The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-21

thousand active, interchangeable societies were
formed newspapers were established for no
other purpose, and large sums Of money were
raised aud Systematically employed TO effect
n-would all this produce no commotion
would gentlemen who bare represent that
enlightened land, quietly y0le their reference
particularly il the state Of the case, was as
apt to enlist delusion and fanaticism and n.y.
pocnsy in the cause, as the one under consi-
derasion friend, (Mr. Abbot I.awrence,)
has presented me with a volume. containing
the statistics of Massachusetts: and lis peru.
sal. has filled me with establishment and
admiration. | find that State 10 be n vast
workshop, in which every BODY seems "a
be employed. lndustryAand perseverance,.
skill and inventive sgeuius, are nowhere
more remarkably displayed and have in no
age of the world, produced greater or more
useful results. More diligence, Thrift, and
prosperity. more intelligence, literary and
religious, scientific and mechanic I; a more en-
hghtened employment Of labor-saving ma
chinery, and all other useful agents greater
amount OF the elements of national wealth and
power, happiness and glory never has existed
among the same number of people. But this
Is not all Massachusetts has tonnage great
er than that Of New York, and furnishes about
half the sailors employed in the whole marine
ofthe United States. There rolls no billow
there blows no tempest upon the deep, that
does not rock and wait her multtudinous sails.
There is not a sea, or an inlet, from poll to
poll, from the rising to the setting Of the sun,
in which there is a transaction of barter or
sale, that is not explored by her hardy and
adventurous traders. She seizes on every
treasure Of ocean and Of earth, and with them
freights her rich argosies to every market. In
happening whale, clearing deck for battle,
or pouring broad-sde into an enemy, her
mariners have no equals: and the history of
her battle fields has established the steadiness
and heroism Of her soldiery. She is a land Of
artihcers, scientific and practical, Of heroes
and sages, OF statesmen, jurists, and orators,
oil patriots and christians and she has pros
porous and "bold peasantry, their country's
pride" My soul warns, and heaves, and
swells, when reflect that she is part Of our
common country, and how much she con-
tributes to the renown of the American name.
Suppose that there should be numerous assoc
Citations OF western ag arans, as happily there
are not, who should assume before the nation
the position that an equality of fortune and
condition among the American people, is fayo-
rable to the preservation and perpetuity of
our institutions and liberties !; that large manu-
featuring establishments tend to make "the
rich richer" to subdue the spirit of personal
independence among the operators, who are
dependent upon the proprietor for employ
ment and bread, and thus to debase aud pre-
pare them for political servitude; that her
navigation and commerce increased the inc
oc.l
in the products OF foreign skill and labor, to
the mpoverishment of our country, and to the
corruption Of the yi.ture and simplicity Of our
national character by the use of the Injuries
Of other cmes and these friends Of the level
of sloth and poverty, these ''architects Of
ruin should petition Congress to impose
upon the ships of Massachusetts a tonnage
duty SO heavy as to drive them into port 10
rot in ideness; and to give so large bounty
to the importer OF all articles of foreign manu-
facture, as would annihilate all her manulac
lures. And these sinister objects were pressed
upon Congress, at every session, with in
domitable peltinacity, by societies systemat-
cally organized, and operating throughout the
whole OF the great west. Would the mem
beers from Massachusetts then contend for the
universal, sacred right of petition, and de-
nounce the rejection Of these missils Of mis-
chief as bold iniraction of the constitution?
On the contrary, would they not decry all
such movements as unwise and destructive Of
the general good; as evidence Of an alien and
hostile spirit to the permanent interests and
happiness of their state and demand by all
the ties of family concord aud patriotism, by
the deep and general devotion of the whole
American people to the Union, and to constr
tutional liberty; and by the jeopardy into
which all these high and holy interests would
be brought, that Congress should cast these
wicked and suicidal petitions out from this
capitol, and reprcss them for the future by its
sernest countenance l conjure my coun-
trymen and brethren, to mcte out 10 us such
justice, liberality and fraternal forbearance, as
they would expect, aud would certainly re-
ceve, from us.
These movements and their consequences
are not designed TO be limited to this Dis
trct. The manumission OF few thousand
slaves, if that was known 10 be the perpetual
bound, beyond which they were not to pass,
could never have Weakened up fanaiicism,
stimulated hypocrisy, and moved whole COM
munities in this cause, to the extent which
has been witnessed for some years past. No.
These daring agiators, have boldly erected
the standard of separate political organiza-
ton; they are striking for the possession of
the General Government-an then private
property, law, aud constitution, halcyon peace
and security all 10 be struck down by
their monslrous Legislation. All buying and
selling OF slaves between any OF the States
is to be prohibited no new State is TO be adj
mitted into the Union, without perpetual IN
terdct against slavery. Their presses and
apostles boldly assume the position, that pro-
perry in human flesh cannot exist; that the
aid Aocla.