Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-09-30
SPECTATOR.
Observation-Disclosures. 80.

%We commence, in this paper, the
publication of Major EAToN's reply to
Messrs. lngham, Branch and Berrien.
Its insertion is but an act of justice-the
Major has right to be heard in whate-
yer he might please 70 say-though we
think he has been rather Indifferent to
the comfort of us hebdomadals, in inAict-
ing upon us pamphlet of yffty.fre pages.
In our last paper we published an ar
ticle from the "Ranner of the Constitu-
ton" headed "Politics for Farmers and
Mechanics" which, in our opinion, is
artfully designed to excite unjust odium
against the present tariff. AS we have
not the means at hand to dissect the ar
ticle thoroughly, we must content our
selves with a few general remarks only
In elucidation fits unfairness. 1t is ma
nifest that the writer has been studious
disadvantage and effect in his representa-
lions. The rule he adopts is to deduct
from the selling prices of articles in
our markets, the amount of duty
chargeable upon foreign articles of the
same description. if introduced into the
country for sale and thus, for instance,
he would reason that Cheese which in
New-England brings III cents, if the
market were opened free of duty could
be bought for two cents, because the du-
ty on foreign cheese is nine cents per
pound. This, it is true, would be too
strong case for his purpose, but it is
nevertheless the principle he assumes.
So with cotton fabrics there is hea-
Wy protecting duty on them, and yet
our manufacturers can compete sue.
cessfully with foreign manufactur-
ers In the South American market
where they meet Oh perfect equality.
And so with Paper, and many other ar
ticles. But need we show more con-
clusively the fallacy of this writer's pre-
misses ? Is it possible, we would ask,
that we could get English Bar Iron,
according to his notions, at II cents
per pound, or hoop iron at less than
!. than cents, including carriage and COM
missions, if our own Iron establishments
were broken up' Surely no one con-
versant with labor or trade could ex-
pect it.
AS regards articles of prime necessity
which are not produced in cur own
country in sufficient quantities to supply
our wants, we profess to be, as much as
any others, in favour of making the du-
ties as low as possible. But, at the
same time, we believe that the substan-
tial and permanent interest of the coun-
try requires the encouragement and pro-
lection, by adequate duties, of those ma
nuiactures which we can produce. 1t
is the policy of every other nation on
the face ofthe globe and it is impossi-
bic that we can Withstand the combined
operations of this policy but by perse-
vering in it ourselves. We cannot all
be farmers: if we were, we could not
ind sale for our produce. at present,
with good home market, and scarcely
any other, the farming interest is suliici-
emily depressed and if our manufactures
were destroyed, the effects would be
that goods would rise, while our means
of obtaining them would be greatly les
sened. These effects, in our opinion. are
just as certain, as it is now true that
goods of almost every kind are cheapen-
ing under the protective system.