The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-06-13

balance of our democratic institutions.
And We cannot, moreover, be two con-
fdent in asserting that, if persisted IN,
it w would inevitably cause the laboring
classes to become in time helpless de-
pendents upon that very wealth which
they themselves had, to their own in
jury, thus manilestly placed in the ex-
elusive enjoyment OF a grasping and
mere moneyed olgarchy.
We need not stop to insist that these
evil consequences of the protective
system are peculiarly aggravated by the
different condition Of the various Sec
tions of our country. 1t is true that in
all nations system ofprotection taxes
the many for the benefit Of the few.-
But in addition to this, it is true with us
that such system taxes two or three
sections OF the country for the benefit
of one. This consideration did not
escape The authors Of the Federalist.-
In discussing the subject Of duties upon
imports, after insisting at length upon
the general evils flowing from high
tariff system, they urge farther that
such tariff system is ''productive OF
inequality among the States;" that this
ineq quality would exist especially "be-
tween the manufacturing and the non
manufacturing States" They add:
"The States which can 60 furthest to-
wards the supply Of their own wants
by their own manufactures will not,
according to their numbers or wealth,
consume so great a proportion of I'M
ported articles as those States which
are not in the same favorable situation.
They would not, therefore, in this mode
alone" Chat is, by taxation under tar
iff system) "contribute to the public
treasury in ratio to their abilities"
And in this view these statesmen held
that the power of taxation for revenue
should not be confined exclusively to
imports. These were the wise appre-
tensions entertained by the trainers OF
our constitution Of the dangers and in
eouaites to be dreaded even under a
tariff for revenue! How much greater
force and moment are given to these
fears by the oppressive protective sys'
tenn of to-day! What was only appre.
hension and dread Of danger in the days
of the Federalist, has in our time be-
come recognised and lamentable fact!
But, again, we are told that the great
agricultural interests are, by means o1
a p, elective tariff, to have the precious
advantage of home market for their
|, corn and cotton. Now who, we ask
is so ignorant as not to know that oul
g farmers and planters cannot, under any
r circumstances of our condition, be de
f prived ofthis benefit of exchanging with
{ the rest of their fellow-countrymen, a!
r far as they find it consistent with re
e ciprocity of their interests? A home
\ market, therefore, they will, and mus
e always have; but how very different
:. indeed, is the condition of their inter
It ests where the value of their labor o
n the price OF its products is restricted t.
t. narrow competition within the mai
e kets of our own land, or where it ha
(. the benefit of an extended competetio
IS in the world at large. In the one cas-
1t the price is, of course, governed solel.
e by the existing proportion between
If home supply and home demand. i
e the other it is of necessity increased
It both at home and abroad, to the leve
10 of the best prices that can be ob.alne
It in the best markets of our torelg
in trade.
e. Such, then, on the one hand, is tn
te promised benefit to the American ia
al mer of mere home market, with Il
i'll accompanying low prices; and such, o
r. the other, is the advantage OF hon
n, market, with its prices regulated by tt
n. highest demands Of every foreign po
al within the circle Of our commercial il
Mt tercourse. Such, moreover, ore tn
Of contrasted and inevitable conditions
n. the two antaganistic systems whIe
st we have been considering; and, as sue
~. we present them to the choice OF II
OF American patriot.
But, say the protectionists agai
We Take off our high tariff duties, and II
he country will be deluged with toreIs
on manufactures, not only to the ruin
ur our artisans in particular, but to the
its Jury of all classes from the dIsastro
mi effects ofoyertrading and excessive II
,el portation. Now, it is plainly lmpos
bv Bile that we ever should or could, und
pill sound condition Of the currency, ov'
he flow the country with foreign tabrl
led unless we also had a sufficient ablll
est to purchase them. And is, morrow
selfevident that the only means
lev have of so doing is with the surP
,ot staples of our own soil. In other VOL
the we could not buy unless we also SO
tu. Again, our people are not compelled
YER buy the foreign goods. 1t is with th