portance, which the doctrines of free trade
fotO erase from the catalogue. But a duty
imposed for promoting the domestic manu-
faeture of these articles, for military pur-
poses alone, would be an anomaly in the an
nails Of any nation. That protecting policy
which would supply the wants of an Army
IN war;. must be allowed to operate in peace
Hence the difficulty of any classification OF
interests. while all are distinctly and equally
governed by the same great constitutional
power derived from the States. It is also
to be remembered thatpeace with the world
Is the natural condition of this country. 1t
is not the foreign bayonet that we have the
most reason to aPprehend it is the selfish
and destructive policy which might be
adopted by foreign nations" To 'gnarC
against this, is an object of Irrational impor
lance" For peace or war the protecting
system is equally adapted, and it is believed
by the committee that the best preparation
for national defence may be found in thu
rigorous cultivation of the arts of peace
Our people ought net to be perpetually de
pendent on orders in council or DEGREES o
Emperors. Our country ought not to wait
until invasion surrounds it, and then be.
blankets from invaders, to warm a shiv
erlng army, engaged in" national defence.
The President allCdes to another specie
of industry having the Importance to whicl
he had before referred and which may b.
expected, after Temporary protection, Il
compete with foreign labor on equal terms
This species of industry, in his opinion, mer
It's "the same attention, in ii subordinate de
gree" while in speaking of objects lessen
tlal to national Defence" he prescibes n
Limitation, either as to the extent of Drotec
ton or its duration. The other class h,
considers entitled to the ''same attention.
yet qualified by the expression, in ga subor
dinate degree" This qualification seems Il
render it difficult, if not impossible to as
certain the extent of the rule which he han
adopted for his own action, and the guild
ance of Congress. Instead of opening I
luminous pathway, in which all branche:
OF the Government may move on in nnisor
and safety, new endorsements appear tc
he added to those already encountered BY
Congress in adjusting the detailed provis.
ions of the tariff: 1t would seem to be the
meaning of the President, that after a tenn
porary protection has been extended to a
manufacture for a reasonable period, if it
cannot then compete with foreign labor on
equal terms" it does not merit protection.
This doctrine has been repeatedly advanced
IN Congress, and the Committee presume it
to be thedoctriae of the messag &c. But il will
not stand the test of experiment. Prior to
the late war, the coarse muslins consumed
in the United States, were imported from
India, and cost the consumer about tloe,,t,,-
JfUe cents the yard. BY the war the supply
was cut of-our Gotten mills began to move.
and partial supply was furnished. At its
close, when the India cottons were again
imported, most of these establishments were
ruined. By the tariff of 1916, establish.
ing what was called the minimum duty on
coarse cottons, the home market was effec-
tnally secured to our home manufacturers,
Under its fostering influence they have
fourished and multiplied; and such have
been our improvements in skill, and labor,
and machinery, that he consumer, instead
of paying twenty-five cents now purchases
at home much better article for eight cents
the yard. Large expectations of them are
made to foreign countries. They are Carl
cd to India, China, and South America.
where they are sold TO advantage. But