Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-02-03
DAILY WING,
THE TARIFFS QUESTION.

III
Hs sCoaflnuai Agiiaioa us Repcai-Who are
10 be- The Sufferers
We make the following extract from the letter
Of Mr.. Abbott Lawrence, lately published in this
paper:
al the risk Of writing a long letter. / cannot forbear al
ladins 60 the fact. that the habitusl ssItsnon Of this ques-
ton Of the Tariff, hiss worked. in the main, to the advsn-
,.ss Of New England.
ave wte, p-S-.~-- - .h- Wal OF 1912, an agricultural
aud navigstng people. The American system WIS forced
upon ~, and done ior the purpose OF creating a home mar.
Net for the products OF the sol OF the South and West; We
resisted the adoption ofs system. which We honestly be-
lisved would greatly inlure our navigation, and drive US
from our accustomed e~mploymens. into a business we dad
not understand. We came into 1t, however, reluctantly,
and soon learned, that with the transfer OF our capital We
acquired skill and knowledge in the use OF il, aud that 80
lar hon our foreign commerce being diminished, it was in.
creased. aud that our domestic tonnage and eommerce were
very soon more than qusdrupled. The illustrations were
80 suiking in every department OF labor; that those who,
fifteen years sgo, were the strongest opponents among US,
have given up their theories, aud acknowledged, that the
r-v.lsuons are such ~ to satisfy the most ~skspGesl. We
have gone forwa ard steadily, I'LL many descriptions OF manu-.
iacIuvs are ~ well serl, 10 New England as the raising OF
postpes. Our experience has given US skill, and ofcourse
we have confidence in our resources, that doe. not exist
elsewhere"
II has become evident that the assaults upon
the Tariff are 10 be again renewed, and with a
very certain prospect OF success. The fog by
which Mr.. Polk was surrounded before HIS cleo
ton, ia gradually breaking away, and revealing
him IN his real light 10 that immense mass of his
supporters who were deluded into the belief that
he was rs good u Tariff man rs Mr.. Clay. We
shall have a word or two to say, ere long, on that
subject. but at present We wish simply to call
public attention To the facts set forth by Mr.. Law
rence. Ii is probable that the Tariff will be re-
peAled. and perhaps a peace he purchased 10y It's
sacrifice. Those who anticipate, and perhaps
exult IN the anticipation, that irrecoverable ruin
will fall upon the New England States, BY the
establishment OF Free Trade, know nothing of the
history of that portion of the Union, and have
only to look at the short extract which we present
from the letter of Mr.. Lawrence, TO be convinced
of their mistake. Let them study more closely
the New England character, and they will behold
a model which it would not disparage even our
own noble old Commonwealth to initiate. Let
AS dwell upon il Tor u moment. Perchance it may
inculcate a valuable moral.
- IL is a most honorable truth, as appears in the
extract from Mr.. Lawrence, that New England
owes none Of her prosperity TO the favor of the
Government. The character of her sons is FORM
ed upon a system of sefreliance, of Independence
of courage and resolution. The dauntless spirit
which led their fathers TO forsake the Injuries of
civilized life, and pitch their tents in a bowling
wilderness, still survives, and CLOVIS with increas.
ing f.rvor in the bosoms of their descendants.
Ii was no nursery plant, requiring a warm sun
and artificial protection, which has struck its roots
into the New England soil. 4 sturdy tree indeed
II must have been, which, planted upon a rocky
cliff by the ocean side, growing up amid the roar
Of winds and waves, wrestling continually with
the tempest, and exposed 10 the fury Of the lhun.
derboli, has at last attained the majestic altitude
of a lofty oak, and, spreading abroad its leafy
arms for a shelter to thousands, towers upwards,
the more grand and beautiful from its victory
over an adverse fate. If the New Highlander has
prospered, il has been against, rs well as bv the
policy Of the Government. Settled originally
upon a comparatively sterile and inhospitab!e soil,
his strong arm forced the stubborn earth to yield
her treasures, and transformed a desert into a gar.
den. He engaged in the pursuits of commerce
and trade, and the white sails of his cruisers were
seen on the most distant seas, now penetrating
The frozen regions Of the North, and now return.
my from a Southern land, making the very ends
of the world tributary 10 his greatness. From
the heart Of n rocky earth, and the bowels of a ra
ging sea, his strong hand plucked the elements Of
greatness, wealth and power. But, in the height
al his prosperity, a sudden paralysis struck down
his mighty fortunes. The policy of the Govern.
rDent Was changed,-changed too by the instru.
mentality Of Southern votes. And what did the
New Englander them Did he SIT down with.
fnilaH IA anls and a hrnkpn heart In not1rn ,yaK
The ruin which had come upon his hopes1 Did
he prepare himself to forsake the rude land where
he had ioiled so long only TO reap the bitter irIits
az disappointment Did he curse God and diel
Mol A different spirit reigned in his bosom. lie
could not leave the scenes Of his youth, the spot
which had been hallowed by deeds Of revolution.
airy reDown, the tOmbs of his ancestors, the then.
Ire Of his own past greatness. He turned himself
10 new pursuits. The current Of his industry and
enterprise forced out a new channel. Over the
whole land his workshops rose, and the sound of
his cheerful toll was heard in the hammer ringing
ON ibe anvil. the music Of machinery changing
upon a thousand water courses, and the hot breath
Of steam speaking with its stormy voice OF the
stronger splrit that ruled its energies aud pouId
not be subdued. Again prosperity returned
again wealth poured IN its golden tde-ngain the
stern and rcsolute will triumphed over all oppusi.
ton. And can u be that there are those whose
envy is aroused Of success thus iOnorably won,
that the policy Of the government must be again
reckiessly changed, and labor and perseverance,
once more be deprived Of their reward1 Would
IL not be Letter, far better, for Other States whose
interests are IN sncied opposition to New Eng
land, to initiate tho lofty courage, the mistaken
constancy, the dauutless spirit, which has wrought
out these results, to seize upon the same opporu.
mites which New England has employed. and
contend with her in manly strife for opuIence and
powvri Her ruin may be effected, bat il will be
Only temporary. A. was said Of the English at
watorIoo, her sons will not know when they are
conquered. The nood.gatcs Of free trade may
BE uurnid. and a vide and bonndlesa sea Of hnnk.