Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-07-31

gates the people generally had determined that the new
Tariff should be enforced within the limits this State
When therefore, their faithful public servants after hav-
ing done their utmost TO procure redress Of their griev
ances, constrained TO tell them they do that
he protecting system the settled policy of the Govern
men aud that all hope of relief from Congress is rrcco
verably gonc that we correctly represent
public feeling when we say that the response of the great
body OF our people from the seaboard TO the mountains,
will be-'Wc determined TO preserve the rights and
liberties which derived from our ancestors, and to
transmit them undminshsd 10 Children Let tho ma
nufacturers therefore, begin 10 consider whether
they will yet relax the chain and instruct their represent
atvcs, the session OF Congress, do substantial
Justice to the South or whether they will or can maintain
the system, II stands against the united deter
aimed resistance OF the South for, surely xt
Legislature meets, Convention will be called nullify
the act, and surely South Carolina nuies, her posi-
ton will be supported by every other Southern State.
Let the Tarites, therefore, think their South
Carolina has resolved on her>!- Charleston lfercury
TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
The undersigned, portion OF your Representatives in
the Congress OF The United States feel 10 be their pain
full but Indispensable duty, in the present extraordinary
crisis OF your affairs, TO submit for your grave and solemn
consideration the following brief views of your present
condition and future prospects, they affected by the
unconstitutional Legislation OF Congress. Whatever hopes
may have been INDUCED at the commencement of the
session, that returning oil justice the part
the majority would remove or materially mitigate the
load of oppression under which you have long
laUorcd, and OF which you have justly complained the
undersigned reluctantly constrained TO declare
that these Icrng hopes too long deferred and fond
~ cherished have finally and forever vanished dis
passionate review of the history progress of the
tccting duties aud those kindred measures which
their combination, constitute the "Amercan System"
has brought their minds deep and deliberate convic-
ion that there principle C Reaction in the system
self which will warrant the belief that Congress will
voluntarily grant 10 the planting States restitution of those
sacred rights without which property has vaiue and Ii
bcrty itself Is the mere mockery OF empty name. On
the contrary experience has concusvcy demonstrated
that the system is essentially progressive each successive
advance creating additional motives, and supplying add
ona means for future acquisitions. There prnci-
pie OF human action steady in its operation more
boundcss in its desires than the thirst for pecunary gain
not excepting ambition. And would
onal TO expect that military conqueror would voluna-
y arrest his own OF conquest and before
MS quang advcrsarcs 10 hope that the irrcsponsib
majority who control the legislation of Congress ON this
subject will voluntarily their Of legislative
eXacton, urged they by the instinct of self in
'eres under the guise OF patriotism and subject
man restraint but their will.
In the history of the protecting system there are three
distinct cras each OF them unequivocay marked by the
extended combination and increased strength the manu-
featuring interests and not less unequvocaly by the in
creased protection OF those interests In 1876 the close
OF war which gave unnatural stimulus TO domestic ma
nuacurcs, the iberality the gratitude and the
OF Congress all conspred recommend that i'm reducing
and adjusting the duties ohe war TO the require
ments of peace establishment the manufacturing interest
which had generously sustained the government while
other interests had deserted it, should be saved from
shock of too sudden transition, by making the reduc
ton gradual and progressive Accordingly the duties upon
cotton and wooen manufactures placed at the ad
Vaoen rate OF twenty-five per cent, with the provision
that cotton fabric should he estimated less value
Than twenty-five cents per square yard, that being
about the existing price OF the cotton manuiacu
then usually imported The duty hammered bar-iron
fixed the OF 10 per hundred weight which
did Xceed % per the existing value of that
tce, and the duty all manufactures iron was pac
twenty per centum ad vaorem. In fact il may be
stated generally that the average of the duties imposed
upon the protected class OF articles by the tariff Of 1916
was not more than twenty five per their value
having reference TO the then existing prices of such
subjected to minimum specific duties; while the
duties upon coffee, tea and Wines averaged
at least fifty per cenum. The principle was here dis
tincty assumed that the unprotected articles were the
more appropriate subjects OF taXaon and ought pay
higher duties than the protected articles the obvious
reason that the protection given by the duties on these
latter articles class OF American producers ncces
sary imposed an equivalent burthen upon another class
But even these rates of duty upon cotton and woolIen
manufactures, were temporary upon the very face of the
act which imposed them being expressly provided that
IN three years, they should be reduced twenty five
TO twenty per cent al valorem So far therefore from
being placed at this rate for the exclusive purpose of
tecon those duties were actually lower than others which
exclusively designed for revenues and so far from
giving an implied pledge that they should retained and
extended, without reference 10 the fiscal the Go
vernment the act OF 1916 contained express declaration
that even the incidental protection of the revenue rates
should continue above twenty per cent for more than
three years. Instead however, of acquescng the pro-
visions oil the act OF 1916 the manufacturing interest was
the first to disturb them, by procuring the repeal the
clause which provided that in three years. the vaore IN
duties cotton and wOolcn manufactures should be re-
duccd from twenty five TO twenty per
But, still unsalisiied with the protection generously
yielded to hem the manufacturers continued camor for
yet greater increase of the duties until they succeeded
in 1924, i'm having them raised wooens from % TO
33 l3 per cent; iron cents per hundred; while on
cotton manufactures, the minimum raised from 25 to
30 cents the square yard being equivalent, average
increase OF 10 ID per cent al yaorem and, on most
other manufactures considerable addition
to the duties. The tariff of 1924 was passed with the al
most unanimous opposition of the representatives from all
the southern States and nothing induced the people of the
South, at that time, to acquesce in it, but the solemn
suance OF its leading advocates that further call for
protection would ever be made in behalf of the manuac
turing interest. This pledge distinctly made i'm
Congress during the discussion of that But this
was forgotten dsregarded; and i'm 1896 renewed
Efforts were made TO extend the protecting duties partcu-
arly on wool and woollen manufactures; efforts which
perscvcringly prosecuted until 1928, when thew
were crowned with complete by the enactment Of
what has been appropriately denomnaed chill of abomi-
nations This act increased the duties on woolen manu-
lectures, on an average than 20 per and most
OF the protecting duties considerable extent though
not quite much
Such is brief history of the progress of the protecting
system since the late history which the people of
the Southern States contemplate with no other than
the most melancholy reflections They cannot but per-
ceive that, what modesy solicited and generously
granted as temporary protection against the disasters of
sudden change, produced by the of the Government
itself, is now tmperOuSiy deUd1lded with more than
wo-od increase, matter of right and as measure of
permanent policy. They cannot fail TO perceive also.
that after the progress and Improvements OF forty years
sixteen OF them under protection of from twenty-five to
hity-Ive per cent-dunng which manufactures have
mad lul time TO reach their maturity, protecting
duties is established the permanent policy of the
country four times high that which was recommends
ed by Alexander Hamilton, when those manufactures were
10 ueir infancy Upon every principle Of reason and
justice, and upon the avowed principles of Mr. Hamil-
tom the author of the protecting system no manu-
acturc can have any claim 10 protection which cannot
dispense with it after few years of probation But these
principles entirely and rcvcrscd ,, ,a