The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-08-08
From the Salem Gaelic.
political, MOVEMENT.

Miller, George McDufie, Warren r. Davis,
ohm NJ. Fielder, John X. Griffin, w. L.
Nuckols. and Robert w. Barnwell, have
published an address to the people of South
carolina on the subject of the tariff and pro-
Getting system, dated at Washington, July
18th. in which tney give history OF the or
gin and progress Of the American Sys-
en-" and express their views and senu-
nents in relation to the recent MODIFICATION
# the Tariff.
Speaking of the probability Of relief from
the presen; system, and the prospect of any
important alterations, they add:
ut is apparent that the system is not only
progressive hut that each successive al
vance has been greater than the preceding,
and that the number of its supporters has
steadily increased at every successive strug-
gle in Congress"
And then with reference to the recent
modification, they remark, that
"Considered in reference to the condl-
ton of the country, and the wants OF
the Government, the recent struggle, ami
the measure which has resulted from 1t,
form no exception to this remark. Indeed
it may be affirmed with confidence, that the
system is at this moment, stronger than 1t
ever has been at any former period.
"What then," they add, is the boosted
compromise offered to the Southern States
by this new Tariff? 1t is nothing more nor
less than such an artfu arrangement Ut the
duties upon imports, as throws the burden
of federal taxation upon the productions OF
these States, while the tariff States are not
only exempted from any portion OF that bar
then, but actually gain more than they lose
by the entire operation of the system"
The following are the concluding romarks
of their address:
"The undersigned have presented this
brief exposition of the actual condition Of
your vital interests and your sacred RIG hts.
that you may decide for yourselves what
course it is expedient to pursue in this great
emergency, to rescue those interests from
impending ruin, and to yindicate those rights
from unconstitutional violation. They will
not pretend to suggest the appropriate rem
edy, but, after expressing their solemn and
deliberate conviction that the protecting
system must now be regarded as the settled
policy of the country, and that all hope of
relief from Congress is irrecoverably gone,
they leave it with you, the sovereign power
Of the State, to determine whether the tights
and the liberties which you have received
ancestry shall be tamely surrendered with
out struggle, or transmitted undninished
TO your posterlty.".
The great struggle is now at hand. The
election in South Carolina fakes place in
October, and accordingly both parties are
making prep ration to enter the field. In
the last legislature, the Nulifers had ma
jority, but not sufficient majority to call
Stata i Ill.
cation. In the approaching contest the Null
litiers are determined to 60 the whole.
To be grave, on hearing the South Caro-
lima complaints of intoerable oppression
from the North, exceeds all power of face
The truth is, it is the Northern States which
have reason to complain of the loss of power
which justly belongs to them. The appor-
tionnent of Representatives upon slaves has
deprived, and so long as retained, must for
ever deprive, the States in which slaves do
not exist, of their due weight in the political
scale, and transfers the power which Of
right belongs to them into the hands Of the
slave-holdlng States.
The northern weasel was certainly caught
asleep when the constitution was framed.
Byihat instrument it was declaredthat three
titths of the slave population should be rep
resented, and that internal taxes should be
assessed upon the slave holding States in Il
ratio corresponding to their increased rep
resentation. The honest delegates from the
North undoubtedly supposed that the prin-
cipal revenue of the country would always
be derived from internal taxation: but the
shrewd Southerners saw their advantage,
and have so managed matters that not a
dollar IS ever raised now in this manner.
They have the advantage without paying
the-stipulated equivalent. The reciprocity
is all on one side.
This inequality is oppression. Beasts of
burthen deserve as we'll to he represented
in the North as in the South. The slaves
OF the Southern States are no more civil be-
lngs, have no more political capacities, are
no more persons, than our oxen or horses.
All their earnings belong to their masters,
they pass by bills of sale, like our cattle,
and certainly are, IN the estimation of theil
masters, as little entitled to representation
as their or our beasts of burthen. The
slaves are the mere animated instruments of
agriculture the product of their labor ex-
cluslveiy belongs to the master, as much as
the product OF the labor of our animated in
struments of agriculture, of our horses and
oxen, belongs to their owners. Can any
thing be more unjust and oppressive, than
that Southern instruments of agriculture
should he added to the weight of the polit-
cal power of that section, and ours omitted
A planter, with small plantation and five
slaves, worth not more than common farm
in New England is now entitled to one vote
for himself and three for his slaves, THAT is,
the State has the benefit Ct them, which is
the same thing,) while the proprietor of the
farm has only one vote. The Shareholder
votes in virtue OF the stock on his plantation
while the New England farmer can only
give his own vote.
The black cattle of the South,-we mean
no disrespect to the colored people, but
speak of them only in the degradation of
slavery, have decided the Presidential cleo
ton once, and may Ito SO again, for they
send precisely the same number of Repre-
sentatyes TO Congress that all the freemen
of Massachusetts,, New Hampshire, and
Maine, are entitled to send. The elder
Albums was excluded from the chair, and
Mr.. Jefferson placed in it, by the votes of
negro slaves. Had the votes of the MAORI
ty of white men only been considered, Mr..
Adams would have been continued at the
helm.
The freemen of the North, owe il to them
selves to revolt against the inequality which
has been imposed upon them. They should
meet the taDclful grievances 'of Son.h earn