Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-04-27
From the Charleston Mercury.

lIonorcd SRI should have been glad
to have addressed TO you this comlnuniea.
ton whilst You were in our midst, receiv-
ing the admiring inequalities of your
friends, and the respect and courtesies Of
al--when it would have been more likely
to arrest your attention and engage your
consideration. But circumstances have
prevented. With the hope that it may
meet your eye, | have stated below as
candidiy and as clearly as | was able,
and as well as | understand them, the
chief propositions that were urged by you
in your late address, in Which you commu.
nica,ed to the cilizeEs of Charleston an
earnest and undisguiscd expression of
your opinions, and offered your frank and
manly response to their courteses.
AT the same time by reducing them to
a logical form, have endeavored TO bring
more ponledly to your own view and 10
the view of all, what conceive to be the
false principles upon which they proceed,
and the sophistry, (if you will excuse a
term which is used IN no odious but in lis
logical sense) which they seem 70 embody.
have done this, sir, in no spirit of hostile
controversy or fancied triumph, but with
The hope that the objections implied in
his statement may strike your mind as
they have pressed themselves upon mine.
| have done SO IN spirit Of ''concesslon,"
not to what we believe the ruinous errors
of our opponents in political and financial
principles, but IN spirit OF CONCESSION"
to the purify Of motive, the sing !eness Of
aim, and the unconscious prejudices which
influence the pufest and most vigorous
minds, in a spirit OF sympathy with your
expression OF anxiety for the best interest
Of your whole country in a spri, of ear.
nesl. candid, respectful inquiry as to what
relates to the union, pro periiy, and peace
of our country.
In the statements below, have marked
by note Of interrogation what | conceive
to be The false propositions upon which
your Arguments must necessarily rest,
ard respectfully submit to your consldera.
ton tie following
Syllogisms;
First-You say that history demon.
strates that no nation can become great
and happy people which does not produce
lis own TODD and raiment. The Syllogism
reads thus:
/. No nation has or can become great
and happy, which does no, make at home
every species Of food and raiment; not
only the coarser fables, which compose
the decent and comfortable clothng of the
mass, but also the luxurious rairnent o! the
rich! Does history prove this2
- We ale a nation essentially like
other nations, commercially and ugncul.
nT1l'y, and without protection We cauno,
1rodu'c cur niece ,sary rai;ncn.? Is this
ruel
% Then we cannot become great and
happy without protection, &c.
Se:ondIy-You maintain tina! The do.
nestle production Of the articles are a
necessary preparation Tor war, as these
articles are essential to the cquipmen, OF
armies. The Syliogism must stand thus:
!. Every nauon vii. be letter propar
Ell Tor the emergencies of war, if i: pro. |
duce at home the articles necessary for
the equipment Of armies, and it is essen.
tnl TO peoples prosperity to Le thus
prepared, although such a policy should
greatly lmpoverish the country, obstrurt
lis commerce, and diminish its resources?
viii you go so far1
=. Without protection. these States
cannot maintain single establishment
"hlci could supply the shoes, blankets,
and rough coats which n soldier needs;
md we could neither procure them from
broad, nor is there any other conceivable
method of providing against the con,in.
indeed in case of war, we
would be reduced TO the same needy con.
tion of our revolutionary fathers, who
we're without commerce, without ships.
without navy, and even driven from the
oris and storchouses o. their towns7 Is
II this true?
3. Then would follow your conclusion
mt without protection, these States can.
ot lie prepared, &c.
Tnlrdiy-You argue that the protective
ystem affords occupation to the l,rre
lumber engaged in manufactures, and !
rotects the agricultural class from eyces. ,
I'VE enlargement. To support this DO.
Illon, you must adopt the following SyI.
'gism:
l. Notwithstanding the advantages of J
location at home which the domestic
assesses over the foreign manufacturer, ;
ct without protection it would be profi,a. =
lie 10 no one to engage in manufactures, Z
nd every one would hurry TO be a farmer, y :,
Though there were more farmers than 6
llough. And besides without protection :
Il would be agriculinrsts. And in this :
use surprising there are twenty farmers {
40 make ten dollars apiece, the sum of :
Ielr DrnlitS Mnnld In ,,,nnh l. 49,. L.. -