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

te'eu ny tile states, must he within the
scope OF the authority on the subject ex-
Pressly delegated TO Congress-" The COM
uit'ee would recommend this argument 10
( sne candid consideration of the House.
Most especially would they invite to its calm
consideration those of our fellow citizens
who honestly believe that a protecting tar
| 1T violates the Constitution. IF there are
any who have become regardless of the
rights, interests, and welfare of the great
majority ofthe nation; who are determined
That all shall yield to their opinions; who
insist that they are infallibly right, and
every ore else Is absolutely wrong on such,
Ieasen and argrDent can have no influence.
stu, the cause which enables our Chief
magistrate to give us such glowing view
/ OF the prosperity of our country as he has
done must and will continue. The States,
IN t9eIr sovereign capacity, as expressed in
the Message, and cannot be denied, had
the original power of imposing duties on i'm
ports. 1t Is now transferred TO the Govern
ment OF the Union, in the most ample man.
ner. Had the States retained it, they must
nave exercised it ms they pleased, to accom-
piish any object they deemed proper. 1t
might have been for revenue alone. 1t
might have been employed solely to coun-
teract the selfish policy of other States or
nations. 1t could have been exercised for
any purpose which suited the pleasure of
sovereign power. But the States have del.
egated their whole power over imports to
The United States. 1t would indeed be a
strange anomaly if it could not now he ex-
creased Ivy the Government TO which it has
been transferred as fully as it could have
been by the States from which it was de,iY-
ed.
The President has declared, that, "whils
Inc chtJ Object of duties should be revenue,
lhey may be so adjusted as to encourage
manufactures" 1t seems to the committee
that THIS remark is in plain collision with
'he sentiments which he has previously
maintained. He has observed that the au-
thorlty to impose duties on imports having
passed from the States, 1.-THE right 10 exer-
/ else 1t Tor the purpose of protection does rot
exist in Them" Ii it ia not possessed by
the General Government, it must be ex-
tlnct." 'Our political system would thus
present the anomaly Of people stripped Of
right TO foster their own industry, and to
connIeract the most selfish end destructive
policy which could be adopted by foreign
nations" 1t revenue alone is wanted, du-
lies for that object should be imposed. If
protertlon TO domestic industry is required,
let duties he imposed to "foster it," Why
should the cAicf object he reyenue-why
protection sscOHSdry-when the Treasury
may be full: Many, now, apprehend that
our revenue is, and will be, too abundant.
But protection against the most selfish and
destructive policy of foreign nations" can
be secured by duties on imports. By them
alone. Then they should be adjusted to Sc.
cure protection. This should be the primu-
Ty object The protecting power having
once belonged to the States and now ttans-
ferred to the General Government, it may
be used as the good of the nation demands,
TOR primary, not a secondary, object. 1t
ought not to he loosely attached to the skirts
OF revenue. Domestic industry is a single,
great, even Pre-eminent interest of the ma
ton, 1t has been entrusted 10 the guardian
care of the Constitution. 1t now demands
the exercise of that power which the States
have surrendered, for its promotion and
preservation.
The President in his message, further
Observed that in the adjustment of protect
ing duties, the Government should "be guild
ell by the general good" As an abstract
proposition, this may I've admitted. The
general interest, is the interest of each ;and
1t is only necessary that that interest should
be understood to ensure the cordial support
of some who think it encourages abuses
which ought TO he corrected, and promotes
injustice which ought 10 be obviated." He
i also advised Congress that objects of ma
tional Importance ought alone 10 lie protect
ed Of these, the production Of our soil
our mines, and our workshops essential to
national defence, occupy the first rank.
Whatever Other species Of domestic indus
try. having the Importance to which have
referred, may he expected, after temporary
protection, to compete with foreign laLor on
equal terms, merit the same attention IN a
subordinate degree" Suppose the opinion
to be correct, that objects of national i'm
portance ought alone to be protected :" what
then? The President has not, by this gen.
ernl expression, afforded the least aid in adj
|jnsting the details of protecting tariff. If
the action of government could he confined
to abstract rules and principles, little differ.
ence of opinion would probably exist in the
nation. The great embarrassment is found
in making an application of excellent theory
/ to practical and useful purpose. The pro,
t tecting system, the tariff, is composed o.
humble items. These, united, make up the
t great mass Of national industry. Had the
President been pleased to designate few
: items only, which he supposed to possess
! national Importance" or had he pointed
y cessarily high-what are the interests TOT
r local ard minute to justify general cxae
: ton, which it undertakes to protect, mt
: what kinds of manufactures for which III,
o country is not ripe, It atempts to force" W,
J. should then have the light and benefit of Il
= luSiration.
= General theory may be adopted with per
e feet unanimity. It's application to real use
@ its coming down to the every day exertiol
j. Of our farmers and mechanics, is differen
Ut affair. Under general theory, any one ca
n make a retreat and maintain that it has bee
n done with consistency and honor. Theor
IS is best explained by its application to tn
Sc axe, the plough, the hammer, and the spin
x die. The chief magistrate presdes over
OF people, who are engaged in unceasing an
il untlring industry. Congress has for yea
Id and on repeated occasions, exercised
sd wisdom on the tariff. It's hest efforts ha'
nd been made. If errors exist, it wouid coo
c. reasonable 20 expect, that the chief ma