The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-14


terror animal ed BY the perpetual thunder and light
ming of countless steam boats the currency sound
and abundant; the public debt OF two wars nearly
redeemed and, to crown all. the public treasury
overhowiBg embarrassing Congress not to find
subjects of taxation but to select the objects which
shall be liberated from the impost. If the term
of seven years to be selected, Of the greatest
prosperity which this People have enioyed since
The establishment of their present constitutions it
would be exactly that period OF seven wears which
Immediately followed the passage of the tariff of
1924.
This transformation of the condition of the
country from gloom and distress to brightness and
prosperity, has been mainly the work of American
legislation, fostering American industry, instead
OF allowing 1t to be controlled by foreign lcgisa-
ton, cherishing foreign industry. The foes of the
American System, in 1924, with great holiness
and confidence, predicted, lst The ruin of the
public revenue and the creation of necessity to
resort to direct taxation. The gentleman from
South Carolina, General Hayne) believe. thought
that the tariff of 1924 would operate reduction of
revenue to the large amount of eight millions of
dollars. I'd. The destruction of our navigation
Or ne desolatlon OF Commercial cities. And
4th. The augmentation OF the price of objects of
consumption and further decline in that of the arti-
cics OF our exports. Every prediction which they
made has iailed--utterly failed. Instead of the
rum OF the public revenue, with which they then
sought to deter us from the adoption of the Ameri-
version, by the vast amount of the public revenue
produced by that System. Every branch of our
navigation has increased As to the desoiltion of
our cities, let us take, as an example the condition
the largest and most commercial of all of them
the great Northern capital | have in my hands
the assessed value OF real estate in the city of New
York, from 1917 to 1881. This value is canvassed
contested, scrutinzed, and adjudged hv the proper
sworn authorities 1t is, therefore, entitled to full
credence. During the first term commencing
with 1877, and ODding in the year of the passare
of the tariff of 1924, the amount of the value of
real estate, was, the first year, S57,799. 435 and
after various fluctuations in the intermediate pc
rod it settled down at $50 0l9 100, exhibiting
decrease, in seven years of IS 779 705 Durinr
the first year of 1926 after the passage of the tariff
1t rose, and, gradually ascending throughout the
whole of the latter period of wears it finally. in
1851 reached the astonishing height OF S95 ZIG 4S5
Now, if It be said that this rapid growth of the
city of New York was the effect of foreign com
MERGE then IT was not correctly predicted in 1924
that the tariff would destroy foreign commerce and
desolate our commercial cities. IT. on the contra
ry it be the effect of internal trade then internal
trade cannot be justly chargeable with the evil
consequences imputed to it, The trul is il is the
Joint effect of both principles the domestic indus
try nourshing the foreign trade and the foreipn
commerce, in turn, nourshing the domestic indus
try.
No where, more than in New York, is the combi-
nation OF both principles so completely develoned
In the progress of my argument | will consider
the effect upon the price of commodities, produc-
ed by the American System and show that the
very reverse of the prediction of its foes in 1894
has actually happened
Whilst we thus behold the entire failure Of all
that was foretod against the system il is sub
Ject OF Just ielictation to its friends that all their
anticipauons of its benefits have been fulfilled or
are in progress of fulflment. The honorable gem
tleman from south Carolina has made an allusion
TO speech made by me. IN 1924, in the other
House, in support of the Tariff and to which 9TH
erwse, should not have particularly REFEREED
hut ! would ask any one, who could now com
mand the courage to peruse that long production.
what principle there laid down is not true what
prediction then made has been fasified BY pract
cal experience
1t is now proposed to abolish the system to which
we owe so much of the public prosperity, and it is
urged mat the arrival of the period of the redemp-
. Oh tne public debt has been confidently looked
try Of the evils with which the system is alleged
to be traught. Not inattentlve observer of
passing events, | have been aware, that among
those who were most eagerly pressing the pay
ment Of the public debt, and. upon that ground
were opposing appropriations to other great inter-
ests, there were some who cared less about the
debt than the accomplishment of other Objects
But the People of The United States have not
coupled the payment Of their public debt with the
destruction of the protection of their industry
against foreign laws and foreign industry They
have been accustomed to regard the extinction of
the public debt as relief from a burthen, and not
as the infection of curse. If it is to be attended
or followed by the subver sion of the American
system, and an exposure of our establishments and
our productions to the unguarded consequences of
the selfish policy Of foreign Powers, the payment
of the public debt will be the bitterest of curses
Its fruit will be like the fruit
I" OF that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
" Brought death into the world, and all our wo,
With loss of Eden"
If the system of protection he founded on princi-
pies erroneous in theory, pernicious in Practice
above ALL If it be unconstitutional. as is alleged it
ought to be forthwith abolished. and not vestige
of it suffered to remain But before we sanction
this sweeping denuncaton, let US look little at
this system, its magnitude, its ramlfcatons, its
DURATION and the high authorities which have sus-
tanned it, We shall see that its foes will have ac-
complshed comparatively nothing, after having
achieved their present aim of breaking down our
lron-ounderies, our woOllen, cotton, and hemp
manufactures, and our sugar plantations The des-
tructon OF these would. undoubtedly, lead to the
sacrifice OF immense capital the ruin of many
thousands of our fellow citizens, and incalculabe
loss to the whole community. But their prostra-
tlon would not dishgure, nor produce greater ef-
fect upon the tchOle system Of protection in all its
branches, than the destruction of the beautiful
magnificent edifce which they surmount Why,
sir, there is scarcely an interest, scarcely voca-
ton In society which is not embraced by the be-
nefcence of this system.
1t compTehends our coastng tonnage and trade
from which all foreign tonnage is absolutely ex-
cluded.
1t includes all our foreign tonnage with the in
considerable exception made by treaties of reci-
procity with few foreign Powers
1t embraces our fisheries, and all our hardy and
enterprisng fishermen.
1t extends to almost every mechanic art to
tanners, cordwalners. taiors, cabinet-makers hat
tiers, timers. brass workers clock makers coach
makers, tallow chambers, trace makers. rope ma
kers, cork cutters. tobGcconists, whip makers pa
per makers, umbrella makers, glass blowers stock
ing weavers, butter makers, saddle and harness
MAKERS cutters, brush makers. book binders. dairy
men, milk farmers, black smiths, type founders
musical instrument makers, basket makers MILL
ners, potters, chocolate makers floor cloth MAKERS
bonnet makers, hair cloth makers, copper smiths,
pencil makers, bellows makers, pocket book ma
kers, card makers, glue makers, mustard makers,
lumber sawyers, saw makers, scale beam makers
scythe makers, wood saw makers. and many others.
The mechanics enumerated enjoy a measure of
protection adapted to their several conditions, va
rying from twenty to fifty per cent The extent
and Importance Of some of these artizans may be
estimated by few particulars. The tanners, cur
r'ers, boot and shoe makers and other workers in
hides, skins, and leather, produce an ultimate value
per annum OF forty millions of dollars. the manu-
Iactnrcrs OF hats ard caps produce an annual value
of fifteen millions the cabinet makers, twelve
millions the manufacturers of bonnets and hats
for the female sex, lace, artificial flowers combs
&c, seven millions; and the manufacturers Of
/ glass, five millions.
! 1t extends to all lower Louisiana, the Delta Of
when might as well be submerged again in the
Gulf of Mexico. from which it has been a pradua
conquest, as now to be deprived of the protcctin,
duty upon its great staple
1t affects tie cotton planter himself and the to