The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1842-11-24

Z view Y Z. of .ill.' |
inaIser Ii s.sts. 3 Il /: thirty
e oa .ls L ~. =, FL 81 suppose thai the
80 ssh1 - sl,;Yfy billions Is wanted
800 '. 80 81 shs Government, This
] aInount< covering = psnsss 7. ~.
$500, y M OI probably a million.
s. s1saIs q sffais gross revenue of thirty
& A s.a SssV our annual importations must
reads1 the aggregate amount of one
hundred millions. But let the oppo-
nenls Of protection come into power,
and let us suppose them to fix the av-
Ferage rate of duties at twenty per cent.
with this standard it would be ne
cessary for Us to import annually one
hundred and fifty millions worth of
foreign goods in order TO raise the re-
quisite amount of thirty millions OF
gross revenue. The question is, could
the country sustain such an importa-
ton ? Where can we send OUT pro-
ducts to pay for such an amount offor-
eign merchandise The result would
be that specie would go out of the
country again as it did, long ago, when
we were suffering from the evil of over
Iimportations. Because it is well known
that every important staple of the
Northern, Middle, and Western States
is burdened with duties in the ports Of
Europe, and we would thus be unable
10 pay, except in specie, the large bal
ance against US which such profnse
importations would create.
"Fhere would be another result al.
so equally disastrous. Our domestic
industry would be prosirated, the la
Dor of our people would be neutralized
by the competition Of foreign labor,
and we should be compelled to suffer
over again. and in worse form, The
severe Affections which we have now
some hope Of escaping.
"Under system of duties high en-
ough for protection, fewer importatons
will take place yet, those that are
made will supply as much revenue as
larger importations would under sys-
tenn Of low duties. With regard to the
present tariff, we repeat again that its
practical operation must be waited for
before it can be accurately known what
amount of revenue it will yield. The
cry of repeal is altogether premature.
"1'he pretext OF too little revenue
against the existing law therefore will
not do. The real ground of opposi-
ton is hostility 10 the protective Pran-
cipIe. We have evidence of this in The
language Of the anti-tariff journals, and
in the explicit declarations of leading
politicians. The Morning Post, the
organ Of Mr.. Calhoun in New York,
says
"s We have arrived at another era
/ cf liberty, and the battle of political
opinion in America, now drawing on,
is for free trade against q prefecture tar
| IF. This issue absorbs all the rest !;
and let it be contested by none but the
champions themselves
Again, the same Journal declares
that
In the Presidential contest which
is approaching, parties will divide on
one great question. Other questions
will be involved in the dispute, but
the main struggle will be as to The ques-
ton. That question will be, if we can
rightly interpret the signs of the times
pro ,ection and int1-protect'on.
"Mr. Eastman, of New Hampshire
who is regarded, we believe, as an or
thodox expounder of the new prIncl-
Piles of democracy spoke thus In
Congress
Opposition to the protective pol
lev is clearly and unequivocally dem
ocratic doctrine. 1t is one OF the
landmarks Of the Democratic party
Go where you will, sir, North, South
East, or West, and the Democratic
party willteIl you that they are opposed
to the protective system, But while
you will find upon this side almost the
entire body Of the Democratic party
YOU will find upon the other the great
mass Of the Wing party. Sir, let me
repeat it, the protective system as essen
| TALLY the Whig system
1--WE might give other quotations,
but these will do for the present. The
real ground, then, Of opposition to
the tariff law is not on the score OF
an apprehended want Of revenue but 1t
arises flom fixed hostility against the
protective policy Of the law"