Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-07-30
TM lie TARIFF.

ject of taration, whenever and howev-
er approached, has created great con-
tention and excitement, and not I'M
frequently long and bloody wars. Self
interest is the great lever that moves
the world--it is the great power by
which communities and individuals are
urged forward-for wealth, for fame,
for honor, they struggle. Is it strange,
then, thai, When an effort is made to
take from them that for which every
exertion, mental and bodily, has been
put forth to acquire, universal outcry
should be heard? Men will, indeed,
voluntarily give Of their wealth much
to support various objects in which they
feel no personal interest; but few, how
ever, will submit to a measure which
ertorts from them the smallest amount.
Hence, no measure for revenue pur-
poses, which directly operates against
the interest of the payers of that reve-
nue., will meet with universal approba-
ton. Nay, even those measures
which operate indirectly upon the in
terests of nation will find their oppo-
nents.
The Protective, or american Sys.
tenn, as it is falsely called, has done
more than any other question, growing
out ofthe subject of:evenue, to divide
and distract the people ofthis country.
1t has shaken the very foundation, Of
the Union. And why has this meas
ure found so little favor with the PEG.
ple~-the laboaing people, the bone and
sisew of the country? Certainly not be-
cause they had found,it more mild and
just in its operations upon their inter-
ests than any other. No, truly. They
have opposed-they have repealed, oy
their sovereign voice at the ballot box,
because it oppressed them-because ii
favored, and was only designed to ia
vor, the interests of few. Not only
was it condemned on account fits sell
FISH policy, but because it defeated, in
great measure, the only end which a
tariff in a free country ought to have
in view, viz: revenue. And what is
true relative to our country upon this
subject, may be asserted of other ma
tiens. For instance, look at England,
where the selfish principles of protec-
ton have operated for so long time:
what do we behold' Her greatest
statesmen, seeing her people oppress-
ed and ground down almost beyond |
endurance, have openly repudiated
that odious policy; and We now see
hex abandoning it; and, with rapid
strides, verging toward free trade,-
But not onlyis England, from whom
American Protectionists have taken
their principles, but the German States
are rapidly rendering toward free trade,
in the sense in which it is understood
by the opposers of protection: to wit,
tariff for revenue purposes-a tariff
which shall place the interests of all,
importer, domestic manufacturer and
retailer, upon the same footing, or as
nearly SO as it is possible, from the ma
ture Of the case.
Yes, the world-the civilized, the
Christian worlds forsaking a meas
IRE fraught with so much evil to the
laboung classes. Those, however,
who, under the protection of its broad
wings, have been amassing immense
fortunes, Go not feel very comfortable
under the eurtailing operation of a req
enue system. Hence, al this very mo-
ment, when the American Congress
are discussing the necessity and pro-
priety Of abandoning the exclusive pro-
tective policy ofthe tariff, the manu-.
facturers, many Of whom are members
Of Congress, and their feed attorneys,
are using every exer,ion to get up
panic for The purpose Of defeating the