The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-10-26
From the Perdteton, Is. c. Messenger.
MR.. CALHOUN'S SENTIMENTS,

nieDt on an abstract question without includin
mat which may have caused its agitation
"ouid De considered by many imperfect an
unsatisfactory. Feeling that such would
justly the case, ! am compelled, reluctantly 1
touch on the Tariff, so far at least. MS NAV b
necessary to illustrate the opinions which
have already advanced Anxious. however I,
intruoe as little as possible, on the public a,
.ehtion' VIII be az brief as possible and vii,
tnat view, will, as far as may be consistent viii
my object, avoid oil debateable topics.
Whatever diversity of opinion NAV exist !,
Ieia,ion 70 the principle, or the effect on III,
! productive industry of the country. Of the nra.
sent, or any other Tariff of protection iher,
are certain political consequences flowing Go,,
the present, Which none can doubt. and nj mno,
deplorc 1t would be in vain 10 attemnt 70 80,
ceal that It has divided the country int 49,.
great geographical divisions, and arr,ved ,bs,',
against each other, in opinion at Ieast' moi in
.oiesl aiso' on some ofthe most vital of uoIiti.
CA SUBJECTS; on its finance, its Commerce. and
..s INDUSTRY SUBJECTS calculated, above all 9th
ers; IN Lime ofepcace, TO produce evc;,.r,o,..
ana In relation TO which, the Tariff h.. nis.aJ
tne sections IN question in deep and dangerous
connicts. 1t there be any point on which ,hs
W was going to say southern sect;or H.. q.
aVoid' as Tar as possible, the n,intnl f.aI;,,.,
0uch discussions are calculated Ia erc;,a T.Lsn
say weaker OF the two sections is unan;,n ,,
1t IS mat It's prosperity depends, w a graat
measure, on 'ree trade, light taxes, economical
and. as far possible, equal d;shnrs. s'oinica'.
inc public revenue, and an unshackled ;nd,,s,-e
ieaVlng ihem to pursue whatever NAV annas,
most advantageous 10 their Interests aPpIa.
rotomac TO the Mississippi, there ara cn,n to
deed, however divided on other no;n,s II
would not, If dependent on their yiola,;on ~
II 'ney regarded the interes. of Their nart;cn,a.
.eoioh only remove from commerce and indus.
10
lowest point that the wants of the povernn,ont
iairiy required, and restrict the apDronr;a,;oas
10 the most moderate scale consistent with ths
peace, inc security, and the engagements of ne
Puol'c and who do not believe that the onno-
sue system Is calculated to throw on tbemr ~
unequal burthen, to, repress their prosperitv
ana TO encroach on their enjoyment
=, on all these deeply important measures
the opposite opinion prevails, if not with eonsi
unanimlty, with at least a greatly nrenonJd-a
ting majority in the other and stronGer ssc,;nr.
80 fnucn SO, that no two distinct nations eva,
entertained moro opposite views of policy tsan
these Two sections do, on all rbe tunor,a",
points to which have referred Nor III, lass
certain That this unhappy conflict, flowing Al.
i 10y from the IarItf, has extended itselrto the
nails OF Legislation, and has conver,ed ~ AZ
iiberations of Congress into an annual s,r uG
between the two sections; the stronra, - ~
tam ana increase the superiority il has aIra.J,,
acquired, and the other to throw off or d;no;n;st
us Dufthens; struggle in which all the n,bIa
ana generous feelings of patriotism are rr.d,'
any suosldlng into sectional and selfish attach.
ments' Nor has the effect of this dapoersn.
