Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-02-24

ers and become manufacturers. Suppose
further, sir, that il should be found that,
owing 10 the advantages just stated, the
manufacturers of the South and Southwest
should undersell their former oppressors,
as much as they now can by sending their
cotton abroad, and exchanging it for for
eign manufactures, land this is no extrav-
sgant superstition, since their operatives
could not cost on an average more than
IL cents day would the manufacturers
ofthe North and East stand this COMPETE
toni Would they consent that theii man
ufactures should not only be excluded from
our markets, but driven back to the very
gates of Lowell7 We should have an
empty treasury, for the revenue from i'm
ports would be almost destroyed. What
would they say when you proposed to tax
then,i Suppose they should say, (as a
distinguished representative Of Massachu-
sets once said in either House OF Con-
gress,) that the free labor oil the North
should never come into equal competition
with the slave labor of the South. Sup
pose, further, that some member OF Con-
gress, first qualifying himself for such
task by forswearing his al egiance to the
constitution and the God Of everlasting
Justice; should rise in his place, and pro-
pose bill providing discriminating duty
Of 40 per cent. upon all manufactures
made by slave labor. and imposing no duty
At all upon manufactures made by free la
Dor: in what manner, Mr.. PRESIDENT ask
you in what manner would such law be
received by the people Of the slaveholding
States1 Sir, they would rise up as one
man, and, animated by one soul, would
shake this Union to its deep foundations
by the indignant voice Of their awakened
wrath. The spirits Of our fathers would
rise up from the grave, and, like the shade
Of the murdered king Of Denmark urging
his son to avenge the furnished honor OF
his house, they would say, "If YOU have
nature in you, bear it not"
And yet, Mr.. President, such propo.
sition, monstrous and revolving as it Won d
be, differs in no substantial particular,
from the tariff of lS42. 1t is only ne
cessary to tear off the DISCUSSES OF this lat
ter measure, to make the Likeness mani
fest,
| Mr.. .Prcsidrn,, il has now been more
than twenty years since ! took my
seat in the other branch Of Congress; and
during the whole period while remained
member of that Housc,i can ronscien.
tiously say, never contemplated this
COVE rnment but with the most indescriba-
Bile feelings; for as God is my Judge, can
solemnly declare, as citizen Of South
Carolina, that, in all that period--nearly
quarter Of century, have felt this go.
vernment but by its expressions. Day
and night did look forward, while men,
Der of the other House, hoping for day
of redemption, neither seeking nor ex-
pecting any positive favors Tor my con.
stituents; but demanding, in the name Of
Justice and the constitution, that you
shoulc let them alone in the peaceful Pur-
suits Of their industry, and permit them TO
enjoy the fruits Of that industry, undimin-
ished by unjust and oppressive legislation.
| mover felt-I never could feel-any in
terest Ia the ambitious struggles Of poli,i.
cal parties for power and Office, In com.
parison with that absorbing interest which
always felt in this great question. !
have long regarded It as more important
to that portion of the Union in which my
destiny has been cast, than all the Presi-
dental elections that will ever take place.
For myself, I would make almost any
surrender of federal honors, if | had the
power, to secure to my constituents "their
long lost fights"
And, sir, when these rights were re-,
stored by the compromise act OF 1858, l
was disposed to say, "LorG, now lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace sat.
isfied with this adjustment, and disguised
with the miserable scramble for the emol-
,imeots of ONCE, to which the great inter-
ests of the country were but too ofton sac
rifced, retired from the federal councils
/ with the determination TO spend the re-
mainder Of my days in peaceful retire.
ment. And when that Compromise was
violated, consented to come here from
no earthly consideration but the hope Of
giving some agency in restoring it. And
now declare that, when the hope OF ac-
complishing that great object shall desert
me. / shall Shake off the dust Of my feet,
and leave this hall forever. Sir, what
NAV be the result Of our deliberations on
this question, will not venture to pre-.
dict; but warn the senators who repre-.
sent the manufacturing Interest," here and
else where, that they have no sm.Il inter
est in the speedy adjustment oft. The
day may NOT be disipnt ;@hen they will
cease to control the, legislation Of this
country so as to ms.ke il subservient to the
i interests Of greek capitalists. The eyes
Of the people Of the West and NOrthwss'