The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-21

trace its steps. With respect 10 this unioa, Mir.
President the truth cannot be too generally pro-
cliimed nor too strongly incacated that neccs'
sary TO the lckoe, aud to all the Tcrs-necessaiy 10
thase parts indeed in different degrees, but vial
iy necessary to each and that threats to disturb
or dissolve il. coming from any oil the parts, would
be quite as indiscreet and improper, IS would &c
threats from the residue to exclude those parts (
from the pale of its benefits. The great principle
which lies at the Foundation ef all free government,
is that the ma jority must pavern-iTom which
there is or can be no apneai oct TO the sword
That majority ought to govern wisely, eGuliaby,
moderately and consiitutonaiiy; but gore'1 II !
mas subject only to that terrible appeal. II ever
one, or several State, SEEING minority. can, by
menacinc dissolution Of the Union, succeed IN
forming an abandonment Of great measures deemed
essential to the interests and prosperity Of the
whole the Union, from that moment, is practically
gone Il nav linger on, in form and name, but its
via, shirt has fed for ever! Entertaining these
deliberate opinions, lwould entreat the patriotic
People of South Carolina-the land Of Marion,
Sumpter. and Pickens-oi Ru' ledge, Laurens, the
Pinckneys and Lowndes-of living and present !
names which | would mention if they were
not living or present-to pause solemnly pause
and contemplate the frghtful precipice which lies
directly before them TO retrea: may be painful
and m0rtfying to their galantry and pride, but 1t
3 to retreat to the Union, to safety, and to those
brethren with whom, or with whose ancestors
they or their ancestors have won. on fields OF go-
on certain and inevitable disgrace and destruction
We have been told of deserted castles, oil
uoinhab;ted halls, and of mansions, once the
seats Of opulence and hospitality, now aban-
dnned and Wondering in ruins, | never had
Tho honor Of heing in South Carolina but
have heard and read Of the stories of its chiv-
alrv, and OF its generous and open hearted iber-
ality. ] have heard, too, OF the struggles for
power between the lower and upper country
The same causos which existed in Virginia,
with which have been acquainted, presume,
have had their influence in Carolina. In
whose hands now are the once proud seats OF
MISSIONER, Curl, Maycox. Shirley and others,
on James river, and in lower Virginia? Under
the operation of laws, a6olisliing the principle
or rrim"geniture. and providing the equitable
rrle 81 81 equal distribution Of estates among
those in equal degree of consequently, they
have passed into other and stranger hanGs -
some of Tho descendants Of illustrious families
have gone to the fa1 West whilst others, lin
perinT behind, have contrasled their present
condition with that of their venerated ancestors
They behold themselves excluded from their
fathers houses now IN the hands of those who
were once their fathers overseers, or sinking
into decay: their imagl6atlons paint ancient
renown. the fadinG honors of their name, gln-
ries gone by; too poor 10 live, too proad TO
work, too high minded and honorable TO resort
10 ignobIe means OF acquisition, brave, daring
chiyalrous. 1rhat can be the cause Of their pres
ent unhappy state The "accutsec' tariff
presents itself to their excited imsginalens,
and they blindly rush into the ranks of those
who unfurinr the banner of notification,
wond place State upon its Sovereignty
The danger to our Union does not lie on the
side of persistence in the American System.
Int on that its abandonment. IT, as ! have
supposed and believe, tho inhabitants of all
North and Eas; of James river, and all West
of the mountains, including Louisiana, are
deeply interested in the preservation of that
system, wnnld they be recone!led 10 its ovei
throw? Can it be expected that two thirds. ii
not-three- iourths, Of The People of the United
States would consent 10 the destruction of
policy. believed TO be indspCHsahly necessary
10 their prosperity When, too this sacrifice
is nlade, at ue instance Of single interest,
which they verify believe will rot he promoted
tgit Ia estimating the degree Of peril which
NAV be incident to two opposite cGnrses OF hn-
nan pnlicy. the statesman w0uld be short
sighted who should content himself with view
Jag only the evils, real o. imaginary, which he
long 10 that course which is in practical opera
niinn. He should lit himself up 10 TIE con
temptation Of those greater and more certain
dangers which might inevitably attend the
adoption of the alternative course. What
would he the condition Of this Dnnn il Penn,
svlvanic, and New York, those mammoth men
hers Of our con.edcracy, were firmly persuaded
that their industry was paraiyZed. AID their
prosperity hlighted. bv the enforcement If The
British Colonial system. under the delusve
name Of fee trade +? They are now tranquil.
and happy. and cuntented, conscious of their
weiiase, and feeling a salutary ard rapid circu.
lation Of the products of home manufactures
and home industry throughout all their great
arteries. But let that he checked, let them
feel that foreign system is 10 predOminate,
and the sources Of their subsistence and com.
fort dried up let New England and The West,
and the Middle States all feel that they too
are the victims of mistaken policy, and let
these vast portions of our country despair Of
any favorable change, and then, indeed, might
svge tram5le for the continuance and safety Of
this Union!
And need | remind you, sir, that this dere.
LECTION of the duty Of protecting our domestic
industry, and abandonment of il the fate of
foreign legislation, wonid he directly at war
with leading considerations which prompted
the adoption Of the present constitution The
States, respectively, surrendered to the Cen
aral Government the whole power of lnying
imposts on foreign goods. They stripped them
selves of a II power 10 protect their own nanufac-
lures by the most efficacious means of cncour.
agement-tne mpr.iiion Of duties on rival for
eirn fabrics Did ihey create that great trust
Did they voluntarily subject themselves to this
self restriction, that the power should remain
in the Federal Government, inactive, unexe-
cutcd, and lifeless Mr.. Madison, at the com.
nencement of The Government, told you 9th
eEwise. In discussing, at that early period,
,lns very subject, he declared that failure to
exercise this power would be fraud" upon /
the Northern States. to which nay now b., |
added the Middle and Western States.
Governor Miller asked to what expression |
Of Mr. Madison's opinion Mr.. Clay referred |
and MIR. C. replied, his opinion, expressed IN the |
House of Representatives, in 1883, as reported /
in LIoyd's Cong essioBal Debaias II
Gentlemen are greatly deceived rs to the
hold which this system has in the affections ei
Inc People Of the United States. They repre-.
that sha is most benefited by it. II there be I
any part Of this Unicn which has been most I
steady, most unanimous, and most determined /
IN It's support it is Pennsylvania. Why is not
that powerful State attacked ? Why pass her
oyer and aiai The blow AT New England! New
England came, reluctantly, into the policy. In
1874 majority Of he. delegation was opposed
10 it. From the largest State Of New England
there was but a solitary vote in favor of the
bill That enterprsing People can readily &C
commoda,c their industry to any policy, pro-
yded, II be sstt'ed They supposed this was
fixed, and they submitted TO the DEGREES OF Gov
ernn.nt And the progress Of public opinion
has kept pace with the development of the
beaefLs OF the system. Now all New Eng
laud, at least in this Horse, with the eKcep.
ton one small, still voice. HiiD is in favor of the
system, In 1924 all Maryland was against it
nnT, the naipri'y is for it. Then, Louisiana,
WIN "He exception, was opposed TO il now,