Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-11-24

III oui oPihioh,eo St'S W ''S PoWCi Wouio
be to give up the constitution. If Con-
gress be stripped Of this prerogative and
the restriction against its exercise be still
imposed upon the States, it is quite plain
to our apprehension, that the doom to
our happy and prosperous constitution is
scaled. We consider this question, there
fore, as vital; and we look to the perpe-
tuation of the power which we have la
bored to defend, and its just exercise, to
be indispensable to the preservation OF
that government which has conferred
on the people Of these States innumer-
able blessings.
You are next invited to examine the
subject in its connection with the princi-
plies Of an enlightened political economy.
The system which we maintain rests up
on the following princi pies:
All the means Of human enjoyment,
and all the accunulations of wealth, are
the product of human labor. National
happiness and national wealth are, there
fore, promoted in proportion to the ac-
tive industry Of the community; and tina!
industry is in proportion to the induce
ments to labor, arising from the amount
and certainty Of its remuneration. The
immediate instrument for calling labor
into action is capital. Capital is neces-
sary to furnish the laborer with the
means Of applying his labor to advan-
tnge, whether in the simple tools Of ag-
riculture and some Of the mechanics arts,
or in the complicated and expensive ma
chinery, applied to certain branches Of
manufacture, the modern Improvements in
which have added so much to the pro-
ductive power Of man.
1t is settled axiom, that the industry
of nation is in proportion to the capital
devoted to its maintenance. 1t is, there
fore, thought to be wise policy to null
tiPly the inducements to apply capital to
the employment of labor at home, rather
than to the purchase abroad and ...aiiiiic
in commodities of foreissI production, by
which, the cc."pllal olthe country is made
70 set in motion foreign labor. This is
founded on the principle universally ad-
milted, that there is, in every nation, a
power or capability of labor beyond that
actually put forth; and that its effective
industry is proportioned to the stimulus
applied in the shape of capital.-This
constitutes the American System. 1t in
vites the application of American capital
to stimulate American industry. 1t inn
poses a restriction, in the form of an inn
post duty, on certain products of foreign
labor; but so far as relates to american
capital, or american labor, it simply Of
fers security and inducement to the one,
and gives energy and vigour to the 9th
er. The purpose of the protective sys-
TEN being thus directed to the utmost ex-
pansion Of the industry Of the nation into
every channel Of domestic competition, it
would seem to be maniiestly erroneous to
call such system restrictive, inasmuch
as the avenues of labor in the internal
organization of any community arc much
more numerous and extensive, than those
which belong to foreign trade: whilst,
on the other hand, there are no restric-
tions SO severe upon the occupation of
our citizens, and none that so irresistibly
impel labor into small number of chan
nels as those that are created by the cap
ital and industry of older nations when
concentrated and brought into compcti-
ton with the capital and industry of a
young people in their first attempts to
possess themselves Of the arts that create
and accumulate wealth. A nation that
is devoted to agriculture only, and is de-
pendent upon foreign labor for its manu-
factures,presents the spectacle ofa people
whose industry is confined to the single
occupation of cultivating the soil, and
transporting its products abroad, and is
always subject to be disturbed by the
policy Of those on whom it depends for
the purchase ofits products; but the same
nation, when encouraged in the attempt
to supply itself with manufactured fab
RIGS, releases its labor from the restraints
Of its previous straitened condition, and
is seen rapidly diversifying its pursuits
until they finally cover the whole space
hat was originally divided between itself
and the people that supplied it with the
1t is true, that different system ofpo-
'tlcal economy is maintained by GER
ain school of theoretical writer's. 1t is
;ontended by them, that restriction upon
he importation Of foreign commodities,
inder any circumstances, is a mistaken
economy that foreign manufa cturers
should be allowed freely to bring in their
wares, although they will receive from
IS nothing in exchange, but the precious
metals. This is the system which has
'een lately called enlightened. We, on
he contrary, believe it to be founded on
mistaken views; and that practical ap-
lication Of it would paralize the indus
ry Of the country. The fundamental