The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-15
THE PROTEST OF GEORGIA, AND THE
SPEECH OF Mr. BERRIEN

very intelligent Georgian (hmself a manufac-
urer, but free trader) has called our attention to
the following "reminiscences. He considered Mr.
Berrisn's speech one Of the most eloquent and
impressive appeals which the senator from Georgia
ever made to the counsels Of his country. We
were under the impression, however, that the adj
dress Of the Free Trade Convention of Phadel-
phia, which Mr.. Berrien is said to have produced,
or certainly very essentially contributed to perfect,
is still superior production.
The address Of Mr.. Berrien, and the able speech
Of Mr.. Webster in defence of the Boston free-rade
resolutions of 1920, have always struck us as pre-
senting the strongest arguments in opposition to the
protective system. We shall lay both these argu-
ments before readers.
1t is difficult to conceive how a senator from the
State of Georgia can now vote in behalf of a sys
tenn against which his State has so solemnly pro-
tested, placing her protest upon the records OF
the nation, to serve 'tas an authentic testimony
Of her solemn dissent" to the act in question Is it
possible that this distinguished senator can now
come forward to uphold tina, disastrous policy''
which he reprobated in 1892 and that he should
have forgotten this solemn "record Of their wrongs''
In his own emphatic and eloquent language, we i'm
pore him "not to deceive (himself) on a subject in
relation to which error may be alike dangerous" to
himself and "to us all.''
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
JANUARY IL, 1928.
The chair communicated a letter from the gov
ernor of the State of Georgia, transmitting the fol-
lowing protest of the legislature of that State:
STATE OF GEORGIA
"ExEcUTivE DEPARTMENT,
"Milledsevile, Dec. 80, 1928.
ssSR The enclosed protest is transmitted to YOU
to be laid before the Senate of the United States
81 am, sir, your obedient servant,
John FORSYTH.
"Hon JOHN c. CALHOUN, e.
"VIce President the United States:
....a.. PROTEST ..H...,..."
"From painful conviction that manifestation
of the public sentiment, in the most imposing and
impressive form, is called for by the present agtaed
state of the southern section of the Union the gen
erai assembly Of the State Of Georgia have deemed
it their duty to adopt the novel expedient Of adj
dressing, in the of the State the Senate of the
Congress of the United States.
"In her sovereign character, the State Of Georgia
protests against the act Of the last session Of Con-
gress entitled AN act in alteration Of the several
acts imposing duties on imports deceptive in its
title, fraudulent in its pretexts, oppressive in its ex
actions, partial and unjust in its operations uncon-
stitutiona in it's well-known objects, ruinous to
commerce and agricuture--to secure hateful
monopoly to combination of importunate manu-
facturers.
demanding the repeal Of an act which has al
ready disturbed the Union and endangered the pub
lie tranquility, weakened the confidence Of whole
States IN the federal government, and diminished
the affection Of large masses Of the people TO the
Union itself, and the abandonment Of the degrad-
ing system which considers the people as incapable
OF wisely directing their own enterprise; which
sets up the servants Of the people in Congress as
the exclusive judges Of what pursuits ara most
advantageous and suitable for those by whom they
we're elected, the State Of Georgia expects that in
perpetual testimony thereof the deliberate and sol.
emn expression Of her opinion will be carefully
preserved among the archives Of the Senate; and in
justification of her character to the present genera
ton, and to postery, II, unfortunately, Congress-
the protest, and continuing to perve
powers granted for clearly defined and well under
stood purposes, to eectuate objects never intended
by tbs great parties by whom the constitution was
framed to be intrusted the controlling guardian
ship Of the federal government, should render ne
cesssry measures Of decisive character, for the