Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-11-30

then unqucstiOnably Is, tuat tHe protecting poll
-cy according Ia The principles now contenied
for, was never Introduced into this coun-
try until the period we have mentioned.
when il crept iusi,luoosfy into the Legislation Of
Congress in the manner above described. This
W i'll bo made ahundantly manifest to every Que
" no will take the pains To trace the progress at
the duties frou7 ~ per ceut in 1890: mp 4, 25
per cent in 1916: 40 per cent i'm lSll, and ST.
Co. and even 100 per cent IN 1923 and 1882, an'i
" no will merely examine the manner In which
these duties were adjusted in the various acts
here retired L.. As ca,ly as 1920, 30 soon IN
deed the CAPITALISTS who lad relied upou the
powers Of the Federal Government tn enhance
| the profits of their Investments by lee i>iaIion,
hogan TO look forward to It's even'u ai establish
| inent as the settled pricy of the conntry-ihcy
clearly perceived that an extension OF the hp
preparations 10 objects not embraced in tho sI,e.
c,tic grants Of the Federal consultation was the
| uecrssary appeudage Of their system. They
well knew that the people would not long sub
| init To The lcvying of "A large surplus revenue,
merely far the protection OF manufactures; car
rici ou almost exclusively in one quarter at the
Unou-and they therefore sought III the extem.
sion of lie appropriations To new objects, f'r a
plausible aud pOpular excuse for the continuance
of "a system Of high duties. With that ins'iuc-
tive sagncity, which beInuSs tn men who convert
the Legislature Of county Into an instrument.
for line promote of their own private ends,
they clearly saw that the distribution of AN e.
Dofmous surplus treasure, would afford tho sur
est means of bringing over tho enemies of the
American system, to lis support, and Of enlist
ing i'm their not only large masses OF the
people, but entire States W h0 had no direct in
terest in maintaining tho projecting system, or
who were even in some respects, its victi3-.-
No scheme iliat the Wit of man could y ,ssIhly
have devised vas better calculated for the ac-
accomplishments of The OBJECT. IL proposed sin-
ply To reconcile NEIL, TO an unjust system of ma
l..,v
share of the sp0ils in il word, tn levy conuih'.-
tons. Ivy The aid or those who ere 10 divide
the plumber. IL the UnitcG States had constitu-
ted one great naioH, with roUsolidated 10Y
eminent, occupying territory OF limited extent,
inhhhitedb y people engaged in sihi'aar pursuit.
aud having homogeneous Interests, sui u System
would only have operated as II tax upon all tie
other great interests of the > for the bcatht
of that which WAS favored by the laws, IA. Il
when time had been allowed for the adjustment
of society, TO this new condition Of it's affairs,
the iiual result must have been, an aggregate di-
niuution Of the profits of the whole cotn,nuni-
~ by diverting portion of the people from their
accustomed empoymeuis, Ia less profitable pur-
suits In such a 1.-The hope might perhaps have
been iudulged that experience would demou-
strate !he egregious folly IF enacting Ia vs, the
only effect of which would be to supply tho
wants OF the community AT an increased xpensr
oil labor and capital. But il is the distinguish
no iOu'UiO VI hfteIlCdn SYSTEM, unu one
which stamps uron il the character Of peculiar
and aggravated oppression, that il is made APP
plicabie tn n coniederdcv of tweuty-four Sover-
eiSD aud independent States-uccupyiug a ter
iiiory upwards Of 1000 miles in extent, enbra-
eng every variety of soil, climate, and produce
tons, Inhabited by people whose institutions
and interests in many respects diane trically
opposed 10 each other, with habit, aud pursuits,
INFINITELY diversified and III the great Southern
section OF the Union, rendered by local circnm-
stances, altogether incapable of change. Un-
hef s"rh circumstances, a system. which under
consolidated Government would he merely i'm
poliIic, and 80 far, act of Injustice To the
whole community, becomes in this country,
srhems OF tile most iutolerahle oppression, be-
cause IL may he, and has in .uct been so adjus
fed as tn opernte exclusively to the benefit of a
particular iuicrest, and of particular sections
ot the country, rendering in effect the industry
OF ono portion of the oonfederacy, tributary to
The rest. The laws have accordingly been so
iranied as TO give dirrct pecuniary interest. 10
II sectional majority, in mnntaiuing a grand sys-
tenn by which taxes are in effect impose upon
The few, for the benefit OF the many, and inpo-
sed TOO. by system of iudirect ,axation, so art
luuy c"pt'Ived, az to escape the vigilance Of the
conitnon eye, aud mask ed under such ingenious
devices as To make 1t extrmely difficult to detect,
aud expose their true character. Thus under
the pre'eSt of imposing duties for the payment
Il The d-bt, and Providing for the common de-
fence, and general welfare (powers expressly
conferred on II o Federal Government by The
acts are passed containing prOvi-
sions designed exclusively and avowedly, for
the purpose Of securing the TO American Manu-
facturcrs monopoly in our own markets To the
great md manifest prejudice, of those who fur.
nsh the agricultural productions which are ex-
changed IN foreign markets for the very articles
which it is the nvow e., object of these laws 10
exclude. IL 80 happens. that six Of the South
ern States, whose industry is almost exclusively
agricultural, thnUgh embracing n population e..
quail tn only one third part OF the whole Union
actually produce for expectation, forty millions
annually beiDg rs o-tliirds of the whole dOmes-
tic exports Of the United STATES. IA II is their
interest. so it is upqnestionab'y, their right To
carry these fruits Of their own honest industry
to the best market, without any IN lesiation him
draDcf, or restraint, whatsoever, and subject 10
no taxes or other charges, hut such as may br
necessary for the payment OF the reasonable ex-
p nscs Of tie 20, eminent. But how does Ibis
system operate upon our Industry? While i'm
posts 10 the amount of I'D or IL per cent (if ar
ranged Oh just and equal princip!esl must lie
adm ted to be fully adequate to all the legiti-
mate purposes of Observation-Disclosures are ac-
tuaIIy imposed with few ipcousiderable ex-
ceptons) upon all the wtuilons, coitons, Iron
aud manufacturers of Iron, Sugar and Salt
and almost every other article received IN OK
change fer the Cotton, Rice and Tobacco, OF
the South, equal an mn average. 10 about 50 per
cent, whereby. tin addition TO the injurious eff
tecis Of this system IN prohibiting sUtne arIi-
Giles, and discoTaging the introduction Uf OH
ers,) tax equal to one half of the first cost is
imposed upon the Cottons, WuilenS and lrou
which are the fruits Of Southern industry in
order TO secure all advantage in the home mar