The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-05-30
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM

A large and respectable meeting Of citizen.
friendly TO the continuance Of the protective sys
TEN, wa. held at the Exchange Coffee House. Bos
ton, on "Wednesday evening last, at which the
Hon Charles Wells was appointed Chairman, and
Russell Sturgis. Esq. Secretary and the following
resolutions adopted unanimously.
Whereas from the adoption Of the Constitution
CT the United States to the present time. the ma.
tional legislation has been uniformly directed Ia
the protection and encouragement Of the ministry
OF the country IN its various branches Of a1rcul.
ture. commerce and manufactures; and
Whereas, very large proportion Of the proper
~ Of the citizens of the United States in these
three great departments Of industry has grown up
undet this legislation, AMI consists in iEvestme nts
made IN reliance upon lis cantnuance-fherelu
Resotred, That the proposal of the and
un.ried theory, thst Government not in its lTs-
lation to have any regard to the industry of the
people. is highly dangerous and alarming.
Resotred That each general branch of industry,
and the property embarked in it. and the persons
who pursue it, are equally with every other, en-
titled to be protected and encouraged by the laws
Res0I:ed, That every branch of protective en-
ployment being intimately connected with every
other, the encouragement protection and ADVANCE
mcnt Of any one branch, have direct tendency to
promote the success Of all the others.
Resolred, accordingly, that we have Witnessed
with much concern and al .ety the various propo-
sitons brought before the present Congress, calcu-
lated to unsette our legislation, and apparently de-
signed to reverse the policy hitherto pursued by
this country and always adhered to by every other
and to sprt disaster and ruin through the ranks
of those whose industry is employed, or whose
property is invested in our domestic useful arts
Resolved, That in the opinion Of this meeting,
the bill recently reported by the ChairmsR Of the
Committee Of Manufactures of the Senate of the
United States, goes quite as far. in the reduction
of duties en- imported articles Of kinds similar TO
those produced in the United States, and in modi-
fying the present tariff, as is consistent with not
merely the prosperity but the maintenance, and
very existence OF some of the most important
branches Of manufacturing and mechanic occupa-
tions.
Resolred. That as the several tariff laws adopt
ed al different and distant periods in years past,
were passed after much discussion, with the view
To their adjustment on principles Of mutual coW'-
promise among all interests in all sections OF the
country. any essential departure from the prlnci-
Piles and spirit Of those laws, in respect to any par
ticular branches Of business. would be violation
of the good faith of the government.
Resolued, That manufactures and mechanic arts
which are intimately connected and blended to-
gether. and indeed essentially the same. are not
the least important among the three great divs-
ions of the productive pursuits Of the community
in reference either to the amount OF property en-
barkcd, the number Of persons employed, or the
general progress and prosperity Of the country
and that every attack upon these, or any neglect
III tHcii OH tnc put VI tHc 10 w
structive both to them and TO the other great
branches Of production.
Resolved, That the tariff Of duties recommended
by the Secretary of the Treasury would, If adopt
ed by Congress, Totally suppress the two great
branches Of industry, the growing and manufactur-
ing Of wool that more than lt0,n0t' 600 OF capt.
tai invested in. these interests would be wholly de-
stroyed that an incaculable amount Of distress
would ensue to all classes Of the community; and
that no other interest could expect long to enjoy
protectos after it should be withdrawn from these
Resolued, That experience has fully demonstrate
ed that so long as the importation of woollen goods
long period has been, To foreigners. the minimum
principle in levying the duties, is vitality important
to the protection Of the revenue. of the domestic
manufactures, and of TIE American importer; and
that. without that principle no rate OF ad Uatofem
duties will be effectua to this end and according
", that we view with fearful apprehension the va
rious propositions which have been made in Con-
gress to abandon the principle.
Resolved, That Wm. w. Stone, Isaac Parker,
Robert Rogerson, George II. Kuhn Joshua Clapp,
Abbot Lawrence, and Jonas B. Brown, be Com
mittee Of Correspondence, to open communca-
tioR with the friends of American ldustry in other
the foregoing resolutions.
Resolued, That copy OF the proceedings Of this
meeting with the'resoutions, be forw 1red to each
member Of the Massachusetts Delegation in Con-
gress
CHARLES WELLS, Chairman.
RUSSELL STURGIs, Secretary. %, '6--