Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-23
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM.

was at first almost dumbfounded by Mr. Claws bill.
seems to have taken heart anew He dscaims in
deed all desire to "create new and premature
and ardent agitation of the tariff question:
says lie "sball not do any thing 10 provoke IT,
though The adds significantly is intention TO
90 all that we can to keep the PROTECTING PRINCE
PIE alive, aud convince the people of the United
States OF the necessity of perpetual vigilance; and
that, though the friends of domestic industry have
been brought to pause, they not suffer them
selves to he dsuned, nor permit suspicion 10 pre-
val that they have abandoned their opinions i'm des
pur oil the future BETTER TIMES ARE AHEAD
Facts will present themselves to dssipate the fool
notion! that high duties, goods imported, are ne
cessartty barthens The people land to show that
mey oientimes are most substantial benefits !!-THAr
PRICE is ALWAYS MEASURED By THE MEANS OF PAY
ING 1T and that three to,its of The interest in MAN
uFAcrUREs IS IN the OWNERS AND CULTIvAroRs OF
THE s0IL."-"With the views Just stated (adds Mr.
NJ we propose, in the of a few weeks, to
commence a regular and calm discussion of prn-
cipIes, and their eGects-with The hope of being able
to present some things i'm such lights as will give
confidence to the friends of the "AMERIcAN SYSTEM
ana weaken the virulence of its mistaken opponen s
Ofthose who have used the tariff" to accomplish
their own reasonable or ambitious purposes we
have no hope; and, it they ,cM go headlong TO de-
slruction-why let them! There is no class of per-
sons, in our opinion, deeply interested in the pre-
servahon OF that "systein," us those who most vio
leny oppose it's Passion will not permit them to
observe the "sIGNs THE TINES" We shall hoist
tho banner to the head of the niast-not i'm defiance
but as evidence OF our confidence i'm the Justice
OF the cause, with consciousness, also, of an ab-
ty to keep il proudly floating there.''
We have as little sympathy us Mr. N. for those
who have abused this Tariff for ambitious views of
their own-be it Clay, or Calhoun, or what not We
go not for any s'ich purposes--nor will the Cap
tnn (which is the people, if he he true to himself
But mt the same tlne trust that the great body
of the people will put down this whole inauous
md Fictitious system of Tariff-that they will haul
down the pirate coours-and once more fly aloft
rRnf HoaP tho f.,t- =.
rant as not to know that the great body of the Manu-
facnrers are satisfied with Mr.. Clay's bil-that they
are flourishng under the hope of its continuancc:
ana that additional capital pouring into the chan
mel! Under such circumstances, well may Mr.. Niles
excaim Better times are atead' But what saw the
great body of the Consumers ofthe country? Those
too who are for letting the energies of this young
ana extensive country shoot forth they please
Those who are for permitting every man to Judge of
bis own interests instead of putting him under the
controul of his representatives? Those too
who are for combining the limited powers of fedora
tive government to the few and specified powers
which were giUen to it-a the rest being reserved
TO the States or the People?
When we see men of talent and distinction, like
ID. Webster, boldly adhering to this crude and fac
tItlous system, after they had originally opposed it
with arguments which defy even their own i'm penu-
ty to overthrow is time for us to rally around the
Constitution and Free Trade 1t was but the other
day that MIR. w. addressed the people of Pittsburp
IN which he told them in his own emphatic manner
q M
question OF more absorbing interest," than the protec
ton of our own domestic manufactures do NOT
mean any particular class, but the whole, as COM
pretended under that system which provides for our
wans-that system whose essence, and object, and
life il is to administer compromising rewards TO Anne
rIcan manual labour"
But, this is not the object of the real American
System. When that system secures TO each man the
fruits OF his own inhc"=, as little subjected taxa
Ton or restriction as possible; when il leaves him
as free to employ his aboura and his capital as he can
be made, it has done its great office. 1t is then the
individual provides for himsef-and it is i'm this
sense only, that our free institutions are "to adm-
Mister compromising rewards American manual
iabour" In fact that labour is to reward itself and
capitai IS TO seek its own profitable Investments
But let us hear Mr.. w. further:
"Gea'lemen' those of you who have taken any pains
10 enquire INTO the history Of that part OF the country to
which belong, know that in the quarter with which
am more Immediately connected. The people were not
early TO urge upon the government protection by high -
lies Indeed, candor obliges to acknowledge that
when the act OF 1924 passed. neither he who now adj
dresses you, those with whom he acted were ready o
wiling 10 take The step which that proposed They
were not prepared TO act they doubted the erpediencg
passed. however, by the great and overwhelming in
ence OF this central seconof country, New York Penn
syivah's, anu ONO We acquiesced; we yielded TO it,
adopted u, and TO capital labor such direc
tion as would enable us TO conform to the policy of the
country have become welded to it,, and Identified
WIN H. III know oil no shade OF difference be- en- the
interests OF pennsylvania and Massachusetts. We shall
not yield it without struggle. Neither shall we Weld
the principle OF proecon without severe srur ale nm
der any circumstances whatever"
Mr. w. mistakes the fact as much as he now
missiates The principle. The opponents of the act
of'24 not only doubted its erpediency but its consti
nationality Mr.. w. was himself the most decided
scepc on the rights of CongressLas his own resol,,
uohs IN Faueu Hall sufficiently atesI-And if it
ne unconstitutional Them has il ceased be so since
III IL was then also contrary TO all our ideas of expe-
diency to NEEDLE with private pursuits, has it ceas
Ell TO be so since All that Mr. w. should Sickle
Tor now is not to annihilae the Tariff at once but
10 40 II by degrees; 10 do it after due prepare
tIon TO come to the natural of society as soon
MS possiible But if he aderes to the doctrines of
tile Psburg Address, he may be assured that the
struggle VIII be nIade-and that however severe il
WIZ ultimately prove successful. We must bring
pack the government TO its true princpes-and thus
secure The Constitution ITSELF from change and from
convulsOn.
We cannot drop the pen, without copying for the
benefit OF orr readers the following lust remarks
from the last Charleston Patriot on Mr. Claws Bill
They present that subject in very clear and impress
sve point of view
"Bnt, what kind of an approach has been made towards.
REIMBURSEMENT Of the principle? Admitting tina the dis
elimination between al valorem specific duties and
c inmuins were gross violations of commercial free
oon ana me constitution, and that their an
approach TO The object in view the approach one d-
recon mas been more than compensated by recession
IN anoher III Tie Nnliiers have advanced in one line
ney nave refrigerator in different They have got
rid oil the specific duties aud the worst mnimus but tjev
nave naed on the country far az good filth IAN en-
tai legislation, the principle Of the home valuation and
c''h duues hay have got rii Of one obstruction to
TIE freedom OF commerce, but they have helped IN inn
pose much greater impeachment Now this il indie.