CONNECT ended here. 1t has not only divided the
s"o sectiohs on me important point already
questions, the consttutionality of a protective
iiarin' and the general principles and theory of
the constitution itself the STRONGER. in order 70
MAINTAIN their superiority, giving a constrpc'
ZION TO the instrument which the other behaves
would convert the general government into a
cohsohdated, irresponsible government, with
INC lotdi obstruction OF liberty and the weaker,
seeing no hope of relief with such assnmntion'
of.Powers turning its eye to the reserved sovn-
feignty OF the State, as the only refuge from,
oppression. shall not extend these rema,L.
as might, BY showing that, while The etc.,
OF the system of protection was ranidlv ai;snss
ting one section, it was not less ranidIv h., -,
necessary operation, distracting and corrupting
lne otner; ana between the two, subiectnp The
au,nrnislration TO violent and sudden changes.
IN the management of the affairs Of The nat;on
OF OF "nicn we already see fearful symptoms
NOT 90 deem 1t necessary to INQUIRE whefbsr
this unhappy conflict grows out Of true or mis-.
taheh views OF interest on either or both sides
Regarded in either light, it ought to admonisb
US OF the extreme Danger to which our svstem
Is exposed and the great moderation and wis.
oom necessary to preserve it. .Ifit comes from
mistaken views; ifthe interests of the two 500.
lions as affected by the Tariff, be really The
same, and the system, instead of actino No.
9ually IN reality diffuses equal BLESSINGS nd
imposes equal burdens on every mari + orrh,
to teach US how liable those who are dfTarsp,Iv
situated, and who view their interests unde,
o1meien' aspects, are to come TO different con-
.lusions, even when their interests are strictly
the same; and consequently, with what a;.
treme caution any system of policy on@ht ~ a.
adopted, and with what spirit Of moderat;on
pursued IN country of such great extent and
diversity as ours. But if on the esntrarv tho
conflict springs really from contrarietv of inter
ests, 1t the burthen be on one side and bene6t
on Inc other, then are we taught lesson not less
important, how little regard we have for the
interests OF others while in pursuit of our own,
OF al least' now apt we are to consider our ewn
interest the interest of all others; and of conrse
how great the danger in country Of sucb
acknowledged diversity Of interests, Of the on
PRECISION OF the feeble by the stronger interest
and IN consequence of it, of the most fatal .acI
tional conflicts. But whichever NAV be ,ho
cause the real or supposed diversity Of interest.
IL cannot be doubted, that the political conse-
quences OF the pfehibitory system, be It's effects
In other respects beneficial or otherwise, are
80" os Haso stdttuj nor can II De
doubted that conflict between the great Sec
.lohs on questions so vi,aly important, indi-
Gates condition OF the country so distenlpered
and dangerous, as TO demand the most serious
and prompt attention. II is only when we come
to consider of the remedy, that under the as
pect that am viewing the subject, there can be-
among the informed and considerate, any diver.
sity Of opinion
Those who have not reflected on It's danoa,-
Gus and lnveterate character, suppose that The
disease will cure itself; that events ought IN no
left TO take their own course; and that esn.r;
ence, in short time, will prove that the ;n,a.
est of the whole community is the sama 4, =,
ference to the Tariff, or at least. eh.,e,.. \:
versity there may now be, time will assn;l.,a
Such has been their language from tbe ha'';s
ming, but unfortunately the progress or svs,s,
has been the reverse The county,, - s"se
moro divided than IN 1924, and then moe , low
~ 1910 Inc majority may have ;nc,s. 'na,'
1u. me opposite sides are beyond Al smut aseu,
determined and excited, than n, a ,sPute more
period. Formerly, the systsm 10y preceding
mainly as nexpedient; but now VOC resisted
rsI;or,n unequ . unjust and oppressive. Tbsn
,mo, was sought exclusively from The gersra,
sose.ninen.; put now many, driven 10 dssn.;.
' ia,slng lneir eyes TO tho reserved sovsrna'
% ,he STATES as the only refuge. Ifwa',g,.
rom sne past and present to Inc Ga,,,.e urn
snall ma nothing to lessen, but much .s, we
vate the danger. The increasinn ~ agra
men' and distress Of the stanls osrlas-
growing conviction from experie,cs 49, .ne
are caused by the prohibitcrv svs,. may ihey
pally, and that, under itsl eorin., .o"u P'inci-