Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-03-15

''''" ouSCcoSiui CoiIpettion, III TIE
freedom of the coasting trade existing
between the different parts Of the Union
That this must be the true cause, is de.
monstrated by the fact, that, however il
may be with the port of Charleston, oul
coastIng tonnage, generally, is constant.
ly increasing. As to the foreign tonnage
about one half of that which is engaged
in the direct trade between Charleston
and Great Britain, is English; proving
that the tonnage Of South Carolina can.
not maintain itself in competition, un-
der the free and equal navigation secur-
ed by our treaty with that Power.
When gentlemen have succeeded in
their design of an immediate or gradual
destruction ofthe American System, what
is their substitute? Free trade! Free
trade! The call for free trade, is as I'M
availing as the cry Of spoiled child, in
It's nurses arms, for the moon or the
stars that glitter in the firmamen mt Of heav-
en-. 1t never has existed; it never will
exist Trade implies, at least, two par
ties. To be free, it should be fair, equal,
and reel ciprocal. But if We throw our
ports wide open to the admission Of fo-
reign productions, free of all duty, what
ports, of any other foreign nation, shall
we find open to the free admission of our
surplus produce? We may break down
all barriers to free trade, Oh our part, but
the work will not be complete until TO-
reign Powers shall have removed theirs
There would be freedom on one side, and
restrictions, prohibitions, and exclusions,
on the other. The bolts, and the bars,
and the chains, of all other nations, will
remain undisturbcd. 1t is, indeed, pos
sDle, that our industry and commerce
would accommodate themselves to this
unequal and un ust state of things: for,
such is the fleXibility of our nature, that
1t bends itselfto all circumstances. The
wretchcd prisoner, incarcerated in u
gael, after long time, becomes recon-
! icllcd to his solitude, and regularly notch
es down the passing days Of his confne-
mcnt
Gentlemen deceive themselves. 1t is
not free trade that they are recommend
ing to our acceptance. 1t is, in effect,
The British colonial system that we are
invited to adopt; and if their policy pre-
vail il will lead, substantially, to the re-
colonization of these States, under the
commercial dominion of Great BRITAIN
And whom do we find some of the prin-
ciple supporters, out of Congress, Of this
foreign system? MIR. President, there
are some foreigners who always remain
l,,xo 10,
our country: whilst, happily, there are
many others who readily attach them
selves TO our principles and our institu-
tons. The honest, patient, and indus
trous German, readily untes with our
people, establishes himself upon some Of
our fat land, fills his capacous barn, and
enjoys, in tranquility, the abundant fruits
which his diligence gathers around him,
always ready to fly to the standard of his
adopted county, or ofits laws, when cal
led by the duties ofpatriotism. The gay,
the versatile, the phiosophic Frenchman,
accommodating himself cheeriully to all
the vicissitudcs of life, Incorporates him
sell, without difficulty, in our society,"
But, of all foreigners, none amalgamate
themselves so quickly with our people as
the natives of the, Emerald isle. In
some Of the visions which have passed
through my Imagination, have suppos-
ed that Ireland was, originally, part and
parcel of this continent, and that, by some
extraordinary convu!sion of nature, it
was torn from America, and, drifting a
cross.the ocean, was placed in the unfor-
tmate vicinity of Great Britain. The
same openheartedncss; the same gener-
Gus hospitality; the same careless and un-
calculating indifference abouthuman life,
characterize the inhabitants of both coun-
tries. Kentucky has been sometimes
called the Ireland of America. And |
have no doubt that, if the current of en-
igration were reversed, and set from
America upon the shores Of Europe, in
stead of bearing from Europe TO Ameri-
ca, every American emigrant to Ireland
would there find, as every Irish emf
grant here finds, a hearty welcome and a
happy home!
But, sir, the gentleman to whom ] am
about to allude, although long resident
of this country, has no feelings, no attach
ments, no sympathies, no principles, in
common with our People. Near fifty
years ago, Pennsylvania took him to her
bosom, and warmed, and cherished, and
honored him; and how does he manifest
his gratitude' BY aiming a vital blow
at system cndeared to her by thor
ough conviction that it is indispensable
to her prosperity. He has filled at home
and abroad, some of the highest Offices
under this Government, during thirty
years, and he is still at heat an alien
The authority of his name has been in
voked, and .he labors Of his pen, in the
form Of q memorial To Cnnnress hnra