Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-03-28
Continued from fourth page.1


of cotton, worth, lat thirty dollars bale) three
millions of dollars, and that we received in ex-
change three millions Of dollars worth OF British
cotton goods How much of oul cotton would
it take to manufacture these goods2 Why, just
twenty-five thousand bales, while the remaining
seventy five thousand would be disposed OF on
the continent But suppose the Importation OF
these goods prohibited, in order that they should
be made at home, what portion of this cotton
would find home market? Only twenty-five
thousand bales, and the remaining seventy-five
thousand must be left upon our hands. Thus, ii
will be seen, that the effect OF substituting
home market in the place of foreign market for
our cotton, would be to deprive us entirely OF
market for three fourths of our productions. This
result is inevitable, unless the domestic manuiac
turer can enter into competition with the British
in foreign markets, an idea altogether too extra
VACANT to be worthy of serious notice; for surely,
if any thing can be considered certain, we may
safely assume that articles which cannot be man
ufactured at home without protecting duty of
from, fifty to one hundred per cent, cannot enter
into compethien with foreign manufactures in the
markets Of the world, where they will, OF course,
have no protection whatever. But to return to
the condition of the north under the protecting
policv. If the rich fruits of the system in that
quarter were greater even than they are alleged
to be, should still think that they have been
purchased at too dear rate. 1t has even there
depressed our commerce, disturbed all the rea-
tions of society, and had tendency to produce
that inequality of fortunes, which may, one day
or other, be fatal to the liberties of this country
Surveying with the feelings of an American
the actual condition of things, should certainly
be disposed to exchange all the blessings which
the protecting system has produced, even in New
England, for those which it has destroyed. I'M
the place of the splendid villages, fourshing
manufactures, joint stock companies, and lordly
proprietors clothed in fine linen, and faring sump
tuously every day, as patriot, should be dis
posed to say, give me back the ships which have
been destroyed, the merchants which have been
reduced to bankruptcy, the sailors that have been
forced into foreign Service the 'plundered plough
men and beggard yeomanry," who have been
driven from the pursuits of their choice into the
gloomy walls Of mandatory; give me back
these; and above all, give me back content-res-
tore the peace and harmony which this system has
destroyed, and will consent that every manu-
featuring establishment shall be RACED to its toun-
dation, which has been built up, and can only be
sustained, by this accursed system. Sir, IT wealth
were the highest good of nation, and pecuniary
profit the only standard by which a wise policy
could be measured, it would even then be more
than questionable, how far this system could bel
justified. But there are higher and more sacred
principles involved in this question, which can
not be safely disregarded; there are considera-
tons of justice, and political equality, which rise
far above all calculations of mere profit and loss
Sir what will it profit you, if you gain the whole
world, and lose the hearts of your people? This
is confederated government, founded on splr-
it of mutual Cancellation. concession, and compro-
mise, and it is neither just, prudent, nor right
full exercise of the high trust with which you are
invested for the common good, to resort to SYST
tenn Of legislation by which benefits and burhens
are unequally distributed. Sir, can any gentle
man look this subject fairly in the face, and mott
perceive that such a government as ours Gnstitu-
ted for a few definite purposes, in which every
portion of the Union must, from the very nature
of things, have common interesD cannot turn
aside from their high duties, and undertake to|
control the domestic industry of individuals, with
out undermining the very foundations of our re-
publican system. 1t is contrary to the whole
genius and character of our institutions; the We
~ form and structure Of our government, that it
should undertake to regulate the whole labor
and capital of this extensive country. per-
severance in this course will SOW the seeds of
dissention broadcast throughout the land, and lett
it be remembered, that discord is not plant of
slow growth, but that flourishes in every soil,
and never fails to produce its fruit in due season.
What spectacle do you even now exhibit to the
world? large portion of your fellow citizens
believing themselves to be previously oppressed
BY an unwlse and unconstitutional system, are
clamorng at your doors for justice, while ano-
Their portion, supposing that they enjoying rich
bountes under it, are treating their complaints
with scorn and contempt. God only knows where
all this is to end But it "wilI not and it cannot,
come to good" We at the South still call you
our brethren, and have ever cherished towards
you the strongest feelings of affection, but were
YOU the brothers of our blood, for whom we should
coin our hearts, it is not in human nature that we
should long continue to retain for you undimin-
ished affection, when all hope Of redress shall
have passed away, and we shall continue to be-
lieve that you are visiting us with hard and
cruel oppression, and enforcing cold, heartless,
and selfish policy.
] shall now proceed, Mr.. President, to exam
inc the character Of the protecting system. And
here, shall assume that the protection it extends
to the American manufactures is something sub
stantial, and affords some advantage, be it more
or less, to the protected interests. shall take
for granted, that it is intended to enable the
A ,,,ar;cau manufacturers TO enter intD that Sic.