Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-09-07

an object. But that it is an object and the main
object with many, there is abundant evidence, not
only in the circumstances of interest which sur.
round their advocates but in the prov isons OF the
bills themselves. The warm advocates Of pro-
lection have been often hoard to declare that they
cared not so much for revenue as for protection;
and that the protective tax must be levied, eyen if
the money raised be not needed for revenue, but
shall be thrown away into the sea, the only mode
of disposing of it.
| But what is protection, and why do the manu-.
facturers desire it! Only one answer to this quos-
ton can be admitted by the common sense of ov-
cry intelligent mind;-it is the means of enabling
the party, who enjoys it, 10 receive higher prices
for the products Of his labor, and 10 make more
money, than he could do without protection.
Otherwise, he would not be found clamorous
for II. 1t gives him the advantages mentioned, by
excluding competition, and securing to HIM. to n
great extent, a monopoly OF the market. Upon
| what principle of frmness does the mannfactti.
| rer claim this advantage, to the exclusion of the
| merchant, the farmer, and the mechanic! an ad.
vintage which not only insures to his exclusive
benefit, but which does at the expense of all the
other industrial interests Of the country. One of
the pleas put in, TO justify this monopoly of the
manufacturer, is that his business in "Amsrican
Industry" 1 admit that it is American industry;
and, as such. deserves the good will. and encour-
, agement, of every American. so far as NAV be
consistent with the rights and interests of other
| branches of industry, which are equally An,eri-
can with the manufacturers. Is not the cultivation
OF the soil, the vgation of the and rivers of
our country, the building of houses and ships, the
| business OF the merchant, much American in
dustry, as the spinning and weaving of cotton and
"ool'en cloths! and arc they not equally entitled
| 10 protection! Because one man chooses 10 invest
his money in land and negroes. horses and plou ghs
and TO devote his time and attention to the produc-
lion OF corn and cottCn; while another invests his
IN spindIes and looms, ard spins and weayes cot.
ton and woolIen cloh is the one moro entitled to
be considered an American citizen, and to receive
at the hands of the government a bounty on
American industry, than the other! Surely not.
Ana, this Is the distinction made between them
by protective Tariff such as have been consi.
derlng. has the government any legitimate DOW.
er. TO make any such distinction. between the diff.
ferent classes Of ITS citizens, for whose common
and equal benefit 1t was established! The history
ana purposes OF It's formation. the principles upon
which It is based, and tho interests of those on
whom II operates, all announce that it has no such
power. To exercise it, then, is a palpable viola.
ton OF the Constitution, and n dangerous usurpa.
ton of authority. But not only do the other in.
dustrinl classes not receire an equal bounty, at
the hands OF the government with the mlnufac-
turers; but they are equally made TO pay this
bounty out of thei own hard earnings to the pro-
tected class. That this is So needs only to cy.
anime the subject. to convince any sane mind; for
Inc facts IN the case make it plain to demonstra-
tlon. And TO show, still farther, how unequal this
system is, how favorable to tho manufacturers.
and how oppressive to the other cIasses-especia-
iy to the planters, single glance at plain and
undenlabe state of facts, is amply sufficient
What are these facts? The first | will mention
has been furnished by one of the champions of
protection. 1t is this. In the State of Massachu-
setts, there are $42 100000 invested in manu-.
factures. The annual revenue derived from this.
by its owners, SS,000,O0O. This is equal to an
annual profit Of about Treniy per cent. upon the
capital invested. Thus, by means of protective
Tariff, the manufacturers of Massachusetts are
enabled TO realize profit of 2Oper cent. upon their
invested cnpital!-Bearng this in mind | would
now enquire of the farmers of Arkansas how much
shoy realize upon their investment in farming OPP
eralons! what annual per centage they derive
from their capital invested in land and negroes
and horses and ploughs! Where is the farmer
who makes rem per cont. upon the value of his pro-
Perty! How many OF them there who do not
realize per cont per cent-oven 3 per cent!
And yet, Farmers of Arkansas! you arc com.
PEELED to purchase the products of the Massachu.
sets looms, at price so high, to enable the
wealthy manufacturers of this State to make an
annual proht OF Iweny per cent and :hus double
his capital every five years; while you, with all
your hard labor, with difficulty make YOUR
fire per cent, which is barely sufficient to support
your families. And this difference between the
profits which you make, and those which enrches
the Massachusetts manufacturer, is produced by
the iayor,ism of the government, which with its
protective tariff; declares the business of manufac.
turing to be american industry, and deserving of
protection; while your industry is not only not
protected, but is actually heavily taxed. Such is
the operation ofa protective Tariff. and, there
fore. am opposed to It..
1t is charged, by the advocates of protection,
that all who oppose 1t, are in favor Of free trade
and direct taxation. This charge which is daily
reiterated, is untrue. Free trade, understood,
and contended for by the Democratic party, does
not lead TO direct taxation, but the reverse. 1t
is not proposed, by U.S. TO make trade free, by abo
ishing all impost duties, and leaving our ports
free to all the world, without restriction. What
is truly meant by free trade is to relieve trade from
the embarrassments of unequal and oppressive tax
alton; and to allow every industrial interest to en-
ter the lists on free and equal terms. with all 9th
ers.- The party to which belong is in favor of
Tariff for revenue, us the most convenient and
ecomlcal mode of taxation; and as the only means
by which the government can be supported, with
out a resort to direct taxation. A revenue Tariff