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


rious part in vindicnting the freedom of trade.
But where are now those cheeringprospects,an and
hnmatins hopcsf Blasted, sir utterly blasted,
by the consuming add wi,beriDg course OF sys-
TEN If legislation which wages an extermina-
ting war against the blessings OF commerce,
and the bouDiies of a merciful Providence, and
" hich, by all impious perversion Of language, is
called "protectiOn ~
Yes, sir, the very Government which is under
every obligation, human and divine, TO project
our commerce from all foreign aggression, be-
comes itself the aggressor, and directs the whole
power of it's Legislation to sweep IL entirely t. ON
tho face of the ocean. Aud where, sir, nro the
dismal prospects Of the Northern States? The
same power which has blasted the fair prospects
Of the south, has, by the same act rishteued
those of tho north. While you see nothng hut
ruined ci les and deserted villages from the POI
ionac TO the Gulf Of Mexico, you behold the
most animating spectacle Of cities, towns,
aud villages rising up like bright exhalations,"
and as il by magic, throughout tho whole region
of The manufacturing States. Bot, sir, there Is
90 magic 10 all this, but the injustice Of human
legislation which, by process. silent, upper
ceived. and, for a long time, unknown even TO
its devoted victims, has been steadily drawing
away the very lfe-bood Of their prosperity, and
transfusug il into that of their oppressOrs.
l have, heretofore adverted to the extraor,li-
nary fact, that the wages of agricultural labor
are four timos high 10 the manufacturing
States as they In the planting States; and
will now repeat what l said here two years a
go, that there is not n country upon the face of
the earth, whore tue labors Of agriculture are
performed exclusively by freemen, that would
have submitted TO this system Of oppression half
so long as it has been endured by the people Of
the South. The great pressure Of tho system
has been upon the planters men naturally lib.
eral, public spirited, and patriotic. Feeling no
actual suffering, they have too long a nd too pa
tieut'y submitted to this injustice g. oppression
idst the decay of every thing around them, while
the price Ct labour has been gradually sinking
from fifty to twelve and half cents land the
;rofit Of capital in proportion. Sir, am sure
il the tables had been turned upon New Eng
land, she would not have submitted to this pro-
cess half SO long the southern States have sub
mitted to it. The gentleman from Massachu-
setts, MIR. Adans,) has informed US that during
the embargo and non intercourse laws, New Eng
was almost driven to rebellion. Sir, l will do
New England the justice to say, that if she had
been the victim of such nefarious scheme OF
legislative pluoder this, tending rapidly to re-
duce the wages Of her free labourers from ff-
ty..to twelve and half cents day. before they
had descended half way down the scale, her
whole population, if they could have found no
other remedy, would have rsen up as one man
in glorious rebellion.
But, sir, amidst the distress Of the southern
people, they are occasionally favored with some
scraps Of consolation from those philant hropic
persons who assume to understand their condi-
ton and their interests better than they do them
selves. Ii is stated in the speech Of a distin-
gushed sta tesnan, which have now before me-
that the cotton planter make five hnles of cot
ton TO the hand, upon an average, and a profit of
twenty per cent, on his capital. Now, sir, am
myself cotton planter and | know that the a.
verage production Of skilful md efficient plan
tiers IN South Carolina does not exceed three
bales OF upland cotton, Of three hundred pounds
weight, to each hand; and taking the general av-
erage, do not believe il is more than half az
much am also confident, that the average
profits of capital does not exceed three per
cent.
While am noticing the speech Of this gen.
tleman will say word in reaton to an anec-
doto which happened to hear him repeat con-
corning myself Individually. Abiding to the
great excitement which existed in South Caro-
lima in 1928. he was pleased to say that had
contributed 10 produce it, and to induce tho peo-
pie TO adopt the Resolutions that they would not
purchase Kentucky pork. He added 10 ilIustra-
ton, suppose OF the evanescent ebulIilions Of
our patriotism in South Carolina, that he had
understood that applied to one of my neigh
oors to lay IN my supply of pork, and that when
he demanded double price for it, | replied {" if
that,is your patriotism, will buy my pork from
the kentuckinns." Now sir, have no doubt
that this story is quite current in Ken
lucky, and l have only to say that it is
Just about as well founded as the statistical
statements upon which the Tariff system has
been erected. There is not one word or sylIa-
Die OF truth in it from the beginning to the end.
have habtually supplied my plantation by raj
sing my own pork. 1t is no part of my system
OF domestic economy to buy it from Kentucky,
Inasmuch as can make il cheaper
But TO return tn the present condition and
prospects of the south: | will remark, that the
most deporable of all the consequences of this
steadily declining sta'e Of cur pecunary prospe-
rity,is the moral and political degeneracy which
must inevitably result from it. No peonle have
ever preserved, no people can preserve, their ma
tionai spirit q moral energies, under such circum-
stances. Ihe lofty and chivaIrous spirit by which
Tic people of the south have been heretofore so
favourably distinguished, is even now obviously
departing from theU and am perfectly conf
dent that, if the fatal career of this system of
disguised oppression be not speedily arrested;
we snail become the most degenerate and spirit
less of all the people of this Union. As TO the
mere loss Of money, anh the deprivation of the
physical comforts of life, if the matter ended
nero, 1t would hardly be worth consideration.
bnt' when the people Of any community find
mat each succeeding generation is in worse
condition than that which preceded it; when
men are not only compelled to curtail their en-
Joymeh's' out 10 MAINTAIN perpetual struggle
10 preserve their rank and cast in society, aud
e 90 their children for the great purposes of
NE, however Enormously they may co4lend a.
gainst the current of affairs, they u, 81 finally
gIse up, with broken fortunes and broken spir.
us f; and society must sink toto moral paralysis
under the influence Of legislative quackery from
which all the medicines in the world cannot re-
ieye it.
II was profoundly remarked by Montesuuieu,
that, Vt the English people ever became slaves,
they would be the most base and degraded
al nth IL, -