Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-04-18
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM,
By HARRY CULLEN.
"Henry Clay and the Tariff, is the watch
word. Shall the Union be saved 2"

No. 2.
y In former number alleged the Ellacy
those opinions as deduceI from the history q
: | the past endeavored to show their extrem
q absurdity by reference to the practice of othe
1 countries. / asserted the proposition, that,
country was prosperous in proportion to thi
: amount of protection extended to domestic ia
dustry. The proceeding observations / havt
deemed necessary. in impressing the peopI.
with the conviction of the vital Importance Of
the subject they are called upon to consider.
|. In order then to arrive at roper estimate
OF the principles contained in the proposition,
it will be necessary TO take retrospect Of the
condition of mankind at an early period-and
trscethe causes which led to the existing state
OF refinement and civilization. There was PEI
riod in the history of Europe, when intellectual
darkness reigned supreme over the whole face
OF lis aMnsive Western territory. The dis
tructRBf the Roman Empire by the barbarous
nations of the North, was a prelude to the
| reign of ignorance and superstition, of barbar>
ism aud oppression, which afterwards succeed
| ed. The splendors of the once powerful nation,
| unaPpreciated by the rude barbarians were
| made the sport of his vindictive passion, and
the sacrific e of his ungovernable revenge. The
arts and sciences which elevated it to that dis
tinctlon it possesses IN the recollection of the
Worlds History wore contemptuously regarded
by the furious and iterate Goth and lest in
the tide Of barbarsm that overwhelmed the fall
len Empire. Throughout the gloomy period
OF the middle ages, no ray of intellectual light
dawned upon the European Continent-its in
habitants CROPPED in darkness, and feudal des-
Potism bowed its victims in shameful degrada-
ton. Al. the horrors of the well known Ecu
dal System were in successful perpetration.-
The elements of productive industry were lost
and there was no encouraging object upon
which they could concentrate the ir energies.
and hope TO rise above the condition of depends
ent vassels. Arms and predatory warfare were
the only employment that secured to them the
necessary means of livelihood and this only
strengthened their dependence the lord of
the feud. By the want, therefore, of some pro- |
per, object, upon which the cxertions of the |
people could be directed, and the absence of
efficient Government, society was in COM
pete disorgaaization. Civil wars were events |
of ordinary occurrence, and bands of armed |
plunderers invading the territory of their neigh>
bors, constituted the predominant features of
society at that period.
But the occurrence of events of an extraordi>
nary character. unfolded new nrnsnects. and en-
abled the mass, eventually. to discard The bad
ges of fcudalism, and rise superior to the condi-
ton of degrading vassalage. A new direction
was given to their energies, and spirit of enter
prise and adventure was the natural cons2-
quence of the new order of things that dawned |
SO brightly upon their views, and offered such
vast encouragement to their exertions' The
disorders in the feudal syste m, and the manifold
abuses growing out of it, continued increasing |
for years, until they had attained point of ex>
cess too intolerable to be patiently endured
1t had degcnerated into organized system |
of iegaiized oppression. The spirit of indus-
try was fettered by the absurd regulations and |
unreasonable exactions of an oppressive militia |
ry.aristocracy. From this period of the great |
est observation, which had spread over Eu-
rope, is discovered the first glimerings of re- |
turning dawn.
A theme of immense magn itude, and all en-
crossing interest, began to agitate the European
world The idea was conceived of rescuing the |
Holy Land from the hands Of the Infidels and |
millions focked around the Standard of the !
Cross, deter mined to engage in the holy war
fare and exie rmfnate the lfnbelieving SaTacen' |
Wild and extravagant as the expeditions of the |
Crusaders are regarded, and justly imputabie /
with the absurd extreme of superstition and |
folly they we're, yet, truly beneficial in their re-
suits. In their frequent marches to and from
the holy land, they discovered in some Of the |
countries through which they passed, degree |
of taste and refinement, and the possession of |
knowledge and institutions that exceeded even
their brightest conceptions of the projections of
human enjoyment. They witnessed the thriv'
ing Of industry, and the consequent profnsiOn |
of social and individual happiness. Manufac- |
ures of singular and engenous fabric were pr e.
sented 10 their admiring gaze. They were |
surrouded by the aIlurements ofthe beauties OF
art, and attracted by the elegance and superior |
refinement in the manners of the more enlight- |
ned citizens Of the Eastern Countries. i
II was impossible; by such associations, that |
their intellectual faculties should be unslscepti-
BILE of culture, or their slumbering energies be |
not aroused to a proper appreciation of the duSl
ties ofman and the true purposes of life. They |
carried with them to their homes the remem- |
braneeof the social and political superiority of
the Nations ofth East. Seized with spirit |
of emulation. and stimulated by eager de- |
sire to realize the blessing of social equality and
Political independence the Italian cities were |
the frst to acquire their liberties, and encour-
sge the art of manufacturing industry. A |
knowledge of the arts and refnements of the |
polished nations, and the benefits incident to |
the encouragement Of domestic manufactures,
was by degrees communicated to the Northern |
ribes, and spirit Of industry and commerce
began to manifest itself in the progress of civ
ilization, and the rapid growth of National
prosperity. The manufactures Of wool and
fax in Flanders and the Netherlands. began to |
assume an aspect that gave to those countries |
q degree Of importance hitherto unknown in the |
annals of the civilized world. Domestic indus |
try became "a necessary TO the accumulation |