Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-03

Wherever
tageoosiy exchanged, whether IN foreign or 40
nestle markets. south Carolina produces, OIL
most sxciusiveiy, agricultural staples which de-
rive their principal value from the demand tor
them in foreign countries. Under these circum'
stances, her natural markets are abroad; ano re-
strictive duties imposed upon her intercourse
with those marx cts, diminish the exchanseabie
value Of her productions very nearly to the tu'i
extent Of those duties.
Under system of free trade, the aggregate
crop of South Carolina could be exchanged tor q
larger quantity Of manufactures. by at least one
third, than il can be exchanged for under the
protecting system. II is no less evident, that
the value of that crop is diminished by the pro-
tecting system very nearly, it not precisely 10
the extent that the aggregate quantity OF manu-
features which can be obtained Tor It. Is dim,n'sn
ed. |, is, indeed. strictly and philosoPmca'iy
true, that the quantity OF consumable COMMON,
ties which can be obtained for the cotton aud
rice annually produced by the industry Of the
State, is the precise measure Of their aggregate
value But for the prevalent and habtual error
of confounding the money price With the ex-
chanseable value Of our agricultural staples,
these propositions would be regarded as seif-evl.
dent. II the protecting duties were repealed,
one hundred bales Of cotton or one hundred bar
res Of rice would purchase as large quantity
of manufactures, as one hundred and fifty will
now purchase. The annual income Vi the State,
ITS means Of purchasing and consuming the neces.
saries and comforts aud luxuries Of lie, would
be increased in corresponding degree.
Almos, the entire cotton crop Of South Caro-
lima, amounting annually to more than six mil
lions of dollars, is ultimately exchanged either
for foreign manufactures, subject to protecting
duties, or for similar domestic manufactures
The NATURAL value Of that crop would be all the
manufactures which we could obtain for 1t, under
q system Of unrestricted commerce. The anif.
ciai value, produced BY the unjust and uncOnsti.
tu,lonal Legislation OF Congress, is only such
part Of those manufactures as will remain after
paying duty Of fifty per cent. to the Govern
mrnt, or, to speak with more precision, to the
Northern ma, ufacturers. To make thus obvious
TO the humblest compr ehenson. let IL be suppos-
ed that the whole OF the present crop should be
exchanged. by the planters themselves. tor those
foreign manufactures for which 1t Is destined,by
the inevitable course of trade. to 6e ultimately
exchanged. either by themselves or their agents.
Let il be also assumed. IN conformity with the
facts of the case, that New Jersey, for example.
produces, Of the very same description OF manu-
features, quantity equal to that WHICH IS pur
! chased BY the cotton crop OF South Carolina -
We have. then, two States of the same confede
racy. bound to bear an equal share Of the bur.
thens. and entitled to enjoy an equal share OF
the benefits of the common government, With
precisely the same quantity OF productions. OF
the same quality and kind, produced by their
lawful industry. We appeal to your candor.
and to your sense Of justice, to say whether
South Carolina has not title as sacred and inde-
feasible to the full and undiminished enjoyment
of these productions Of her industry. acquired
L A.. ~ on1
commerce, a. New Jersey can have 10 the like
enjoyment OF similar productions OF her indus.
try, acquired by the process of manufacturer
Upon no principle of Constitutional right-up.
on no principle of human reason or justice. can
any discrimination BE- drawn between the titles
Of South Carolina and New Jersey to these pro-
ductons of their capital and labor. Yet what Is
the discrimination actually made BY the unjust,
Unconstitutional and partial Legislation OF Con-
gress? A duty. on an average. Of hf'y per cent
is Imposed upon the productions of South Caro-.
lima. while no duty at all Is imposed upon the 81.
m,ar productions Of New Jersey! The ;nevita-
BILE result il, that the manufactures thus lawfully
acquired by the honest industry OF South Caro-
lIna are worth, annually, three millions OF dol
lars less to her citizens than the very same guam
tity Of the very same description of manufactures
are worth to the citizens of New Jvrsev-a diff
ference Of value produced exclusively by the ope-
ration Of the protecting system.
No ingenuity can eith.r cvade or refute this
proposition. The very ax,ums OF geometry are
not m,re saf eYiJeRt For even it the planters
Of South Carolina, in the case supposed, we're
to sell aud not CONSUME these produ, uons Of their
industry. 1t Is plain that they could obtain no
higher price for them, after paving duties I" the
! amount of $4,000. 900, than the manufac,u, err
of New Jersey would obtain for the same guam
thy of the same kind If manufactures, without
paving any duty at all.
| This single view Of the subject. exhibits the
enormous in-qna''t, and injn>.icr Of the protect.
ing system in such light, that We feel the most
coDsoing confidence that We shall be fully justi.
fed BY the impartial judgment of posterity, what
ever may be the issue Of this unhappy controver.
sy. We confidently appeal to our confederate
States, and to the whole world. to decide whe-
Their the annals of human legislation furnish pa.
rallel instance Of injustice and oppression perpe-
trated under the f"rns of free government
However it NAV be disguised BY the completely
1 a A. -. =.