The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-01-11
Mr.. MARSHALLS SPEECH,
In part on TIE reference Of The Presidents,
Message concerning the Tariff.

In part on TIE reference Of The Presidents,
Message concerning the Tariff.
There could be nothing so fatal 10 the peace
and to the Union of these States as the agita-
lion of questions in which the interests of slave
labor should be set in opposition to those of free
labor-in which a line was drawn between diff
ferent sections of the Union, as ftheir interests
were hostile TO each other. And the idea was
attempted to be established that the Govern
ment of this country could not exert the power
conferred upon it by the Constitution to establish
uniform system for the regulation of COM
merce without arraying one-half the country
against the other, and benefiting the one at The
expense of the other. Mr. Ms views of the
general subject were widely different. The
fact that slavery prevailed in a portion Of the
land, and not in another portion, taken in con-
necton with the diversity of products and of
pursuits among different portions ofthe country,
had always struck him as one Of the strongest
possible dement's of our national Union. What
furnished a more certain foundation for the in
terests of commerce than such diversity? Or
what had proved surer basis for peace and
amity among different nations ofhe world p
Were there one dead uniformity in natural
productions and in social pursuits, there could
exist no mutual exchanges between different
portions of the earth. and the natural tendency
would be 10 rivalry and discord whereas
natural diversity of products and of social habits
among different sections of the same country,
or among different countries, naturally tended,
if passion were absent, 10 unity and peace and
mutual prosperity and happiness. Could it ever
be the interest of the North to crush slave labor?
To destroy species ofindustrv different from
its own, and capable of being made fruitful
source of its prosperity? Or on the other
hand, could the South have any interest in pros
trating the industry and destroying the capital
of their Northern brethren? Never, surely,
never. But, so soon as any measure was pro-
posed in that Hall which looked, or eveu CLAN
ced, at fostering interests in which one portion
of the country was peculiarly concerned, in
stantly the walls resounded with oulcries of
Tariff! tariff Taxation taxation
In theory the doctrine of free trade was, he
confessed, very imposing. And if theory
and philosophy had the remsdelling Of all the
Stale. and Governments of the world if pc.
iitIcal economist were set up by common con-
sent as judge over all the earth if all national
Rntipaihies and enmities and preiudices could
be sofened down by the mere force of reason,
than indeed it might do to adopt the maxim
that industry and capital must be let alone-that
capital would find out such investment as was
most profitable, and industry would discover
that application of its powers which was most
productive. and Legislation might look on with
folded hands and admire the free working of
the system. Yes, il would be a beautiful spec.
tacle; we should have perfect Utopia of
world. True, one nation would still be richer
than another, from mere natural advantage of
position. of extent, of climate, and of soil. But,
alas political economists were unable thus to
arrange things. No mere theorst was set up
as umpire TO settle all questions among the ma
lions. Nations, ever since their existence,ha
been coniending. struggling for pre-eminence.
and they were at it still. If we went TO the
English authors, they would inculcate upon US
the fair and the beautiful doctrines off-ee trade,
and to hear them one would suppose that no
other policy had ever been thought of in Brit.
ain. But, when we looked al the actual poIicv
of England, did we find free trade &? Did Emo.
land leave capital and industry TO seek their
own channels and find their own investment =
How had that empire attained 10 her present
vast height of prosperity and power? By Civ.
inc every practicable protection and encour-
agemcnt to the industry of her people;
by attracting and domesticating 10 her
utmost ability the manufactures of the whole
world. No sooner did new branch of manu-.
facture rise up in any part Of Europe. than Eng
land tempted those who practised it. by protec-
tive duties, BY bounties by personal rewards,
by every seductive means within her reach, TO
settle in England. And no sooner was the
exotic planted on her shores than it was sure TO
receive the fostering parental care of the Gov.
crnment, till it had struck its roots firmly into
the SOIL and attained firm luxurant growth:
and by This policy, steadily pursued, she had
risen TO her present national strength and great.
ness.
Bul re were exhorted 10 throw omen onr
ports 10 all the world; we were to welcome the t
products of every foreign nation, to receive all
they chose 10 send, while al the same time they
excluded, with watchful. unsleeping jealousy. /
every one OF our products whenever they had /
any similar ones of their own to foster. This !
WIS pretty system of FREE TRADEI Amer;c, !
has staple. for example, which she would ex
change with Great Britain for British manneac-
lures but Britain Theoretically seals her norris
ngainsl it, and we are still to go and buy,dt her
and cali it free trade" Tho theory of these
political philosophers might come nearer the I
truth had all nations, in the race of commercial