The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-09-03

| tloldi iliucpeHueHCe. U piotcIt pui V"H
labor then is to enable our people to pro-
vide for themselves as becomes the free
men of a republic-procuring the means
of comfortable subsistence for their iami-
lies, and of education for their children.
We do not advocate protective system
for the benefit Of particular classes, as is
the case in Europe. The distinctive fca-
ture Of the American system, as we lp-
hold it, is the protection Of LABOR in
all the departments of industry. We
would see our own resources cultivated;
we would ward off the aggressive attacks
of foreign policy bearing oppressively u
pom the products of our soil; we would
sustain the agricultural, mechanical and
commercial industry of our own people
against the world. If our farmer and
planters are slut out from foreign markets
by onerous restrictions, we maintain it TO
be the true policy to enlarge the market at
home, and seek at the same time by coun-
!ervaIing regulations to remove as fast as
possible the iIupediments that obstruct
our commerce abroad The same policy
would defend our mechanics and manulac
tuerels against the pro(use imporiations OF
foreign articles, the competition Of which
would break up our establishments, or re-
duce the laborers of the United States to
the condition OF the impoverished labor
ers Of Europe. BY encouraging the me-
chanical and manufacturing arts in the
country, the home market for agrlcultu-
raj products would be at the same time
expanded.
The policy which our opponents offer
you is that of free importations. Some
of them go to the extent OF abolishlng all
duties, and of resorling to direct taxes for
the support Of the General Government.
The cotton growing States, whose staple
is the only American product that finds
easy admittance into the ports of Europe,
are in favor Of the free importation policy
to the Iull extent; for as they are neither
mechanical nor manufacturing communi-
ties, and export their cotton directly to
England and France, they prefer TO pro.
cure such manufactured articles as they
need from Liverpool, Manchester, or Pa
rs, where for the present they can be
f procured more cheaply than in our Amer
lean cities. During the administration o.
, Mr.. VAN buren,, the doctrine Of free i'm
, portation became known under the name
, of democratic doctrines" because i
was necessary for him to conciliate Mr.
! CALHOUN, without whose assistance lii
! administration could not huve been sus
tanned.
We believe that this policy is mistaken
one even for the South--as they will pro
badly come to learn when Great Britain
o establishes firmly the culture Of Cotton
a in the East Indies as she established tn
r culture of Indigo there some years since
4 England has no sympathy for us or 70
, our institutions, and her policy is nov
i fixed in settled hostility against the cottol
interests of the South.
=. If special illustrations were nccessar,
- to show how injuriouslv the "ree-lradc'
y Systematically so called-aftcts our i'll
- terests, the experience of the last few year
and of the present time, might ailor
them in abundance. We have been ap
. proximatilIg towards that system for som
y time past, and may yet have TO suffer ii
. evils perhaps more intensely than ever
y The introduction of vast quantities c
:. foreign goods consigned TO foreign agent
;. in this country, swept from the ware hou
scs in Europe, and put at low prices 70
the very purpose Of breaking down on
- domestic establishments, has had eflec
. in embarrassing our manufactures. and i
- deranging our currency by drawing larg
:, amounts of coin abroad. The prcssur
- fell al first upon the master manufacture
j. the employers. Many have been oblige
;, TO stop operations. Such as have wealth
;. cred the storm thus far are going on j
- anxious suspense least another blow sha
:, PROSTATE them entirely. Yet in the mean
- time, compelled by necessity to the mos
:, economical arrangements, discharging
- portion Of their workmen, and rcducin
# the wages Of the rest, heavy share c
, the burden falls upon the laborng man.
- This is inevitable; it was forcseen lror
- the beginning, and predicted long ago
!. Nor is this the only result. The price {
;, wool and cotton must also be kept dow
. because the manufacturer cannot afford {
:, pay as much for the raw material now a
- he could well afford when his fabric
commanded better prices in the maj
kets.
q The ngricullurist must further sufle
i from the system Of free importatons, be
# cause, in proportion as home mauulactu
n res decline, whether Of wool, cotton, ror
or any other material, the number Of az
o ricultural producers will increase. TIL
Il vast regions of the West continually in
: vite to immigration; and when other en-
o ployments fail. the culture of the cart
s will always afford at least subsistence
# and may be looked to as a sure resource
$ The consequences of an over produc,io
$ in this department of labor may be see
: in the low prices of pork last fall; an