Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-27

nearly, &c not precisely, TO the extent that the
\ aggregate quantity Of manufactures which
can be obtained for il, is diminished. II is, in
deed, strictly and philosophical true that the
quantity of consumable commodities which
can &c obtained for the cotton and rice anpu-
ally produced by the industry Of the State,
the precise measure of their aggregate
value. But for the prev lent aud habitual err
! ror OF coniounding the money price with the
Interchangeable value of our agricultural sta
! pies, these propositions would bo regarded
rs self-evident. IL the protecting duties were
! repealed, one hundred bales OF cotton. or one
hundred barrels Of rice, would purchase as
large quantity OF manufactures as one hun
drcd md fifty Will now purchase. The annual
! income of the State, its means Of purchasing
and consuming the ncccssarics aud comforts.
and Injuries of life, would be increased in
corresponding degree.
Almost the entire cotton crop Of South
Carolina, amounting annually To more than
SIX millions OF dollars, is ultimately exchang-
ed either for foreign manufactures subject 10
protecting duties, or for similar domestic ma
nufacturcs. The natural value of that crop
would be all the manufacturer which we
could obtain for IL, under a system of unre-
sfrtctcd commerce. The artificial value. pr,,-
duced by the unjust and Unconstitutional e gis-
\ lation OF Congress, Is only such n part OF
those manufactures rs " i'll remain after paw
ing duty Of fifty per cent. to the Govern
ment, or, 60 speak with more precision, 60
the Northern manufacturers To make this
obvious to the humblest comprehension, Let
| IL be supposed that the whole OF the present
crop should be exchanged. by the llanters
themselves, for those foreign manufactures,
for which il is destined, by the inevitable
course OF trade, To be ultimately exchanged,
either by themselves or their agents.
n o h.. Il. -. a. 81
the facts Of the case, that New Jersey, for
example, produces, Of the very same dcscrip-
ton Of manufactures, quantity equal To that
which is purchased BY the cotton crop OF s.
Carolina. We have, then, two States OF the
same confederacy, bound 10 bear an equal
share OF the burthens, and entitled 10 enjoy
an equal share Of the benefits Of the common
government, with precisely the same quanti-
ty Of productions, of the same quality aud
kind produced by their lawful industry. We
appeal to your candour, and to your sense Of
justice, to say whether South Carolina has
not title as sacred and indcfeasible 10 the
full and undiminished enjoyment Of these
productions OF her industry, acquired by the
combined operations Of agriculture ard con-
merce, rs New Jersey can have to the like
enjoyment Of similar productions Of her indus
try. acquired by the process of manufacture;
Upon no principle of Constitutional right
4 upon no principle Of human reason or JUS
tice, can any discrimination be drawn be-
tween the titles Of South Carolina and New
Jersey TO these productions OF their capital
and labor. Yet what is the Discrimination
actually made by the unjust, unconstitutional
and partial legislation OF Congress: A duty,
on an average, OF fifty per cent. is imposed
upon the productions of :. Carolina, while no
duty Is imposed upon the similar productions
OF New Jersey! The inevitable result is,
that the manufactures thus lawfully acquired
by the honest industry of South Carolina arc
worth annually, three millions Of dollars less
to her citizens than the very same quantity
; Of the very same description Of manufac-
lures arc worth 10 the citizens Of New Jersey
la difference in value produced exclusively
10y the operation Of the protecting system.
: No ingenuity can either evnde or refute this
proposition. The very axionIs Of geometry
T arc not more self-cyidcnt For even il the
planters OF South Carolina, in the case sup
posed, were 10 sell and not consume these
productions Of their industry, il is plain that
they could obtain no higher price for them,
after paying duties To the amount Of $1,000
, 600, than the manufacturers of New Jersey
would obtain for the same quantity of the
same KIND OF manufactures, without paying
any duty at ALL
= This single view of the subject exhibits the
: enormous inequality AID Injustice Of the pro-
5 tecting system in such a light, that we feel
the most oonsoling confidence that we shall
/; be fully justified by the impartial judgment oG
! posterity, whatever may be the issue of this
unhappy controversy. We confidently ap-
] peal to our confederate States, and 10 tile
whole world. To- decide whether the annals 81
: human legislation furnish parallel instance Of
: injustice and oppression pcrpctrated under the
forms OF free government. Howcyerit may be
2 disguised by the completely Of the process
& by which Il - effected, IL j. nothing less than
r the EnonstrOus outrage Of taking three mil
: lions Of dollars annually, from tic value Of
: the productions Of =. Carolina and transf fer
> ring 1t to the people ofothcr and distant com
{ rnunities. No human Government AN right
) fully exercise such n power. ~ violates the
& eternal prime iple, Of natural Justice. and con-
4 vcrts the Government iaio mere instrument
Of legislative piunder. OF al the govern
; ments on the face Of the earil,, the Federal
r Government has the least shadow Of a con-
= stitutional right Co exercise such power.
= " vas created principally, and almost exelu-
{ sIvcly. for the purpose 81 protecting, improV-
= ing, and extending that very commerce, which
for the last ten YEAR, all its powers have been
D most unnaturaily and unrighteously perverted
b. 10 cripple and destroy. The power 10 " rcgi-
= late commerce with foreign nations" was
granted obviously for the prcserv alton og that
= commerce. The most important Of all tho
ID duties which the Federal Government owes
= o. south Carolina, uDder the compact 90 the
J. Union, Is the protection AMI defence Of her
= foreign commerce, against all the enemies
10y whom u may b. as.ailed Aud ~ Vhai
4 manner has tbs duty been discharged All
y the powers Of the earth, by theircommercial
- restrictions, and all thc pirates 81 the ocean,
2 by their lawless violence, could not have
"a done 10 much 20 destroy OR commerce. ~
/. has been done by that very Government. Ia
= which IL guardianship has been committed
d by the Foderal Constitution. Tho commerce
n South Carolina consists IN exchanging tie
p. staple productions Of her soil for iho manu-.
= features Of Europe. u q a lawful commerce
= n violates the rights % no class IS people u
/ a.. A.. a..