Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-26

Congress- the Senator from Kentucky stood forth as is
Champion and it was my lot TO attempt to his
gumeDts 1t true Sir that his Speech made in the
other House, and mine this floor but his had
been sent forth the manifesto of the pay- was print
ed in pamphlet and laird the tables Of the Senator'S
embodying the views Of the Tariff Party II was mpos
BILE for to pass il well remember therefore
that on that occasion, the gentleman argued that Ken
lucky was to participate in the protecting by ras
ing large quantities OF hemp, and supplying the Southern
states with cotton baggingand he strongly insisted that
she was then only prevented from doing, by the ruin
Gus competition OF the inconsiderabe Scotch Of IN
rTness and Dundee. Aud what is it, Sir, that we hear
nowafter the lapse Of eight years, The old story repeat
ed kentucky, still deprived of the benefits OF the pro-
tcctng system by those formidable rivals Inverness and
Dundee. They still constitute "the lion in the PATH
and foreign manufactures win be Ca lion the path
thosc whose prosperity depends the system
know that the manufacture Of cotton cling SIM
pie process, requiring hardly any skill capital and vet
inc great state OF kenoeky cannot get along with it,
Scotch towns. the inhabitants Of which are said to he SO
poor and destitute, that they obliged import their
iuel and send Dantzic twelve hundred miles up Bal
tic for their hemp paying freight equal the FIRST cost
Its perfectly clear therefore, that Kentucky mas not rea.
lied the promised blessings Of tho protecting system; and
am told that this is substantially of the whole west
But Sir If the west has gained nothing by the SYSTEM she
has had her share Of the which imposesshe has
paid her proportion ofducs the government and bonfie
10 the manufacturers and, of the dire ca
larnties which the system has inflicted on the south
blasting our commerce and whitening prospery-the
west mas very nearly been deprived OF her best
When the policy of 24 went into operation the south
supplied from the west, through a single avenue 1.-THE
stock,
hogs TO the amount Of considerably upwards Of million
oil dollars year. Under the pressure Of the system this
trade has regularly been dminshng-It has already fall
len oil more than hail. and from authentic return
now before it appears that it has further dmsh
ed near one hundred and fifty thousand dollars during the
last year. So much for the rich blessings bestowe upon
'he west by the protecting system.
We come now to the SoUrH. II any portion of the
rich fruits OF this system have been scattered there they
have not fallen under my observation. Sir, we know
them Motive see them Motive feel them not. II may
be supposed however, that full of prejudice or
too ungrateu 10 acknowledge the blessings il has be-
slowed upon U.s. Sir have heard of having honor
thrust upon hem and perhaps there may be such thing
as having benefits thrust upon unwilling people: vet
should think that in such a case thew would coon
become reconced to their lot, and submit to their fate
with good grace. But, assure the gentleman that
the condition OF the South is notmerely of unc
depression, but OF great and pervadng distress In nv
own State, the unhappy change which has within a few
years past taken place in the public prosperity il Of
inc most appalling character II we look at the present
OF exampe) we lind every where the mournml evidence
oil premature decay. Sir, the crumbHng memorials Of
our former wealth and happiness, too coaucny teach
that without change your policy the DAYS of
our prosperity "are numbered" Sir, tits within my own
experience that in the devoted city in which my lot has
been cast, thriving foreign was within few
years past carried direct to Europe. We had native
merchants, with large capitals engaged in the foreign
built, and all owned in Charleston and giving employ
ment to numerous and valuable body of mechanics |
ana tradesmen Look at the state OF things now!-
Our merchants bankrupt driven away-thcir capital
sunk or transferred to other pursuour spyars broken
up-or ships all sold!ycs, Sir, am told the very last of
mem was, lew months ago, brought to the hammer
our mechanics in despair the very grass growing i'm our
Streets and houses falling into real estate reduced
to one third part OF its value and almost TO nothing
ne commerce. which wc still permitted enoy d.
Veed Its proper channels, carried with
capital and through agents among us and maintained
by the ta policy, bearing oil their profits more favor
Ell lands ealing out substance leaving to our own
people the miserable crumbs which fall from The table OF
their prosperity five fly from the city TO the country
what do we there behold Fields abandoned The bosn
ing our slaves, like their masters working harder and
iarng worse the planter striving with unavailing eff.
ots TO avert the ruin which is before him has often
been my lot Sir to the thriving planter reduced
to despair cursing his hard fate, gathering I'D the small
remnants OF ms broken fortuneand, with bis wife hi,
hIe ones, tearing bmselfrom the of his childhood
and The homes OF his ancestors SEEK in the wilderness
that reward for his industry of which your fatal policy has
deprived him.
Sir, when look at our fertile fields and consider the
genial climate with which God has blessed the South
when we contemplate the felicity of our position as
the producers OF an article which, under system of free
trade, would command the the worlds il not
enough to fill hearts almost bursting to find the rich
est blessings that ndugen Providence ever showered
down upon the heads of any people, torn from us by the
cruel policy OF government to find the bo,n,ies
Heaven thus blasted by the hand of Sir will not
deny that there are other besides the tariff which
have contributed to produce the evils which have de-
Pic'eu irade cam 10 some extent be carried with
greater facility at New York. and cotton may he ra;eed
more probably in Alabama; but, these advantages would
not nave broken up the commerce depressed the apr
culture OF South Carolina, while an unrestricted inter-
with foreign nations enabled us 10 eaze the most
moderate prohts Men do not quit their accustomed en-
Payments the homes Of their fathers for any small adj
dop their profits It'll only when restriction has reach
ed point which leaves the door still open TO one while
closes against the other, this result is produced
and therefore is that rapid transfer of capital and pop
uaton is added 10 the other evils with which the old
States are afflicted.
In this condition of the country, where Is there TO be
lound ulment OF the promises held the South i'm
1924 We were then told that had mistake the true
character OF this system We were cnreated only TO trv
II for short time We were told that the taxes mposed
on foreign articles would be but temporary that the ma
nuiactures would want protection but for short time
only 10 give them sart--and that they would soon be
able to stand alone. We have bad double mar
ket for our coon-hgh prices, reviving commerce. and
renewed prosperity Sir after the experience Of four
years, the tariff OF % up for consideration by which
the protecting system to be further extended and en-
larged. And what found to have been the result of
four years experience at the SOUTH Not hone fulfilled
not promise performedand condition infinitely
than IL had been four years before Sir the whole
experiment with this fatal system. The whole OF the re-
representatives. OF States Virginia North Carolina
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama Mississippi and Ten
nessee, with, believe but three dissenting vocesO re-
corded their votes against that bill Sir do not gentlemen
bnd IN this fact evidence Of the dangerous
tor Of that legislation which this system based Can
IT be wisecan be just-can IL be prudento adopt and
enforce policy essentially sectional in character
Can we hope for harmony, peace, and concord while
forcing system against which entire section Of your
country so strongly revos !It Is the essential principle
OF the representative system, that mutual sympathy Of
feeling and Of interest," should bind together the people and
their rulers and may be worthy Of profound reflection
how far that principle Is essentially preserved by scheme
Of legislation under which the feelings and interests of 20
q III.