Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-03-28

(Which he cannot do, except to a very limited ex-
tent,) we should pay as heavy a tax in the price
of the domestic, as in the duty on the foreign IA
brio; for no one will pretend, that if the quality
be the same, there would be any difference Of
price in the American market Thirdly, "man-
nfacture for ourselpes" Sir, we cannot manu-
facture Except as to few coarse articles, slave
labor is utterly incapable of being applied to such
an object. Slaves are too mprovident, too inca
pabe of that minute, constant delicate attention,
and that persevering industry, which is essential
to the success of manufacturing establishments
1t was but the other day that some of our New
England brethren got it into their heads that they
understood Jur institutions better than we did
selves, and undertook to create splendid manu-
featuring establishment in the district represented
by my distinguished and valued friend, Mr.. Nc
Dufie. 1t was accordingly put into operation,
but had gone on but short time, when one of the
slaves was tempted to make free with the goods.
and, to prevent detection, burnt up the whole es-
tabl!shment 1t might be supposed, Sir, that the
people of South Carolina would not have been
inclined to punish such an offence with great Sc
verify; and if the culprit had escaped, presume
we should not soon have heard the end of it. Not
80, Sir, however. We have law which punish
es arson, whether committed by black or white
uidhy WllA ucdtH ANC oHCHuCI WuS DTOupQL 10
trial, and being convicted on the cearest proof,
suffered the penalty of the law. And, Sir to
show how little justice is sometimes melted out to
the South, will state the fact that since arriv
ed here, have seen an account of this transac.
ton in print, headed, with large capitals, "CRU-
ELTY TO SLAVES,'' and representing that
a poor innocent negro had recently been hanged
in South Carolina, for burning down building
by accident. Think, Sir, the gentleman will now
himself admit, that, to embrace this proposition,
would only be, to use an old adage, dumping out
of the frying pan into the fire." The last rene.
dy suggested by the gentleman, is, that we should
Supply ourselves with household manufactures. 81
What. Sir, give up our foreign trade! Abandon
our agricultural pursuits, and involve the whole
southern country in desolation and ruin? Are we
to be driven from the pursuits of our choice, in
order to promote the industry Of the manufactu-
rer?
The case which lave stated, of the bale of
illustrates the unequal operation of this
system upon the agricultural Industry of the south,
and the manufacturing industry of the north
What is true OF single bale, is true of the whole
amount Of foreign importatlons which are taxed
for the protection Of the domestic manufacture
true of the eight millions of imports received in
exchange for the productions of South Carolina
and of the forty millions received in exchange for
The productions of the plantation States, or at
least of so much thereof as embrace the protected
articles. Oui northern friends say, however, that
part of our cotton and rice belongs to them Be
it so. Whatever remains to us, and is rightfuily
ours, is subjected to the unequal system which III
have above described. Sir, it is put beyond all
dispute, that the agricultural industry of the south
is taxed, unequally, unjustly, enormously taxed in
its foreign exchanges, in order to Bender profitable
The manufacturing industry of the north Taxed, ,
will not say to what extent-but precisely to
The amount of the duty imposed for protection,
and the price added to the domestic article, what.
ever these may be. 1t is said, Sir, that the con-
sumner pays the tax, and that the tariff States pay
their full portion of the tax on their consumption.
Sir, think this may be well doubted --our habits
are different. A South Carolina farmer, whose
crop is worth thousand dollars, sends, perhaps.
he whole of 1t to market, and exchanges it for
foreign productions, paying, it may be, duty of
fifty per cent. His tax would be five hundred
dollars; the northern or western farmer, raising
produce to the value OF IA thousand dollars, will
nine hundred of it on his farm, and ex
change but hundred for foreign articles, and be
subjected to duty OF only fifty dollars This
difference of habits between the different parts of
he country, is greater than would be supposed
possible have known wealthy planter in the
neighborhood of Charleston, that did not raise
single article that was not sent TO foreign markets.
and who purchased every thing that was consum-
ID by himself or his slaves His cloth from Eng
and, his wines from France, his horses, mules,
and hogs, from the west-his corn from Maryland
wooden ware, potatoes, and other notions, from
New England; and ! assure our New England
friends, that although we do not relish all of their
notions, there are some that we prize very highly.
But, Sir, If the consumer did, in every case, pay
he whole amount of the tax, and the consump-
lion was in exact proportion to population, could
gentlemen even then fail to see the wide differ
ence in the operation of the protecting system on
he two sections, when they consider that the tariff
States are remunerated, and more than remunera-
led, for any tax which they may pay, in the boun-
ties they receive, while we receive no remuncra-
lion whatever. If this be doubted, will apply
4 test, which, think, cannot possibly deceive US
Do our New England brethren not understand
their own interests? Do you think, Sir, that they
would be very apt to fall in love with taxation
and court the impositions of burthens? How
comes it, then, that they have been taught TO be-
ieve that ''taxation is no tyranny" but on the
the greatest Of earthly blessings? Why
is it, that they would regard as the heaviest Of
calamitles, The reduction of the public burthens?