The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-10-19
STATE CONVENTION.


held al Faneuil Hall in Boston, on Thurs
day evening, tho 18th inst. Leverett Sal
tonstal of Salem waS chosen Chairman, and
Thomas B. Curtis and VIM. II. Gardiner,
Secretaries. The Chairman in neat and
appropriate address, stated the object of the
meeting, and his conviction of the necessity
of taking active measures TO counteract the
dangerous tendency of the proceedings OF
the late Modification Free Trade Conven-
ton in New York. Warren Dutton, Esq.
then rose and offered series of resolutions
for the consideration of the meeting, and, in
a short, but very pertinent, and Impressive
speech, enforced the propositions therein
contained upon the attention of the audi
ence. He was followed by Geo. Blake, Esq.
who went into consideration Of the con-
s,tutionalty of the protective Tariff, quo
ting in its favor the letter Of Ex-President
Madison. Alexander H. Everett, Esq. then
addressed the meeting. A principal object
ofhis remarks, was, TO show that the protec-
ton of manufactures in this country, instead
of impairing commerce, as many had feared
it would, had given it more powerful I'M
pulse. He stated, as remarkable concl-
dence of circumstances, that, on the very day
that the Free Trade croakers in Boston held
their meeting, last fall, to mourn over the
ruined Commerce of the city, and nomin-
ate candidate for Congress, there were
more clearances from the Boston custom
house for foreign ports than there had ever
been on any preceding day since the
foundation of the City; and that, on the
day of election, when their candidate was
defeated, more ships sailed from that harbor
than ever did in any one Cay before. The
following resolutions were then adopted by
unanimous vote.
Whereas the commerce Of the United States,
during the late European war, had attained TO
a state of great prosperity, and its government
and people, reposing in security upon the ad
vantages which had resulted from a neutral po-
silon, were unprepared for the change in the
condition of the country consequent upon the
general peace of Europe, and unpTepared with
Il commercial system adapted TO new exigen-
ces, and to the object of securing TO the nation
the benefits of its own industry. And whereas
through want Of such system, commerce, since
that epoch, for n series Of years, had been de-
pendent on the variable and selfish legislation Of
foreign nations, excluding from their markets
our produce, and dcluging our markets with
their own fabrics and the natural consequence
of this defenceless and unresisting state of af-
fairs, was realized in the decay of commerce,
tho appropriateness of agriculture, the prostra-
ton of manufactures, the inactivity Of the mo
chanc arts, the depreciation of land diminution
of revenue, and the appalling prospect of uni.
versal embarrassment and distress And where
as the government has been at length awaken
ed to the necessity Of placing the nation on the
foundation Of its own resources, and a system
has been adopted for the protection of Ameri.
can industry, the cheering effects of which
(hough yet in its infancy, and checked by the
struggle it is doomed to maintain with compe-
tition from abroad, and with honest prejudices,
and spurious theories, with interest, jealousy,
and threats of disunion at home,) are apparent
in the revival of agriculture and commerce, in
the SUCCESS of manufactures, tho demand for
mechanical industry, in the full employment oil
the laboring classes, which open to the whole
people career to the happiest destination that
HIS over UCVH EcdCHCu W tiC HhOot idNoiC0 ia
ton: Therefore, Resolved as the sense of this
meeting
LIST. That this suspicious change in the con-
dition and prospects of our country is, under
Providence, principally attributable 10 the poll
cy of protecting domestic industry, recently
embraced by tho government. BY its instru-
mentality, the produce of the field and the for
est finds prompt reward in markets brought
homo TO the door or neighborhood of the farm
err. Our ships are proftably engaged in for
eign commerce, auxiliary to manufactures,
while the unprecedented increase of the coast
ing trade affords substitute for that portion OF
the foreign trade, of which the commercial reg
ulations of other nations forbade the lucrative
pursuit. Manufactures afford means Of profta.
BILE investment to those who arc actively on
gagged in the management, as well as to all who
cpreer 80 avail themselves of the skill and agen-
cy of Others The cheerful sounds of industry
rc-echo from the ship yards and workshops, and
general content and competency prevail in oil
parts of the State.
I'd. Resolved, That great Numbers of the cit
liens of tho United States, confding in the
good faith Of the General Government, and its
steadfast adherence TO a system of policy, once
established, however questionable it might nave
been originally considered by many, or howev-
er opposed to their wishes, have directed their
INDUSTRY, anu iilVeSteu tnclT property W an iHi-
mense amount in manufacturing establishments.
That great portion Of the middling, mechan
ic, and laboring classes have become connected
with and dependant upon the SUCCESS Of these
establishments. So that, in fact, it is identfi-
cd with the prosperity of oil ranks, conditions,
and callings; and that an abandonment of tho
protective system, or such relaxation of its vital
principles as would expose manufactures to a
new encounter with the competition and en-
barrassments which they have as yet barely sur.
mounted would occasion sudden ard ruinous
reverse in the condition Of their proprietors, and
nv the annihilalion of the capital and discontin-
unuce of the labor employed and stimulated by
their activity, would spread the gloom of bank.
rupicy, poverty, and distress, through every de-
partment of industry, extinguish the hopes and
resources of this people, and destroy their at.
iachment to n government to whose measures
thew will have become confiIing and innocent
victims.
Sd Resolved, That TO controvert The consti-
tutional powers OF Congress to lay duties upon
foreign imports for tho protection, OF domestic
industry, is to deny selfevIdent propositions
which are not subject Of discussion or argu-
ment. The power TO lay and collect lmposts Is
express To regulate commerce with foreign
nations is elso one Of the defined objects for
which mposts are to bs laid If such impost
duties are in the natural and necessary moan
inn of language commercial regulations, there
is an end Of the question. II they arc not so,
no terms in tho vernacular language would be
sufficiently explicit 60 convey the power. Had
prOtsciins duties been specified in mary
yords spnhistry .piult s,IuO est that DrOi &c ion