Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-07

| cd whc should coutent himself with Viewing
only the evils, real or imaginary, which belongs
To that course which rs in pIPctcal operation
He should lin Inns, If up to the contemplation
OF those greater and more certain dangers
Which might inevitably attend the adoption Of
the alternative 'urse. What would he the
| condition of this Union, il Pennsylvania and
New York, these mammoth mCmbeIs of our con-
icderacv, were firmly persuaded that their indus
try was oIyscd AID their prosperity blighted.
by tic enforcement; of the British colonial sys.
tenn, under the de,usive name of free trade,
They ar" now tranquil, and happy and contcnt-
ca cor sc'ous OF their welfare. and feeling SD
'nio'y md rar!d circulation Of the D. odu It's OF
h"Gic manufactures and home industry through
"iii all ihCir great arteries. But let that be
checked, lei then feel tia, foreign system is to
ptcdnnna'c, and tie sources OF their subsist-
cnce and comfort dried mp; let New England and
Tie West, and the Middle States, all feel that
| ,h'y TO" az" the victims o: "a mistaken policy, and
'tt these vast PORTIONS of our country despair of
any Favorable change, and then, indeed, might
We 'rcmblc for the Continuance and safety of This
Union
Ard need remind you, sir, that this derelc-
ti"n ot the duty of protecting our domestic in
Ga try. and abandonment Of it To the fate of TO-
reign l"giSlatior, wculi be rectly a. war with
leading cons dern'ions which prompted the a,lop,
IGN of the present constitution The s a,rs.
respectively, surrendered TO the General Go.
Vernmcnt tie whole power Of laying i'm
poets On foreign goods. They stripped them
sc'vcs Of al power to protect their own manu-.
tacnrec, BY The most eficaciouS means of en-
conrog"m"n!--thc imposition of duties on rival
foreign !ibiics q they create that great trusti
Did they voluntarily subject themselves to this
self restriction, that the power should rarnais in
the Federal Government, inactive, unexccutcd,
and lic!css mir. Madison, at the cSmmcnce
mrnt OF the Government, told YOU otherwise
IN discussing, a that early period this very ssb.
Jcct. lie declared that failure to exercise this
power would be "rKAup" upon the northern
States. to which may now be added the Middle
and Western States.
lGovernor Miller asked to what expressions of
Mr. Madison's opinion Mir. Clay refcrrcd; and Mr..
G. replied, his opinion expressed in the House of
representatives, in 1883, as reported in Lloyds
Congressional Drbates.l
Gentlemen are greatly deceived as to the hold
which this system has in the affections of the pco-
pie of tho United States. They represent that it
is the policy ofNew England, and that she is most
benefited 10y it. If there be any part of this Union
winch has been most steady, most unanimous, and
most determined III its support, it is Pcnnsylva-
MA Why is not that powerful State attacked?
Why pass over her, and aim the blow at New Err.
gland! New England came, reluctantly, into the
policy. In 1921, majority of her delegation
were opposed 10 it. From the largest State Of
! New England there hut solitary vote in ia
vor of the bill. That enterprisng people can
readily accommodate their industry TO any policy
provided, it be settled They supposed this was
hxcd, and they submitted to the DEGREES of Co
vernment. And the progress of public opinion
has kept pace with the development of the benc
fits Of the system. Now, all New England at
least in this House, with the exception of one
small, still voice. is in Favor OF the systom. In
1924, all Maryland was against it; now the major.
i;y is for it. Then, Louisiana, with one exception
was opposed to II; now, without any exception,
she is in favor of it. The march of public senti-
ment is to the South. Virginia will bc the ne t
convert; and in less than seven years. if there be
no Obstacles from political causes, or preiutlices
industriousy instilled, the majority of Eastern
Virginia will lie as the majority of Western Vir.
ginia now is, in favor of the American system
North Carolina will follow later, but not less GER
tainly. Eastern Tennessee now in favor or tie
system. And finally, its doctrines will pervade
the whole Union, and the wonder will be- tina
they should have been opposed.
I have now TO proceed to notice objections
which have been urged against The resolution un
der consideration. With respect to the amend
mont, which the gentleman from South Carolina
had offered, as he had intimatcd his purpose to mo-
dify it, shall forbcar for the present, to comment
upon 1T. 1t is contended that the resolution propo-
the repeal of duties on uxurics, leaving
those rccessaries to remain, and thal-it will,
therefore, relieve the rich, without lessoninp tho
burthens of the poor. And the gentleman from
South Caroline, has carefully selected, for ludi |
cosmetics, perfumes, oranges, &c must say, that
this exhibition of the gentleman is not in keeping
with the candor which he has generally displayed;
that lie knows very well that the duties upon these
articles tr!iling, and that it is of little conse
quencc whether thcy are repealed or retained
Both systems, the American and the foreign, COM |
prchend some articles which may be deemed lux
urics. The Senate knows that the unprotected ar
ticcs which yield the principal part of the revenue
with which this measure would dispense, are coffee
/, these
wines and silks alone can be pronounced to be
Injuries; and, to wines, we have already ratified
Il treaty, not yet promulgated, by which the duties
them to he considerably reduced. fthe uni
versatility of Tie of objects of consumption de-
termncs their classification, coffee, tea and Spices
in tic present condition of civilized society, may
be considered necessaries. Even if they were lux
u:ics, why should not the poor, by chcapening their
prices, il that can be effected, be allowed to use
lheml Why should not poor man be allowed to
tic silk handkerchief on his neck, occasionally
rcg1!e himsclfwth glass of cheap French wine,
present lis wife or daughter with silk gown,
10 he Sabbath gala days7 / am quite
that did not mscsnstrue the feelings of the
gentlemans heart, in surprising that no would be
happy TO see the poor, well the rich, mode
ratey ndulging themselves in these innocent graft
fcations. For one, am delighted to see tho con-
diton of the poor attracting the consideration of
the opponents of the tariff 1t is for the great body
of the people, and especially for the poor, that
have ever supported the American System. 1t af-
fords them profitable employment, and supplies
the means Of comfortable subsistence II secures to
them, certainly nccessaries of life, manu- featured at
home and places within their reach, and enables
them to acquire, reasonable share Of foreign lux
ures whilst the system of gentlemen promises them
ncceSsarica made in foreign countries, and which
arc beyond their power, and denies TO them luxu
ries, which they would possess no means to pur.
chase.
The constant compliint of South Carolina
against the tariff is, that it checks Importations