The North-Carolina standard., 1843-10-18

IoI the 2lSt instant, the following words Of the
Hon. Garret Davis-"If 1910 the Wings over.
threw their opponents and came into power main.
| y upon the great issues of United States Bank
the Land Bill, and Protective Tarif"-After
having thus established the fact, that the wings are
the Tariff party MIR. G.. said that he would pro-
ceed to consider that subject But as he had great
respect for the intelligence, the learning and deep
research of the distinguished Senator (the Hon.
MIR. Berrien) who sat in front of him, he should
quote his arguments rather than his own. Mr.
=. then produced the address of the Free Trade
Convention, which was said to be written by Judge
Berrlen-it was certain that he was on the com
mittee that reported it to the Convention that he
read it to the assembly and voted for its adoption
Mr. G. then read the following extracts from that
address;
"A numerous and respectable portion of the
American people, do not merely complain that
the system is unjust, bit they question the right
to establish it They do not doubt-they utterly
deny-the constitutional powers of Congress to
enact it."
|
GA system, which is unequal in its operation,
and therefore, unjust-which is oppressive, be-
cause it burdens the many for the benefit of the
few-grossly, fatally unwise, and impolitic, since
it is subversive of the harmony of the Union
which is in violation of the principles of the gov
ernment and utterly at variance with the spirit of
Justice and mutual concession in which the Consti-
tuition was conceived and adopted-such system,
If persevered in must ALLEVIATE our affections from
each other, and inevitably, and, lead with force
which no human power can resist, to the most aw-
full of all calamities. We intreat those who diff
fer from us seriously to ponder this view of the
subject"
Mr.. Cohen contnued-It is now fashionable
| for those who were once State Rights men,
n nh at rf1Y 81,
of free trade, but let US again refer to Judge Ber-
rien's opinions
"We are the advocates of Free Trade The
argument which sustains it rests upon a PROPOSE
tion which may not be denied Itis the undues-
tionable right of every individual 10 apply his la
Dor and capital in the mode which he may con-
ceive best calculated to promote his own interest
1t is the Interest of the public that he should so
apply it. He understands better than it can be un-
derstood by the Government what will conduce
10 his own benefit, and, since the majority of indi
viduals will, if properly protected, be disposed TO
follow their Interests, such an application of their
industry and capital must produce, in the result,
the greatest amount of public good"
"Laws which protect by bounty any peculiar
species Of labor, Cannot be said to encourage 4
merican industry-thnt is. directed to various
objects. These laws favor only a single class
aud, since the bounty is not supplied by the Gov
ernment, but taken from the pocket of the ndivi-
dual, the protection which is given to one species
OF Labor is so given at the expense of every other
hat course OF Legislation which leaves American
capital and labor TO the unftttercd discretion of
those who possess the and apply the other, can
alone be denominaled the American System" :"
! "The interference of Government with the right
of the individual to apply his labor and ca paI in
such mode as he may think most conduct to his
own interest, thus necessarily operates 10 diminish
the aggregate amount of production: In other
words, the amount of the necessaries and convent
ences of life, which are enjoyed by the communi-
ty is necessarily diminished. IF all nations, then
were willing to adopt the system of Free Trade
for which we contend, which is accordant to the
spirit of Christianity, and calculated to unite ma
lions IN harmony and peace, it cannot be doubted
that the interest of each would be promoted The
only question which can be raised on this part of
the sub ject is, whether the adoption of restrictive
policy by one or more nations, makes it the in
terest OF others to reciprocate those restrictions
The answer seems TO be sufficiently obvious and
satisfactory. The proposition which asserts the
superior advantages of Free Trade among all
universal freedom of action which it allows, tends
most thoroughly to deveiope the moral and phYsi
Cal energies OF each nation, and TO apply them to
those objects to which they are best adapted 1'he
lproposltlon must be equally true in relation to
each nation whatever may be fhe policy adopted
by others, The nation which resorts to rcstric.
tive policy, legislates TO her own disadvantage
by interfering with the natural and most profitable
employment of capital. TO the extent to which
to which shethus excludes another nation from an
accustomed, or from desirable market, she oc
casons 1t is true, in that nation, also a displace
ment of capital from its natural channels. Blu
can the remedy consist in retaIiatory system O
further restriction imposed by the latter nation
If It be true, that restrictive system is injurious
to the nation imposing it, does it cease to be so
regard to the latter nation because of the wrong
done by the former, and because it is also iniur
Gus to such nation? When we apply these view:
+ 10 the Corn Laws Great Britain considered
with reference TO their effects upon us is not ther
obvious, that system of pretended retaliation
which enfetters the productive energies of ou
own people, whatever may be its effect upon tina
natIon must necessarily increase the evils we our
selves are destined to sustain 2"
Here, then, said Mr.. G.. according 10 the rpen
, ed Judgment of one who has been blessed By hea
ven with great abilities, strengthened and adorn
ed by the light of science, the tariff is pronounc
ed unconstitutional oppressive and unjust, and cal
f culatcd to destroy the Misunderstanding reduc
ton of prices, and demoraizing in its tendency
Ii these were truths then, they are truths now
Z MIR. Cohen said he did not quote these thinps I,