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

violence. could not have done 40 much TO destyey
cur commerce, as been done by that very GOV.
eminent, to which its guardianship has been CON-
mitted by the Federal constitution. The COM
merce Of South Carolina consists in exchanging
the staple productions of her soil Tor the manu-
features Of Europe. til lawful commerce.
1t violates the rlghtsu class OF people IN any
portion Of the confederacy. 1t is this very con-
merce, therefore, which the constitution has en-
jnined it upon Congress to encourage. project
and defend by such regulations as may be neces-
sary to accomplish that object. But instead Of
that protection which is the only lie OF our allie.
glance, as individual citizens to the Federal TO-
vernment, we have seen a gigantic system OF re.
str,c,,on, gradually reared up. at length Brought
TO a fatal maturity. Of which it IS the av"wed OBJ
ject, and must be the inevitable result, to sweep
our commerce from the great highway oil nations,
and cover our land with pnverty and ruin.
Even the States mnst deeply interested In the
maintenance OF The protecting system, Will admit
tina. it is the interest of South Carolina to carry
on commerce Of exchanges with foreign coun-
tries, free from restrictions, prohihItory burfnens
or incumbrances of any kind. We feel, and we
know that the vital interests OF the State are in
pUived in such a commerce. 1t would be do~rl
right insult to our understanding, to tell us that
our interests are not injured, deeply injured, by
those prohibitory duties, intended and calculated
to prevent US from obtaining the cheap manufac-
lures Of foreign countries for our staples. and to
compel US to receive for them the dear manufac-
tures Of our domestic establishments, or pay the
penalty Of the protecting duties, for daring to
exercise one Of the most sacred Of our natural
rights What right, then, human or divine.
have the manufacturing States-for we regard
the Federal Government ds mere instrument 10
their hands-to prohibit South Carolina, directly
or indirectly, from going to her natural markets.
and exchanging the rich productions OF her soil.
without restriction or incumbrance, for such 10.
reign articles as will most conduce to the wealth
and prosperity of her citizens! 1t will not sure.
ly be pretended-for truth and decency equally
forbid the allcgatIon-tha, in exchanging our pro-
duciOns for the cheaper manufactures ct Europe,
we violate any right IF the dumestic manufactur.
cr,. however gratifying it might be to them it we
would purchase their inferior productions at high
er prices.
Upon what principle, then, can the State Of
South Carolina be called upon to submit to a
system, which excludes her from her natural
markets, and the manifold benefits of that en-.
riching commerce which kind and beneheeat
Providence has provided, to connect her with the
family of nations, by the bonds OF mutual inter.
estS But one answer can be given to this que5.
ton. l, is in vain that we attempt to disguise
the fact, m0rtilying as it must be. that the prin.
ciple by which South Carolina is thus excluded,
is in strict propriety of language; and to all ra'
tiOnal ,ntents and purposes. principle OF colo.
Mai dependence and vas>alage, IN all respects
Identical win that which restrained our foreia-
theirs from trading with any manufacturing ma
ton Of Europe. other than Great Britain. South
Car0Ina nov bears the same relation 10 the ma
nufacturing States of this Conf'doracy. that the
Anglo American Colonies bore 10 the mother
country, with the single exception that our bur-
thens are incompara bly, more oppressive than
those Of our ancestors Our time. our pride, and
the occasion, equally forbid Us TO trace out the
degrading analogy. We leave that to the h'sto.
Ran who shall record the judgment which an i'm
partial poster,ty will pronounce upon the event
lul uansact tons of this day.
Ii il in vain that we attempt to console our
selves by the empty aud unreal mOckery OF our
representation in Congress. As to all those
great nd vital interests OF the state, which are
affected BY the protecting system. 1t would De
better that she had no representation IN that DO,
d,. 1t serves no other purpose but 70 conceal
, the chains which fetter our liberties under the
vain aud empty forms Of representative Gov
ernmeut. In the enactment Of the protecting
system, me uidJDTiy W O"'S'eo'. W =" 49,
Of opr,ety of speech an irresponsible despotism.
A very brief analysis will render this clear to
every understanding What, then, we ask is
involved in the idea of political responsibility,
in The imposition Of public burthen.F 1t clearly
implies that those WHO impose the ourthens,
should bs responsible to those who bear them
Every representative in Congress should be res
ponsIble. not only 10 his own immediate :onsht
uents. bu, through them aud their common par
,,cipation in the burthens imposed. to the con-
stituents OF every other representative. Ii IN
the enactment Of protecting tariff, the malor''
ty in Congress. imposed upon their own conslIt.
aents the same bur'hens which they impose up
on the pepp,e OF South Carolina, that majority
wonld act under all the restraints ct political re-
spon.bity, aud We should have the best security
which human wisdom has vet devised against np.
pressive Legislation.
But the fact is precisely the reverse OF this
The majority IN Congress. in imposing PTotec-
ting duties, which are utterly destructive oil the
interests Of South Carolina, not only impose no
burthens, but actually confer enriching bountles
-. Pu a the bur-