The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-04-12

Of oppression, IN your dilapi'
dated cities, and your desdlated felds.-
! here now remains TO US only the poor
privilege Of making the most OF our c"ndi.
iion, by improving ihe'means moi vet de-
stroyed by our oppressors. Abandon your
fields, for tier crops are blasted as ih.y
iise. Sell and sacrifice your lands, and
the proceeds 10 the establish
ment Of manufactures. As We have moi
had the spirI, 10 resist oppression, LET US
nj least have Tie wisdom 10 repair lis
tavages."
Now, sir, suppose that, confirming 10
this advice, our people cease 10 be plant
ers and become manufacturers. Suppose
further, sir, that IL should be found that,
owing to the advantages just stated, the
manufacturers Of The South and Southwest
should be able TO undeIs sell their former
oppresSors, rs much as they now eau, by
sending their cotton abroad and exchang.
ing il for foreign manufactures (and this
is no extrayagant supposlti"n, since their
operatives would moi cost, on an average,
more Than II cents day y would the
manuf clurers of the North and East stand
this compeulion7 Would they consent
that their manufactures should not only
he excluded from our markets, but driven
back TO the very gates Of Lowell We
should have an empty treasury, for the
revenue from imports would be almost de-
siroyed. What would they say when YOU
proposed to tax them1 Suppose ihty
should say, Gas distinguished representa-
live oi Massachusetts oirce said 10 the oiher
House of CongrPss,) that the free labor ui
The North should never come into equal
cumneiItion with the slave labor Of the
South. Suppose, further, that some mem
Der Of Cougress-frst qualify ing himself
for such task by ioreswearing his ale
glance 10 The constitution aud Ia the God
Of everlasting Justice should rise III his
place, and propose bill providing dis.
eliminating duty of 40 per cent. upon all
manufactures made by slave labor, aud
imposing nu duty al all upon manufactures
made by free labor IN hat manner, Nh
Presldenl-l ask yuu in what manner
would such n law be rec civcd by the PEG,
pie Of the slayeholdng States Sir, they
would rise up as one man, and, animated
by one soul, woulG shake this Union 10 lis
deep foundations by the Indignant, voice al
their awakened wrath. The spirits Of our
fathers would rise up from the grave, aud
like the shade of the murdered king Of
Denmark urging his son to ayenge the
furnished honor Of his house, they would
say, If you have nature in YOU, bear
il Dol."
And yet, Mr.. President, such a PROPOSE.
ton, munslrous and revolving us II waIld
be, differs in no substantial particular, from
The tariff of ls42. Ii is DULY necessary Ia
tear off the DISCUSSES of this latter measure,
to make the likeness manifrst. rtt
Mr.. President, ii has now been more
than twenty years since look my seat IL
the other branch Of Congress and during
the whole period while | remained a mem.
Der Of that House, | can Conscientious,
say, never contemplated this government
but with the most lndescrbabIe feelings
for, as God is my judge, can solcmnly de.
clare, as a Citizen Of South Carolina, that
IN all that period nearly a quarter Of 4
centnry-l have never felt this govern
ment but by lis oPpr' sslons. Day aud nigh
did look forward, while member of the
other House, hoping for day Of redemp
ton, neither seeking nor expecting any
positive iavors for my constituents bui
demanding, in The name Of Justice and the
constitution, that you should let them alone
IN the peaceful pursuits Of their industry
and permit them to enjoy the fruits uf thai
industry, undIminished by unjust and op.
presslve legislation. never lelt--l never
could feel-anv interest in the ambitious
struggles Of political parties for power and
office; IN comparison with that absorbing
interest which always felt in this great
question. have long regarded II as more
important TO that portion of The Union in
which my destiny has been cast, than all
The Presidential elections that will ever
take place. For myself | would make
almost any surrender Of federal honors, il
had the power to secure to my constlu
ents " their long lost rights"
And, sir, when these rights were restnr.
ed by the compromise act Of le33, Wis
disposed to say, " Lord, now eltest thou
thy servant depart IN peace" Satisfied
with This adjustment, and Disguised with
the miserable scramble for the emolunenls
OF office, 10 which The great Interests Of the
country were but too Ullen sacrificed, re.
tired from the federal councils with the
hrm determination to spend the remainder
OF my days IN peaceful retirement And
when thai compromise was violated, | con.
scented TO come here from no earthly con.
sIderal!on but the hope of having some
agency IN restorIDgIf. And now declare
that, when the hope Of accomplishing that
great object shall desert me, shall shakr
of the dust Of my feet, and leave this hall
forever. Sir, what may be the result Of
our deliberations on tins question, will
not venture 10 predict; but | warn the
senator's who represent the manufacturing
interest, here aud elsewhere, that they
have no small interest ia the speedy adj.
Juslment Of it, The day may not be- dis.