Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-04-16


sons of South Carolina, (Mr. Hayne,) after
drawing most vivid and frightful picture
of the condition of the South--of fields
Observation-Disclosures ilapidated--overseers
becoming masters, and masters overseers-
general stagnation and approaching ruin
picture which, l confess, filled me with
dismay--cried out to us, abolish your tariff
reduce your revenue TO the standard of
economical Government--and once more
the fields of South Carolina will smile with
beauty--her embarrassments will vanish
commerce will return to her harbors, labor
TO her plantations, augmented prices for
her staples, and contcntInent and prospect
~ and universal happiness to her oppressed
people. Well, we did reduce the tariff
and, after nine years of protection, we have
had nine years of descending tariff and
of free trade. Nine years Qrom 1924 to
1889 we had the protective policy of a
high tariff; and nine years from 1888 to
lSf2) we have had the full operation of free
trade on more than moiety Of the whole
amount of our imports, and n descending
tariff on the residue. And what is The con-
dition of South Carolina at this day. Has
she rcgaincd her lost prosperity! Has she
recovered from the desolation and ruin so
confidently imputed to the existence of a
high tariff! believe if the gentleman from
South Carolina could be Intercepted here,
and would respond in candor, unbiased by
the decisions cngendered by favoritc but
delusive theory, he would tell us that she
has not experienced the promised prosperity
which was dwet upon with SO much elo-
quence by his fcllow-cilzcn. How is it in
regard to the great staple of the SOUTH
How stand the prices of cotton during these
nine years of the descending Tariff and
the prevalence of Free Trade! How do
these years compare with the nine years of
Protection and high Tariff Has the price
Of cotton increased, as we were told ii
would, by the talented South Carolinanl-
1t has happened that during the nine Tar
iff years the average price of cotton was,
from 1924 to 1888, higher than during the
nine years of descending Tariff and Free
Trade; and al the instant am speaking,
understand that cotton is selling at lower
rates than have ever been realized since
the war with Great Britain. know with
what tenacity theorists adhere to favor
lite theory, and search out for imaginary
causes of results before their eyes and deny
the true. | am not going into the land of
distractions and of metaphysics. There
are two great, leading, incontestible facts,
which gentlemen must admit: first. that a
high Tariff did not put down the prices of
staple commodities; and, second, that low
Tariff and Free Trade have not been able
to save them froni depression. These are
the facts, let casuists and theorists, and the
advocates Of one-sided paralytc Free
ta - 40
to the world. and our blighted and paraly-
zed and dead side toward our own people,
make of them what they can. At the very
moment that England is pushing the re-
sources of ASH, cultivating the fields of In
dia, and even contemplating the substituting
of Africa, for the supply of her factories
with cotton, and when the importations
from India have sweled from 100000 bales
to $4,000, we arc told that there are to be
no restrictions on Free Trade.
Let me not be misunderstood, and let me EN-.
treat that may not be msrepresented. am
nc. advocating the revival OF high protective tar
if. am for abiding by the principles OF the
compromise net; | am for doing what no Southern
man OF fair or candid mind has ever yet denied
giving to the country revenue which may pro.
vide for the economical wants Of the Government,
ton to our home industry. If there be here SIN
gle gentleman who will deny the fairness and pro,
priety OF this, shall be glad 10 see and hear who
he is.
This check on the flow OF specie abroad, 10 pay
either commercial or public debt, will operate
by the imposition OF duties TO meet the wants OF
this Government will keep the precious metals
at home 10 q much greater extent than is now
possible. hope that We shall learn to live with.
in our own means and not remain SO dependent
as we now ore on the mere good pleasure and do,
mes,ic policy Of foreign Governments. We go
for revenue--for an amount Of revenue adequate
10 an economical administration of the Govern.
ment. We can get such revenue nowhere else
than from tariff on importaliona. No man in
his senses will propose resort 10 direct or inter
nal taxes. And this arrangement OF the tariff,
while il answers this end, will at the same time
operate as q check on efiluX Of the precious me.
tss. end retain what is necessary for the puI.
poses Of exchange and circulation.
Tic fourth advantage attending the adoption
Of the system proposed will be, that the States
will be left in the undsturbed possession of the
land fund secured 10 them by the act OF the last
session, and which was intended 10 aid them in
the embanassmcnrs under which some of them
are now tutoring.
And the last is ,hn, TO which have already ad
yered, viz that i. will afford, indirectly, protec
lion 10 the interests of American industry And
the most bitter and persevering opponent TO the
protective policy | ever met with, has never de.
MED that il is both the right and the duty Of Gov
eminent 10 lly the taxes necessary TO The Dublic