Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-06-08


There never was grosser, q more
! general. or q more obyioJs error than
the idea that the protective system is in.
tended specially 10 promote manuaau.
ring industry without regard 10 Ihe
mach larger interests Of the farmer and
planter. Tho worry fact that so large
majority of all the voters in the Union
derive the entire support from the soil
ought to throw suspicion upon such
proposition, if not to convince eyeryTe
liecting man Of its absurdity. No party
would ever dare in this country 10 ia
vor for a moment a measure unlrlendy
to the interest of the majority Of voters
or not obviously calculated to pronaa
those interests. Remember that in eV'
cry State in the Union the number d
persons connected with agriculture greaE
y exceeds the number OF those in Other
occupations, and that in some States they
are as four to one. Is it not absurdN
suppose that any party would dare to ad
vocate a measure not calculated 10 pro
mote the interests of the great mass o.
the voters. The very friends oil Prolec
ton have contributed to give currency 70
the error in question, by sometimes glF
ing misnomer TO the protective system
The object Of that system IS oWoIeS
American industry, not to protect manu-
features. The object is to protect Amer
lean labor generally, but especially 10
promote the prosperity Of agriculture
the greatest Of all interests, that lntcFeS
with which such a large majority OIL 'n'
people are connected. The object IS"
sustain prices and the wages Of IaGa
generally, to prevent their sinking TO no
lead level of European pauperism; aaa
fmanulac lures are 10 be protecedES
Is means to effect this great end, asa
means Of promoting the interests oIts
great mass. The Locolocos would break
lown all barriers, and let in at once the
of the cheap labor Of ol'
They would have manulac
ures--they would protect manufacturer
'ut they would have them, they would
rotect them by reducing wages at onn
0 the rate of Europe. They would, like
Buchanan, cover the nation with bless
lgs by reducing wages to ten or twelve
ents a day. The Locofocos seek low
ages as the means Of competing in man
features with Ioleign countries-ihs
Wigs would establish MANUFACTURES
he means of preventing low wages
he Locofocos would sacrifice the III,
rests of the people for the purposec'
aking US manufacturing natlon-tp
higs would protect manufacturers io'
e purpose of promoting the lnteresI'
the people. The Locolocos wou!a re
lquish at once the advantages Oh ~.
'silion in a new country, on new
would place US upon leVO
It h the old densely-peoplod regions y
lrope and Asia. The wings beew
at, with our vast bodies of virgin SUI
is possible, by diversifying occupation,
promoting every species OF lnGus.g
which the soil, climate, and people az
apted, TO keep up, for century alter -"
~, the general prosperity--to Pre 0s,,
ever the formation ola class oil laUO.
), as in Europe, shut out from all NY
lettering their condition, The LOog
,os would leave industry without ~
,toa or regulation, SO that the PeppU
uld turn to new occupations only wnsn
products Of agriculture should Oe.
,ess, and, of course, Of little or ~
ney value; the wings would encourSb'