Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-03-07


the application of some efficient remedy.
Without pretending to any particular
knowledge of the subject, he did not doubt
that one of the most powerful causes in
producing this unlavorable result, was the
expanhed-no, that was not strong enough,
the bloated state four currency, which,
by raising prices far beyond what they
ought 10 he, was weighing SO heavily on
the proslrale energy of the country, and
especially on all those branches of indus
try which, like navigation, had to compete
abroad with nations that had less expan-
ded and sounder currency. This he be-
lieved 10 he the main cause, and next to Ii,
he placed the oppressive protective duties,
now fortunately going off under The COM
promise act, which so greatly enhanced
The price Of shipbuilding, the rigging, and
supplying vessels, as well as The wages of
seamen. Against this oppressive load
our foreign navigation had no compensa-
lion. 1t had TO meet the competition of
other nations on the broad ocean, weighed
down with the enormous duties on iron,
hemp. cordage, and almost every other
article that entered into the construction,
the rigging and supply Of vessels, without
a parucle OF proirction TO tighten the
burthen, just as our great, staple Interests,
the cotton, rice. and tobacco, had to meet
the competition of all the world in the
foreign markets with the burden, without
protection, or the probability Of protection.
And for what was this oppressive load
laid on these, the great sources Of national
opuleuce and prosperity? To protect GER
tain brances OF industry. which were dig
nified with the name Of home industry,
asains, foreign competition-not on that
broad ocean, nor abroad in foreign mar
kets. bu, at home, and at their own doors.
We who had to go abroad and contend with
all the world, were weighed down with ar
oppressive bond;thal other branches should
have monopoly at home! And YET there
are those, if we may judge from what we
have heard in this discussion, who not only
denounce The act bv which this load is 60
ing uif, but are ready to renew the prolec-
tive system with all it's injustice aud op-
preston.
But against the voice ofsuch.he Mr.. C.)
was happy to hear that Of the Senator from
Pennsylvania fa.thesi from him, MIR. Buch
f tbs s hGh fbss fassad
the congarnmise. That Senator had done
no more than justice to that act. IL ter
Minated honoraoly aud fairly, without the
sacrifice Of any interest, one of The most
dangerous controversies that ever disturb
ed the Union, or endangered lis existence
not the danger of dissolution of the
Union, as we learnfrom the Senator, was
anticipated abroad. The danger lay in a
different direction. Dissolution is not the
only mode by which our Union may he de-
s,royed II is a Federal Union. a Union
of sovereign States, and can he As elfrctu-
alv and much more easily DESTROYED by
consolidation, than by dissolution. He
who knows the history Of our race, and
the working ofthe human breast. best un-
iersiands the great aud almost insuperable
difficulties in the way of dissolution. There
is scarcely au instance or record OF any
people, speaking the same language, and
having the same Government aud laws,
that have ever dissolved their political con-
neclion through internal causes or struggle.
He excluded Of course, colonies throwing
oifth control Of the parent country, or
partition of kingdoms by rnonarchs. The
constant strggle is 10 enlarge and not to
divide; and there neither is, nor ever has
heeu the least danger that our Union would
terminate in dissolution. But the danger
on the opposite side is imminent, as was
foreseen from the first by our wisesr states
men and most ardent patriots; and never
was tha, danger more menacing than when
the gallant and patriotic State he repre-
senred gave the blow that led 10 the COM
promise. That blow was moi to destroy
hut to save the Union. moi for disnnlon
bur against consolidation and most effect
ual did it prove. II brought the protective
system TO the ground, never to rise again;
that system which has brought such Innu-
merable disasters OH the country, and which
had we'll nigh terminated our Union III
consolidation and, with it, the establish
men, of despotic power. Al its very basis
lay the assumption Of power, which. II
il had been established would have made
this Governmenl of unlimited power, and
of course. consolidated Government 1t
assumed that duties and taxes might be
laid not only for revenue, for which pur-
pose only the power was granted, hut that
they might be perverted to the purpose OF
encouraging one pursuit and disconragIng
another; that is, that The revenue power
might he converted inio penal and rewar-
dug power-the power Of rewardlng one
class of industry and furnishing another
Who does not see that the assumption OF
such power. on the part of this Govern
ment, would give it unlimited control over
all The pursuits and business Of life. and
the entire industry and prosperity OF the
country!
Acting on this false and dangerous as