Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-20
h9pa. fondiy Cherished " tl.a w.. and tho good Of

4
all nations, OF the por,nancnco OF our glorious in
s'itu'ionS' TO level TO ;hc ground tho magnificent
fabric OF orr government, the proudeSt triumph of
h'nan wisdom, applied to regulate tho social rcla-
Tons OF the CrcgUious animal m1n--,o gladden.
the hearts Of the enemies OF human liberty and
h'pphesS, the dcspots who rule their PROSTATE
SUBJECTS with rod of iron, and " no arc every
where rejoicing at what they presume to be the near
approach of the period which shall prove, by our
disastrous failure, tho dious dogma that man was
not made ior cst-govcrnncnt,-it is, say,
DER tat 40 large and respectable portion Of the
citizens of South Carolina, are sound at heart, aud
cung I" She Union ''thc rock Of political saliva
tion, lii spite of all the inccssant and miscellaneous
iabours OF gears. 1t is triumph Of reason, COM
mon sense prhlic spirit and patriotism, which does
honour 10 human nature.
The earliest step in this career, 10 cxaggc-
rate the distress oil Sr'.th Carolina; and the next,
by bold assertions totry To prove that this distress
arose entirely from the tariffs which had spread
dcSolution the face OF the State Were these
assumptions well founded and the differences lust
aud true, the oNaspcrltion and cfTervcsccncc they
have excited, would he perfectly warranted, and
even the fatal and ;rrcvocab!c course they rccom-
mend, That Is, secession from the Union, III t?,c
event of failure to procure redress OF their rriev
onccs, might bo n tuty-for, "a government is in
s'Iutcd to promote human happiness whenever, so
Jar from producing that effect, i, entails suffering
and wrc'chcdncss on those Whom II operates, it
onght to be annullcd, ''pcaccably, if can--for
cibly if we must"
Fortunately, however, have the most ndspu
Nipc cEiicncc, That grCoer distress, and suffering
prevailed in South Carolina, previous to the cnac-
ton Of either OF tho obnoxious tariffs, than exists
at present. This evidence has been for years pre-
scented To tho view Of tho leaders of those who are
ciamorous for renewing the OF the rcvou-
ton" and ought to have scnccd them forever on
this point. Bat it has been wholly unavailing
ihey still steadily trace their distress and SUFFERING
to the tariffs, in defiance of the overwhelming tcs
tilnony winch proves the charge utterly destitute
Of foundation.
In the winter of 1923, meeting was held in
Charleston, to demonstrate against the tariff, then
under the consideration of Congress, and which
went into operation July |, 1921 This meeting
IN memorial to Congress, assigned tho intensity
OF their distress, which is now charged to the ac-
count of that tariff, powerful reason against
its cnoction. Il states, that
"Property IF al kinds is GcprcciaIe9 beyord er
ample. A feeling Of gloomy dependence is begin
mig TO P'erGH Srery ,che'e in the io,-cr country
ESTATES ARE SACRIFICED FAY THE LAST install
MEITs on THE BONDS GIVEN FOR THE PURCHASE soyrY
" dody seems disposed 10 buY, rhqi crery body is
ANXIOUS TO sell at nay price. In short it is manifest
That the extraordinary prosperity which South Car
DINA, IN common with the other southern states
ENJOYED some years ago. is gone forever; and it will
require all the skill and ndu- try of the ngricuu
rsts in future 10 maintain their place in the mar
Ae, srsn Of the most reduced prices Of produce"
This memorial which was read in the House #
Representatives. Of the United States on the 9th of
February, 1921, is signed by respectable
citizens as belong TO the State, William Dravton
Hugh s. Lcgarc, Samuel Priocau and William
@9ooTook, as committee 10 represent The City of
Charleston.
If l understand any thing of the nature of cv
dcnce TINS document ought to make honorable
men shrink with disdain and scorn, from the idea
OF charging their Distress whatever it may be- to
the tariffs as fragrant deception. 1t has arisen
ana mas been so stated, times without number,
from The depreciation ot their grand sta pic caused
by Inc immense increase of production and exnor-
tNtion, whereby al the markets in the world have
been g!uttcd.
1928, I6l,5sG,592
1927, 279,169,3I7
Such an increase OF gold, plltina, or silver
or oil pearls or diamonds, OF any thing moro
valuable, if such articles there were would pro
ducc depreciation Of prices ruinous to the holder
or producer.
1t is gratifying to find, that tho nullifycrs, not
withstGndjng their zeal, their ardour and their un
weHncd efforts, arc likely for the present at least
to DC disappointed. The people, THANKS to the en-
cFgias OF few patriotic mon, are fast recovering
from their lethargy, and rising in their strength
10 irown down" liz the holy words Of the usiri-
Gus Washington 'the attempts 10 alicuafc am lnyt
u 0r country from the rest, on tn cnfcebte tie sa
cred Ties rAich link t0gcthcr tie rarious partsn
''"c are the advocates OF free trade" saws the
Free Trade Convention. ''Thc argument which
suslainS 1t, rests upon proposition which may not
inc denied. It's thc uuGuestionabIc riuht of every
individual to apply his iabour and CAPITAL in the
mode winch he may conceive best calculated to
promote his own interest. Ii is the interest Of
the public that he should so apply it--Ifc under
stands better than il can be understood by the 20
vcrnment what will conducc to his own bcucfit;-
and SINCE idN cjoriiY IF iBTiriduaLs trN II pr0ner
~ p'cfer'"d, "e disposed In foIoW their interests
anch an apPhcatiou OF their industry and capital
must produce in the result the greatest amount of
pubic good. Let It be remembered that the cucs
ton relates exclusively to the application OF CAPT
tai. 1t cannot be generated by an act of leoisa
ton. The power Of the government Is limited 10
its transfer from one employment 10 another. 1t
takes from somcless fIvourcd interest what it bcs
tows on the one which il Processes TO protect 1t is
equally untrue that such system gives greater
employment to Iabour It's operation is confined
TO the simple change of its applications Laws
which protect by bounty any peculiar species fla
bour, cannot be said to encourage American indus
try-tIiat is, directed 10 various objects"
This long paragraph consists of a tissue of alb.
airactinns hackcyod for fifty years at least scarcely
ono OF which can stand the test of close oxamina
ton. I. ERE NoT-THEzE NEVER wAs-AND THERE
NEVER cAS BE-srcn \ THING As FREE TEADE, in the
sense Of the new school Of political economists
For example, the trade Of the United States with
Europe, in every article, with scarcely a single
exception, beyond cotton Indispensable for her
manufactures, labours under the most severe re-
strictIons. The duties on our productions vary
from 80 to 1900 per cent. Some of our lumber
pays from 400 to 1900 per cent. more thnn similar
articles imported from tho British colonies c. r.
our slaves, between so and - inches pay 43e per
l2O-Coonial IS. Oar oars pay 81 i9 3 per leo
Colonial IGS. Gd. United States batters my Goa
Colonial CO is not this enough 10 prove how
excessively fircical and dclusyc is TO dccl,in,
as the school Of political economists do. on tic
subject Of Tie prevalence Of the principles Of Crcs
iy0dc' i'll Great B-itain!-and the same question
may be put, Is regards trade with the rest Of
Europe.