The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-01-12

on tea, Of . S2,0OOOOO
In eractproportion that a Tariff tor. Protec-
tion produces its intended effect, in the same pro-
portion does 1t increase the amount paid By the
People ouer the fair and natural price Suppose
that three -fourths of the cotton goods consum-
ed in our country be manufactured at home, and
the government wishes 10 raise two millions Of
dollars on imported cottons, then the people
would pay in the enhanced price
Of imported cottons, S20O0,OOO
Of cottons manufactured al home, 100000
Total, $4,000, 1000
Showing an exaction of EIGHT MILLIONS
from the people, tUo only for the benefit of the
government. and SIX for the benefit of the
manufacturers!
If nine-tenths be,manufactured at home and
the government seek to raise two millions on the
tenth still imported, they must make the people
pay tpenty millions, EIGHTEEN Of them for
the benefit of the manufacturers! "
And if such duty exclude the foreign arti-
Gle altogether, the WHOLE Of the enhanced
price, be it TEN MILLIONS or: TWENTY
MILLIONS, becomes a tax on the people for
the benefit of the manufacturers, and they must
then be taxed in some other way for the sup
port of Government.
Precisely the same principle applies TO every
other protected article.
Is this system right! In the course of life
passed not without observation, we have learnt
that the human mind may be led to believe all
sorts of absurdities But for the charity this
conviction has taught us, we should not believe
any intelligent man honest who would maintain
that such system is beneficial or just to the
great body of the people Yet multtudes Of
honest men undoubtedly do believe it-belleve
in effect that 1t is blessing to the people to
force them by law to give a part oftheir earnings
for the purpose Of building up manufactures
and enrichng their owners.
We trust, however, that truth has made too
much progress to admit an increase OF protec-
tive duties in our day. Let the manufacturers
nave the twenty per cent. protection allowed
them by the Compromise act; but, if the gov
ernment must have more revenue than gene
raj twenty per cent. duty will yield, we say, let
it be raised by an increase of duties on the un-
protected articles only, thus taking from the
people only so much as is needed for government
-r-rfrv5rs. Duff t1esa-;.+-~t;L'o- I1roHoPolists-
who are eternally applying to the government
to enrich them at the expense of every Farmer,
Plarer, Mechanic, and Working Man in the
country, are not satisfied with this, and insist
on going into new partnership with the govern
ment for the plunder Of the people, we 90 for
reducing the duties on the protected articles,
and leaving them hereafter to shift for them
selves. A discrimination against them is a
thousand times more just than discrimination
against the People, and if they press such an
isuse, let it be met with the arms Of truth and
reason.
Protecting American industry! Rather call it
a system to depress American industry-to tax
production-to COMPEL the many to work for the
few to make US nation of landlords and ten
ants, of Princes and Paupers.
See in the following extracts from the last
English prpers, the blessed effects of such a
system in a country where it has been carried
to perfection:
PA1sLEY-The gloomy forebodings on the
subject of trade consequent on the near ap-
proach of the kmost flat season of the year are
more than being realized. During the past
week the number of working people, with their
wives and families, depending on the relief COM
mittee for existence. has increased upwards of
two thousand, the total number being no less
than eight thousand eighthundred and thrty-six
persons who have no means of supporting them
selves except by charity.
TocKPoRT.-The distress Of the working
classes of this town, instead of diminishing is
on the increase. Out of 5000 persons who
were assessed, upwards of 1000 have been
summoned as defaulters, and new two shilling
rate has been figured. Scores Of families are
literally starving, and no less than nine families
have not tasted bread for three weeks. The
streets are crowded with men, women and chill
dren, seeking relief, while the several shop
keepers are completely besieged by importunate
beggars.
As yet we may justly sing "Hail Columbia,
happy land;" but should the project OF our
Whig Leaders be carried out, we may find in
these accounts from Paisley and Stockport, true
pictures of our future Lowels and Pittsburgs,
many of whose working people are now so de-
luded as to join in the cry of more projection for
the benefit of men whom this system will as
suredly make their masters.