Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-03-28

i which II lmpoSeS-Sne mas pdju HerPropoftlon OF
duties to the government, and bon,ies to the
manufacturers; and in consequence of the dire
calamities which the system has inflicted on the
south--blasting our commerce and Mthering our
prosperity--the west has very neary been de-
Lprived of her best customer When the policy
"a went into operation, the south vas supplied
from the west through single avenu,, 1.-THE Salu
da Mountain Gap,) with live stock, torses, cattle,
and hogs, to the amount of considerably upwards
ola million of dollars year. Undeithe pressure
Of the system, this trade has regularly been di-
m,nishing.-lt has already fallen off moe than
one half, and from a-7authentic return, now be-
fore NE, it appee.s ihat it has been further dmn-
ished near one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
during the last year. So much for the rich bles-
sings bestowed upon the west by the protecting
system.
! We come now to the SOUTH. If any portion
of the rich fruits of this system have been scat
tered there, they have not fallen under my obser-
walton. Sir, we know them Motive see them
Motive feel them not. 1t may be supposed,
however, that we are too full of prejudice, too
ungratetu, to acknowledge the blessings it has
bestowed upon US. Sir, we have heard of men
having honor thrust upon them, and perhaps there
may be such thing as having benefits thrust up
on an unwilling people: yet should think, that
even in such case, they would soon become re-
concled to their lot, and submit to their fate with
la good grace. But, assure the gentleman, that
the condition of the south is not merely one of
Iunexamped depression, but of great and all-per-
vading distress. In my own State, the unhappy
change which has within few years past taken
place in the public prosperity, is of the most ap-
palling character. II we look at the present con
dition of our cities, (and will take Charleston
by way of example) We find every where the
mourntul evidence of premature decay. Sir, the
trembling memorials of our former wealth and
happiness, too eloquently teach US, that, without
some change in your policy, the days Of our pros
perty care numbered" Sir, it is within my own
experience, that, in the devoted city in which my
lot has been cast, thriving foreign commerce
was, within few years past, carried on direct to
Europe We had native merchants, with large
capitals, engaged in the foreign trade. We had
thirty or forty ships, many OF them built, and all
owned in Charleston, and giving employment to
a numerous and valuable body Of mechanics and
Itradesnon. Look at the state Of things now =
Our merchants bankrupt or driven away-their
capital sunk or transferred to other persuts-our
shpyards broken up-our ships all sold!- yes,
Sir, | am told the very last of them was few
months ago, brought to the hammer-olr mechan-
ice in despair; the very grass growing in our
streets, and houses falling into ruins; real estate
reduced to one third part of its value, and rents
almost to nothing. The commerce. which we
are still permitted to enjoy, diverted from its
proper channels, carried on with borrowed CAPT
tall and through agents sent among US, and main
tanned by the tariff policy, bearing off their profits
1 to more favored lands eating out cur substance
and leaving to our own people the miserable
crumbs which fall from the table ofther prosper
|ity. If we fly from the city to the country, wha
do we there behold? Fields abandoned; tn,
lhospitable mansions of our fathers deserted; ag
iculture dropping; our slaves, like their masters
working harder, and tareing worse; the plante
striving, with unavaing efforts, to avert the ruiz
which is before him. Il has often been nv lot
Sir, to see the once thriving planter reduced II
despair; cursing his hard fate, gathering up tn
small remnants of his broken fotune-and, witt
his wife and his little ones, tearing himself from
the scenes Of his childhood and the bones Of hi
ancestors to seek, In the wilderness, that reward
for his industry, of which your fatal policy ha
4. deprived him.
!, Sir, when we look at our fertile fields, ant
!, consider the genial climate with which CO.
D has blessed the South-when we contemplate
S the rare felicity Of our position, as the produ
e GERS of an article, which, under a system c
4 free trade, would command the markets c
a the worlds it not enough to fill our heart
), almost to bursting to find the richest blessing
[ that an indulgent Providence ever showere
: down upon the heads Of any people, torn fro1
= us by the cruel policy of our own government
: to find the bounties of Heaven thus blasted b
. the hand of man9 Sir, will not denv ths
4 there are other causes besides the tariff, whic
:. have contributed to produce the evils whic
e have depicted. Trade can to some cxten
d be carried on with greater facility at Ne
e York, and cotton may be raised more profits
l. bly, in Alabama; but, these advantages woul
/ not have broken up the commerce or depre
S sed the agriculture of South Carolina, viii
n an unrestricted intercourse with foreign nj
e tons, enabled US to realise the most moderat
profits. Men do not quit their accustome
emPloyments, or the homes of their father
! for any small addition to their profits, 1t
!, only when restriction has reached a poir
q which leaves the door still open to one, Will
it closes it against the other, that this result
i produced; and, therefore it is, that a rapi
: transfer of capital and population IS now ad
D ded to the other evils with which the old State
/ are afflicted.
j, In this condition of the country, where
4 there to be found fulfilment of the promise
n held out to the south in lS2A9 We were the,