The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-21

ain only. The duties, in the ports of the Unite
hIngdom, on bread stuffs are prohibitory, EXCEPT +
times Of dearth. On rice, the duty is fifteen shjl
iings sterling per hundred weight, being more tina
one hundred per cent. On manufactured tobacco
it is nine shlings sterling per pcpnd. or about tw
Thousand per cent. On leaf tobacco, three shil
hngs per pound. or one thousand two hundred De
cent. On lumber and some other articles. he
are from four hundred to one thousand five hun
dred per cent more than similar articles import
ed from the British colonies. In the British Yves
Indies, the duty on beef, pork hams, and bacon, il
Twelve shiliings sterling per hundred more thar
one hundred per cent on the first cost of beef ant
pork In the Western States. And yet Great Brit
ain is the Power in whose behalf we are called
upon 10 egslate so that are may enable her to pu.
chase our cotton Great Britain, that thinks only
of herselfin her own legislation! When have we
experienced justice, much less favor, at her hands1
When did she shape her legislation in reference to
the interest Of any foreign Power? She is a great
opulent, and powerful nation /; but naughty, AFRO
CANT, and supercilous Not more separated from
the rest of the'world by the that grts her ISL
ands, thaa she IS separated in feeling sympathy or
friendly consideration of their welfare, Gent.e-
men, in supposing if impracticable that we sbould
successfully compete with her in manufactures do
injustice to the skill and enterprise of their own
country. Gallant, as Great Britain undoubtedly is
we have gloriousy commended with her, man to-
man, gun to gun, ship to ship, feet to feet and ar
my to army. And have doubt we are destined
to achieve equal success in the more useful if NOT
life. u Wv"
could extend and dwell on the lone LIST IF AFT;
cles-the hemp, iron, lead, COAL and other Items
for which demand is created in the home mar, ~
by the operation of the American system: bnt I
should exhaust the patience OF the Senate Where
tDhere. should we find market for all these arti
cles, 1t 1t did not exist at home hat would he
the condition of the largest portion of our Peonle
and OF the territory, if this home market were an
initiated! How could they be supplied with oh
jects Of prime necessity? What would not be the
certain and inevitable decline in the price of ali
these articles, but for the home market? And al
low me, Mr. President, TO saw. that of all the az
ricultural parts of the United States which are
benefited by the operation of this system none
are equally so with those which border the Chesa-
peake bay the lower parts of North Carolina. Vir-
GINA and the two shores of Maryland. Their ia.
clles OF transportation and proximity the North
give them decided advantages.
But, if all this reasoning were totally Callacious
III the price of manufactured articles were really
higher, under the American System, than without
1t, should still argue that nigh or low prices were
themselves relative-reatiyc to the ability to paw
Them 1t is IN vain to tempt, to tantalze us with
me lower prices OF European fabrics than our own
It we have nothing wherewith to purchase them.
Ii, by the home exchanges, we can be supplied
with necessary, even if they are dearer and worse
artlcl OF American production than the foreign.
1t Is better than not to be supplied at ALL And how
would the large portion oe country which hay.
described, be supplied, but for the home exchane-
es? poor people, destitute of wealth or of e1-
changea6le commodities, has nothing to purchase
forelg" fabrics To them they are equally beyond
their reach, whether their cost be dollar or a
guinea 1t is in this view of the matter that Great
Britain, by her vast wealth-her ererted and Dro-
tected indastry-is enabled to bear a burthen Of
taxation which, when compared to that of other
nations, appears enormous; but which, when her
immense riches are compared to theirs, 10 light
and trivial. The gentleman from South Carolina
has drawn lively and hatterng picture of coasts
bays rivers and harbors and he argues that these
proclaimed the design of Providence, that we
should he eor9-no-cinl People. Ngruo VII,
him. We differ only to the means. He would
cherish the foreign, and neglect the internal trade
| would foster both What is navigation without
SHIPS, or ships without cargoes BY penetrating
the bosoms OF our mountains, and extracting from
them their precious treasures by cultivating the
EARTH and securing home market for its rich and
abundant products; by employing the water power
with which we are blessed by stimulating and
protecting native industry in all its forms
we shall but noursh and promote the prosperity Of
commerce, foreign and domestic.
have hitherto considered the question in refer
ence only to a state OF peace but season of war
ought not to be entirely overlooked. We have en-
Joyed near 20 years of peace but who can tell when
the storm of war shall again break forth Have
merely our brave soldiers and our gallant tars were
subjected, but the whole community, during the
last war, for the want OF absolute necessaries TIE
what an enormous price they rose And how in
adequate the supply was at any price The states
man who Justly elevates his views will look behind
as well as forward, and at the existing state of
things; and he will graduate the policy, which he
recommends, TO all the probable exigencies which
may arise in the republic. Taking this compre-
hensive range, it would be easy to show that the
higher prices of peace, if prices were higher in
peace, were more than compensated by the lower
prices of war during which supplies of all essential
articles are indispensable to its vigorous effectual
and glorious prosecution. l conclude this part of
the argument with the hope that my humble exer-
tions have not been altogether Unsuccessful in
showing
l. That the policy which we have been consider.
ing ought to continue to be regarded the genuine
American System.
9. That the free trade System, which is propos-
ed as its substitute, ought really to be considered
as the British colonial system.
3. That the American system is beneficial to all
parts of the Union, and absolutely necessary to
much the larger portion.
a. That the price of the great staple of cotton,
and oil all our chief productions of agriculture has
been sustained and upheld, and decline avertcd,
by the protective system.
B. That, if the foreign demand for cotton has
been at all diminished by the operation of that
psnsated IN the additional demand created at home.
g. That the constant tendency of the system, by
creating competition among ourselves, and between
American and European industry, reciprocally act
ing upon each other,i is to reduce prices of man
utactured objects
7. That, in point of fact objects within the
scope of the policy OF protection have greatly fall
len in price.
8. That it, in season of peace, these benefits
experienced, in season Of war, when the for.
eign supply might be cut off, they would be much
more extensively felt.
9, And, finally, that the substitution Of the Brit
ish colonial system for the American system, with
out benehttlng any section of the Union, by sub
Jectlng us to foreign legislation, regulated b.
foreign interests, would lead to the prostraton o
our manufactures, general impoverishment, an
ultimate ruin
And now, Mr.. President, have to make few
observations on a delicate subject, which ! ar
proach with all the respect that is due to its seri
Gus and grave nature. They have not, indeed
been rendered necessary by the speech of the gen
teman from South Carolina, whose forbea.ance t
notice the topic was commendable, as his argument
throughout, was characterized by an ability and dig
nity worthy OF him. and of the Senate. The gen
tleman made one declaration which might possibly
be msinterpreted. and | submit to him whethe
an explanation of it be not proper Inc declara
ton, as reported in his printed speech IS" thu
instinct of self interest might have taught us al
easier way of relieving ourselves from this oppres
SION 1t wanted but the WILL to have supplied our
selves with every article embraced in the protec
tive system free of duty, without any other partic
ipatiop on our payt than simple consent to receive
Il them"
THere Cen Hayne rose, and remarked that tn,
nassages which Immediately preceded and followed
the paragraph cited she thought plainly indicate,
his meaning which related to evasions Of the sys
tenn. by Illicit introduction of goods, which the
we're not disposed to countenance in South Caro-
| lima