Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-14

paid the duty upon his export, would sustain no
heavier burthen than the Other. What Is true ot
the comparative effect of import and export du-
ties upon the producers OF one hundred bales OF
cotton, is equally true to the effect OF these du'
ties on the producers of one million OF bales.
Whether the duty be laid upon the export or
on the import it is equally laid in both cases, up
on the production of the planter There cannot
be more palpable and delusive error than the
vulgar notion, that imported manufactures, which
have been purchased BY the agricultural staples
of this country are foreign productions. They
are as strictly and exclusively the production ct
domestic industry as if they were manufactured
in the United States. Lnoking, therefore. at
the planting and manufacturing States, With the
eve of an enlightened philosophy, these tw" great
divisions OF the Union, must be regarded as de.
voting their capital and labor to the production
of the very same articles. for the very same mar
ket The southern States manufatt ure by the
agency of pl0ushs, and hoes, and horses, what
the northern States manufacture by the agency
of machinery; and they are competitors TOR the
market of the United States, equally entitled to
the protection Of the Government. by every Prln-
chile of constitutional liberty, and by the prln-
ciples of eternal justice. No Government upon
the face of the earth can have any riSht-'hls
Government certainly has no constitutional right
TO interpose its power for the purpose OF driv-
ing one Of these great competitors out OF the mar
ket, in order that it may be exclusively enjov-
ed BY the other. Neither it rishtfully i'm
pose the slightest burthen upon the one, not
equally imposed upon the other, with a view TO
change the state of the competition, and the rea-
tive condition of the contending parties Yet
what has the Congress of the United States done,
under the imposing and deceptive pretext of pro-
4, ipIn 4 has a. haf
the power of discriminating taxes can do, to de-
stroy une great branch of domestic industry-t
southern industry may be called domestic-and
build up rival branch upon its ruins. 1t has laid
discriminating duties, averaging not less than 40
per ceut. upon the important productions OF the
planting States, while it has entirely exempted
from taxation. the rival productions ct the ma
nufacturina States, consisting 81 the very same
description of articles. The amount Of these
southern productions, upon which this dIscrlml-
mating tax is annually levied, is not less than So
millions of dollars. upon which the tax levied.
consequent amounts to ii millions oi dollars.
| That this is specifically tax upon the produc-
tons Of the South, diminishing their value to
the producers, very nearly an equal amount, con-
| ciusivelv results from the admitted fact, that
these SIS millions Of manufacture produced by
the capital and labor of the southern States. at
! ter paving at the custom house taxes the amount
of fourteen millions of dollars. cannot be sold
for any higher price, or larger sum. than the We
~ same quantity. and kind. and quality of ma
nufactures, produced by the capital and labor of
the northern States paying no taxes al all. II
is, therefore. too PLAIN to b. argued, that the
nual sum which the planting States receive for
the productions of their capital and labor, is four
teen millions of dollars less than the sum receiv-
| I'd by the manufacturing States for the very same
quantity and descrip ton of productions; and 1t
is equally plain, that this enormous inequality is
produced by the discriminating and partial tax
| es of the Government, laid for the unrshteOus,
but, nevertheless, avowed purpose ut producing
| it. M SOIL. however productive, no climate.
however propitious, no industry however efficient
| can permanently maintain the competition under
such circumstances The most benisnant dis
pensations of Providence, are cOunteracted by
human injustice; and what adds to the enorlniy
of the outrage. the fairest portion Of this great
confederacy, If not the fairest and most heaven
favored region of the whole EARTH is literally un-
dergoiug silent but irresistible process of decay
aud desoiation, produced by gross psrversion
of the very power which is under the highest hu-
man obligations to prevent it. The whole Of the
Southern staples, produced for expectations must
y
changed for foreign productions suitable to the
demand of this county for consumption; and how
long can the planting States continue to supply
the market with any portion of the manufactures
now imported, uoder the oppressive weight of
proscriptive tax, operating upon the very spring
OF their industry? 1t would be worse than volun-
tary blindness in those to whom the rights, the
interests and the des,lnies of the southern peo-
pie, are, in an especial manner, committed, not
to perceive, and give warning Of the inevitable
doom that awaits them, If that protecting poll
cy, which imroverishes and destroys one branch
Of industry. to enrich and sustain another. be not
utterly and absolutely abandoned. This Con
gress should adopt no halfway measures, no tenn
porary expedents. but reform it altogether"
the incidental protection, resulting from mere
system OF revenue duties, Of the lowest rate. is
frarful odds against rhe planting States, and it
IS exceedingly doubtful whether even that will
not ultimately destroy the business of rearing
staples for expectation. As subject of such
complicated bearings, will be best understood by
plain and familiar illustrations, the Committee
NvtI fako g..