Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-07-03

Ishment OF tho protecting system. How, then,
Is II To DO accounted for, that tho councils Of
great nation are governed by less wisdom than
those of the most ordinary individual? The
reason is obvious: the farm and tho plantation
Of which have been speaking, do not belong To-
the same individual, and the owner Of tho farm
has the power of regulating tie labor anI dis,ri
bn'ins the profits Of both estates. IL H. nothing
TO him that tue plantation Of another g"es to
ruin. IL he can thereby cause his farm to flourish.
Hero we have perfect epitome of the action
OF the protecting system. What would he folly
and fatui,y in an individual, turns out To- he iu-
Justice and oppression in the Government
suiiiug exclusively from rho fact that the levis-
Iativo power, though one and indivisihle, assumes
to regulate and cou,r"I greet local Interests,
which are uoi only separate, but dramatically
opposed to eact other.
10 urging tho resric ion Of foreign countries
~ prctex' for our own, England precisely be-
cause she IL our hest customer. invariably come.
in for tho largest share Of tho ad captan dem ,ie.
nupciations at The orators and patriots W: q
msintaio tho protective policy. I have a speerh
now heio'e me Mr.. Ciay's,) in which, after nd
vertinK TO tho high duties imposed by Greai
Britain on our grain, rico. tobacco. aud lumber,
u Is said, "and yet Great Britain 10 tho power
IN whose behalf we arc called upon to Iogisato.
90 that zoe may enablo her to purchase our cot
TON"
Now, why this complaint against Great Brit
a
our domestic productions than all tho world he
sides, aud under more moderate duties than any
other nation, excepting, perhaps. Holland3 She
admits our most valuable staple uudor a very low
duty, inviting commerce " ith tho southern
States which has supplied moro than half Of our
federal revenue; aud yet. sir, a. il tho southern
states did not constitute a part Of the Union
We arc hnbiiually told that Groat Britain will
take scarcely any of our productions! TIL.
tru'h 70, that there IS no other nation in the
world that has made such advances 10 tho poll
cy al FREQ trade; and. to our reproach no il said
that she has for is years received two-ihirds of
our cotton under mere nominal duty, while
We reciprorate The civili,y ny imposing ex,rnvn-
CANT duties on tho manufactures wa receive in
exchango' ihe protecting system in England
- tho Work of centuries. Originating in the
time of the third Edward, il had grown with
III" grown ~ tho country. and b-come so in
serwoven with it's whole economy No 70 render
Ms overthrow work of time and difficulty-
1et this work ~ near its Accomplishment The
corn laws ARE almost tho only remaining mnnu
mont Of tho folly and Injustice Of former times
std these owe their conf nuance To- ihe existence
oi a landed a. slo"rary Rs a separate estate in
the Government. But the spirit Of ref RIM i.
abroad III England Ms ", II a. il thus coun,ry &.
hope 10 see the march Of liberal principle II
ius'rated, 10 both heDispberes. Ivy tho contem
poraneous overthrow of the English corn laws.
ana the American restrictions. But, sir, il il a
most extraordinary notion. certainly, that We
i.g's'ate to enable England to buy our cotton. -
fray what legislation Of ours is necessary to
enahle England to buy our cotton? Will any
gentleman inform the? but for our foolish an.,
unjust legisl"iinn, she would he able 10 purchase
some two hundred bales mnre If nur stapIe than
she now does. 1t is no, from our legislation. bu,
oy ne products Of her o'en indsutty: that she i,
enabled to purchase our cotton. This recipro-
ca exchange If productions 10 beneficial to both
parties. but most beneficial to us for the very
reason that wo Obtain the productions of the
cheapest labor. In other words, we obtai,
more value than we give.
But this, in the opinion of tho distinguished
gentleman ts whom l have Just referred, is
great national grievance. For, after y, atine
that the value Of our imports from England Tor
the last ten years had exceeded the value of orr
exports City millions Of dollars, he eAcaims T.
cit IL surprising how we have been enabled to
snatslo, for so long a time, tra'ie SO very unr.
quai! and, again; "aud will gentlemen tel
ME how Il would be possible for this country 4,
sustain such a ruinOus trade 2" IL the honora.
bio gentleman will take counsel from practical
me., VIII refer him to horse traders OF Ken
'ucky Tor an answer 10 this question. Any one
OF this shrewd and Intelligent class Of his ow N
constituents: will tell him that trader who
gives hundred dollars for horse in Kenturky
mud obtains one hundred and fifty for him in
Souta Carolina. adds Just City dollars to hi,
own wealth and Ia that Of his State. instead g,
takirg, az the gentleman suppOses, that ,DucI
from IL Amt, If shis +.rui"ous trade" shouI.
bring annually into Kentucky Ave hundred thou
sand dollars moro than 1t carries out, I rathe,
think the people OF that State would ..su.tain'
the calamity with great resignation and philoso
ply.
The Distinguished gentleman from Massacbu
sets, MIR. ADAMs,) in the report recently pre-
senied from the Committee on Manufactures, and
formerly IN message while he was at the head
oil the Government, seems to give countenanct
TO this same notion. He distinctly assumes that
M receiving this immense amour. of manufac.
lures Tor our exports, we arc paying tribute I,
the Industry If England for our clothing
Now what is national tribute arm NOT YER,
learned in definitions. but I shoul.I say 1t wa,
the forcible taking of the properly OF a natior
.oiihom any equiualent7 Ii there be any tribu,,
In tic exchanges Of our foreign trade, il mus
consist ~ what we give-in the cotton, for ex
ample, which we send abroad. But the ,dvo
Gates OF restriction do no. complain Of this
They say, OH the contrary, we may send abroad
rs much cotton as we please aud so long aa w,
bring nothing back, the osiion pays no ,ribu,e
but IS growing Tirh. But the moment we ann
ply tho country with an abundance of Chez,
manufactures, No become tributary to England
and the tribute consists in the wealth which ~,
ahns add To tho country! liz this ba tribute
sir, ] sbaB always DO willing to paw il. Bn,
with becoming Difference, would barely him I,
ihe gentleman from Massachusetts, that the on
W tribute ~ the case ~ the protecting duty levi
ed by hiis Government on the productions n
southern industry. to sustain and foster tho in
dustTy 0f the north.
will here notice 40 argument which il ba
11t"aiiy urged against the reduction of the nro
fecHng duties We aFe told that the maputac
turing establishments will he utterly aban.Ionet
oil at