Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-03-21
DEBATE
IN THE L. s. SENATE, MARcH2d. 1893
MIR. ROBBINs, SPEECH,

Mr.. ROBBINS said he had returned To
yorable To this project; he doubted hi:
own, because some friends, to whom he
had been in the habit Of delerring much
had different impressions. But rehec.
ton had satisfied Inc (said Mr.. X that
my own impressions were right; and tho
the amendments Of the bill have weaken
ed, they have not removed them can
not dissemble my dislike Of the bill, not
wi,hstanding the temporary political good
effect it may, by some, be expected to
produce; nor can | refrain from stating
the grounds Of that dislike, or at least the
more prominent grounds.
The Bill carries with il the idea, that
the prote eCtive policy is an evil in itself
an evil to be deprec ated, and not to be
tolerated for moment, but to prevent a
greater evil namely, the evil of a sud-
den overthrow or the great establish
nentS dependent upon it f; and to be toll
Grated only for few short years, to give
an opportunity to those establishments to
wnd'up their affairs, and enable them,
so far as that time will enable them, to
prevent the consummation of their total
ruin. The bill thus considers this pro-
tective policy as a great State criminal,
condemned to die, but whose sentence is
respited for few days, TO give him time
to arrange his affairs, repent him Of his
evil deeds, and prepare for death; but
whose doom is fixed, and irIevocably die
he must. Such an idea going out to the
country, think, must be pernicous in its
effects. especially as it goes out from the
proiessed friends, or some Of them, olthe
policy, wnh It's great champion at their
head. 1t must repress the spirit Of ad-
venture; it must dcprcciate the value Of
! those establishments ; it must arrest the
! progress of the business at the point
where it now is; no more capital will be
invested in 1t; and the capital already in
vested, will be Withdrawn as far and as
fast as it can be. The tide viii have
reached its high water mark; il will now
turn back and fall to lowseLb, perhaps
never to re-commence its flood. These
great establishments, So widely spread
over the country, with all the industry
dependent upon them, will be kept in a
teverish lingering state oteAstence, sus-
! pended between hope and icar,wi,h much
TO alarm their lcars-with Little to ami
: mate their hopes. 1t cannot be but this
languishing state must ensue, for we oil
know how feeble is the hand, when not
seconded and invigoruted by the impul-
ses of the heart.
i But | have arisen, mainly, TO contri-
butte, SO far as my poor efforts can con
tribute, to correct the impression giver
by the bill to the prejudice of this poll
cy. The protective policy an evil in it.
self, | would be glad to know if any
gentlemen here will tell me that the im-
mcnse resources ofthis great country arc
ncverto be developed: S,ifto be develop
ed, if they can be, without the aid OF
Government? And then, if this aid can
be afforded by any means other than the
pro.cc policy? The boundless re.
sources in our agriculture, with its inf
mite capabilities; our resources in oul
mineral wealth; our resources in artlli-
cial power by water and by steam; our
boundless resources in the manual labor
of our many, and rapidly increasing mil
lions ofpeople; the resources in the great
capital OF this country; in the skill ac-
qured and to be acquired; but above all,
in the enterprise and inventive genius OF
the most enterprising and inventlve peo-
pie that perhaps ever existed on earth
Are these resources never 10 be devel-
oped' However We may dliler in op'n-
ion as TO the best means of their dcvel-
opment. as TO our interest in the object
itself, We cannot differ; that must be the
same every wherein the South, and in
the North, in the West and in the East
All parts abound with these resources,
all are interested in their development.
The country is uniaiihiul to herself, un-
faithful to her people, if she do not adopt
the means necessary to their develop
'mcnt. ! ask again, can this develop
ment be effected without the aid Of Gov.
ernment? Will any one tell me il can
be effected by system of free trader
A trade free on one side and restricted
OH the otherl Free to us by oil the
world, and restricted by all the world a
gainst u.s. And this is all the free trade
we can have. Free trade 10 develoPe
our resources. Were il not for the re-
spect bear TO some respectable patrons
of that opinion, j would soy, that such a
thesis is only fit to be maintained b1y
schoolboys, as an exercise oithe schools
How il can be attempted TO be maintain
ed by men, enlightened by experience,
acouain;ed with the state OF the world,
and capable of reflection, is to me in
comprehen-ible let them tell ne, If