Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-12-04

heavy burdens which had been imposed upon
her. = In 1912 the period arrived for. the Fede:
raj Government 10 fulfil Its stipulations, and
reduce the Tariff to twenty per cent ndvalo-
rem. or lower, ESQ much was not requisite for
The support of an economical administration.
But instead ofreducing them. the rale of du-
ties was increased-actually increased 10 a
point higher than the Tariff which s. Carolina
had declared uull and void within her limits in
1882 which declaration led to the Compromise
Act. History furnishes no instance of grosser,
or more insulting breach of faith, while perhaps
| no law has ever been euacted by the regular
Cover ment of civilized country, so subyer-
sive of the rights and destructive to the inter.
ests of any respectable portion Of its pc pie,
as the Tariff Act OF 1912, considered in all its
| beari, gs is to the rights and interests OF the
Planting States Of this Confederacv 1t might
| naturally have been supposed, and probably 1t
was expected, that this State, IN conformity
with the principles she has so long professed,
| and on which she had heretofore acted. would
Immediately nnlllfy this Act; but she did not.
Closely united at the time withthe great Dem7
ocratic party Of The Union on the general prin.
cipIes Of government. aud on certain questions
| Of federal policy of the utmost moment-see'
ing that this party had carried the elections 10
the House of Representatives by a large ma
Iority-and justly regarding it rs pledged to
free trade, and bound to repeal this exhorbitant
Tariff. she paused. and determined to await
the action ofauo,her Congress; thus furnish
ing fresh example of patriotic forbeaiance,
aud sincere devotion to the peace and integrity
of the Union. The new Congress met, and
has terminated its first session. Propositions
were made in both branches to modify The Ta-
riff, and signaIly defeated. In the House,
where the Democratic majority was large, the
proposition was disposed almost without de.
bate, und majority of the Democrats from the
Stnles north OF the Potomac actually voted
against il while in the Senate, some of the
| leaders of that party from the same section did
so likewise. There seems, therefore. to be no
re sonable, or even plausible ground. on which
to rest hope that this law, so Unconstitutional.
| and so ruinous TO us, will ever be repealed, or
reduced IL The standard of the Compromise.
The friends OF the Tariff do not appear 10 en-
tcrtain the slightest idea of such thing They
have distinctly proclaimed tito be the settled
policy ofthe Federal Government and, in fact,
they scarcely conceal that they regard our fur
ther remollslrance on:thc subject as intrusive
and pertinent Nor could we, after the utter
contempt which they have uianiiested for their
| plishted faith, ,.repose with safety upon any
concessions which they might, by circumstan.
ces, be forced again to make.
With what confidence we may rely, on the
other hand, upon the northern section OF the
| Democratic party 10 carry out the Tree trade
| principles which they profess,we are well ad-
| monlshed by the history, not only of the last
session of Congress. bu. of the protective pol
icy itself. The act of 1928, the most stringent
of the Tariff acts, save that oflS42, was carried
| by the votes of the Democratic leaders OF the
State of New York given under very peculiar
circumstances aud this last act by the votes
of the Democratic leaders from The same State,
and from Pennsylvania. And it may be re
garded as certain. thai the friends oil the pro.
tective system will be able, at all timns, to COM
mand az many votes among the northern De-
mocrats as may he necessary for their purpose.
! Nor can we, I fear, anticipate any demon
ST. alton OF such a fixed, determined, and com
bined resistance to that policy OIL the part Of
the South, as will force the North to abandon il
entirely For this apprehension there are
manY reasons. but one is paramount. Unlor
President are chosen BY the people. in an the
| Southern States excei.t our our own. They
are. in consequence at all times almost equally
divided about men; and interested politicians
spare no pains 10 impress it on the volers. that
the salvation ofthe country depends upon the
elevation OF this or that Individual 10 the Presi
DENTAL chair. In this exciting contest, nea
sures and principles become matters Of minor
consequence ;and though tits well known that
no President, whatever may have been his po
lltcal creed. has yet had firmness to veto TIA.
rlft bill, however monstrous, and that no an.
oinled candidate eVen.f has ever been able fully
and consistentlyto declare himself against The
protective pulley, they will persist in the per-
niclous deluslon that, every thing will be Sc.
cured by the triumph Of their favorite. While
every other question, however vital TO liberty
and the Constitution, continues to be made
subordinate TO this, and to be estimated solely
by It's influence on the Presidential election:
and while that election continues to be made
directly by the masses, it is almost vain to ex-
peci that the people ofany Stale can be:united
among themselves, or the States of any section
combine, unless under extraordinary impulses,
10 resist efiectually The usurpalion OF the Fede.
raj Government .t
Under these circumstances, il devolves on
South Carolina to decide what course she will
pursue in reference to The Tariff The period
has arrived when she can no longer postpone
her final decision. 1t is due from her. 1t is
expected of her. And if she fails to announce
It. ner silence will nevertheless be conclusive.
Whatever may be the technical validity, or Ie-
gal force. Of the opinions on this important
question which your predecessors have placed
upon your records it appears clear to me that
our State is bound. by her past history, and
the principles she processes, and owes tito the
country and herself,to adopt such measures as
will at an early period bring all her moral, con.
slitutlonal, and, if Unnecessary, physical resour.
ces, in direct array against policy. which has
never been checked but by her interposition,
and which impoverishes our country, revolnsE \
tionizcs our Government and overthrows our
liberties. The expediency, the manner, and !
the precise time of doing this; are for your
grave consideration. -; < "a. 90, |
The last session Of Congress was. also sig
nalized by the rejection Of treaty for the an.
nexation of Texas to the United States. Th
cause assigned for this rejection was, that Mex:
Ico not having yet acknoWled tie independence
Of Texas, it wonId be a:violation Of ouritreaty