Litchfield enquirer., 1841-05-13

distinguishes all their laws OF trade ana
manufactures? To me it appears obvious
that every American, whether ne oe Iar,
| mer, planter, or manufacturer, IS interested
in extending the domestic market Tor coIton
"a market, which the American can iOEeveI
and fully secure to himself ana wnIcn; u!.''
Of late, has been regularly and rapidly In
creasin@. The southern politician is mlsta-
ken in the cardinal pinciple OF hiss theory.
{" that duty on Imports, is duty on exports
II il tax chiefly on consumption TO Sone
extent on foreign capital and labor. IL III"
deed it be true, that duty on imports Is
Tux on cOuSumption, then the consumer IS most
affected bv the tariff, and not the southern
planter. The south in proportion to Its pop
ulation, consumes less, very much less, IMAM
the north, or the states of free labor, both on
account of climate, and the character OF tneir
laboring people. BesideS,is il nothing to al
ford EMPLOYMENT to our cOuntrymen, TO rem
der them comfortable and happy, and pro-
vide the means by which they may e0uca'e
and establish their families! Is nothMg
to secure to labor its just value, and ready
markets to agricultural prod1ctions' anu
save ourselves from the annual Dram OF
foreign debt, the millions paid to France for
her silks, and to England for her numerous
manufactures? This country abounds in
the raw material used in the manufacture OF
MANY of the articles imported, and with pro-
per attention, these materials may be vastly
augmented, and rendered adequate to the
supply of our wants. Why now send them
abroad to be wrought? We have capital
enough, water power enough, hands waiting
TO be employed /; and in a brief period. might
become, TO a great extent, independent OF
European workshops. ask again, is it not
important to make the most OF our own re-
sources, to re.animate once more, our manu.
featuring villages, and embellish this glori.
Gus land with countless, fiourishing and smi-
ling hamlcts, where content and plenty shall
dwell securely! The policy advocated by
certain southern politicians, if followed out
in it's consequences, would not merely impo.
verish the country it would make US vas
sails of foreign capitalists, and wither the
dearest interests of New-England.
When the compromise act, So called, was
passed, we'll recollect that gentlemen from
the planting states asserted, on the floor Of
Congress- that in 1912, when the act would
take full effect, we should see that the plant
ing states had been paying we'll nigh the
whole of the national revenue, as they said,
by the artful and disguised operation of du-
ties on imports. The time has nearly arri-
we'd, but the discovery has not been made,
WDulC III tUe IUcUI tINIC uOtU LIC IHVlH OHu
the south have been greatly impoverished.
The policy of a Protective Tariff is SD
much affected by considerations, growing
out of another interest, that I trust shall not
be accused Of asperity towards the South, or
of officious interference in their concerns,
by expressing the opinion that free labor
throughout this nation, and especially the
manufacturing portions of it. is interested in
the numerous and powerful influences of
slavery. But that I may not be misappre-
hended, let me observe, that, in the govern
ment, we should not depart from the Consti.
tuition of the United States, the supreme po-
litical law of the land, which we have sworn
anew, this day, TO observe and maintain.
would give to this bond of our glorious Un-
ion a hearty and vigorous support, in its sew
ernl provisions, as the wiSest and best COM
pact which could at the time, or could now
be attained. But feel no obligation to pro-
coed at all beyond the Constitution, to foster
or perpctuate system of slavery. would
in this matter observe good faith toward sis
States as inviolable as between man and
man; while beyond this, concessions to
slavery will not readily be made by those
who look upon it as great wrong and ru.
inous institution. have said that labor is
affected generally by slavery. This is pro.
duced chiefly by the national policy and
public measures to which it gives rise. 1t
may be observed further, that few improve
mrnts by means Of machinery and water
mower can be introduced into those regions
where labor finds 1t chief employment in
raising cotton. tobacco, and sugar nor in
time to come can slave labor derive much
aid from those inventions which give i'm
mense facilities to free labor and multiply its
power beyond computation. Of the charac-
ter and wants Of free labor, and especially
the policy which fosters manufactures, navi-
CATION, and the fisheries, the planter has ne
ccssarily but little knowledge, and with its
peculiarities, little sympathy. Ofthis, how
ever, we do not complain. Perhaps our
views are erroneous. We wish only TO say,
that where slavery bears upon general inte-
rests, as in national affairs, we may with pro.
priety speak of its tendency, and firmly
maintain our rights against its power.
cannot pass from u subject so vital to our
constituents as the protection OF their indus
try, without expressing my regret that on
this and the kindred subject Of a national
currency. nothing is settled in the govern
ment. One alarming disease of the country
is its vacillation in public measures. There
is no certainty that the policy of one year
or one administration will be the policy of
the next. 1t is certainly time, after the ex-
pericnce of half century. to discover where
our true interests lie, and to pursue them by
some established land marks in Legislation,
that labor and capital may not be forever
embarrassed and perplcxed. Ifhitherto the
country has been deluded and unwscly gov.
erned, If we have for SO long u period been
pursuing false theories. let us carefully
search out the true path, and when it is found,
perseyeYe i'm il with cOnstancy. We must,