The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-07-04

variety OF interests, that it is impossl-
bic for any general government to re-
duce them all TO the same general Pro.
crustean standard. 1t is the more alb.
surd, too, because we enjoy free insti-
tutions- because each man ought to be
free TO select his own employments.
There should be as little restriction as
possible to cramp the choice or indus
try ofthe people. Happily we are free
from many of the artificial regulations
of which the economists of Europe see
too much reason TO complain. We
have no corporation laws or statutes Of
apprenticeship, or any such Fictitious
privileges as Adam Smith reprobates in
England with so much force. We en-
joy, too, many advantages over the
countries of Europe for the promotion
otmanufactures. Bread is cheap; most
of the materials are abundant and low.
As for labor, we are certainly the most
inventive people in the world; and
more labor-saving machines have been
invented in this country than in any
other. This praise is not confined to
ourselves.
"The "London Standard" speaking
of manufactures, admits that nearly all
the recent mechanical contrivances in
troduced into factories, for dispensing
with human labor, are of Yankee in
vention."
These machines required no protec-
ton to animate the ingenuity of our
people, and encourage their invention.
Whitney invented the cottongin with
out any legal provision to stimulate his
powers. Whittemore manufactured
his card.making machine, before our
high pro tectve tariffs existed. They
were wanted; and this very necessity
operated as the mother of invention,
particularly in so ingenious and enter
prising country as this. They natu.
rally sprang up like Minerva, iuIlarmed,
from the head Of Jupiter.
This free system, too, has the further
advantage of equalizing, as far as pos
sible, the blessings, as well as the bur-
dens of our institutions among all our
citizens. But let government interfere
with its protection to one class or Sec
ton. and Immediately there springs up
oppression upon others. One section
of the Union becomes sacrificed to an
other, and one class of the community
to another. Now, it is this equality of
advantage, and this sense Of justice,
which constitutes the great ligament
that binds together the people ofa great
country in the strongest bonds of union.
Do the protectionists believe that if the
abomniable tariff of l842 is kept as it is
tor some months longer-if the present
session of Congress should turn an ad-
der's ear to the complaints Of a suffer-
ing people, they will patiently submit
to their wrongs! Deeply, awfully,
will they find themselves Mistaken
Let the example of bold people in
LbSldHu CUIIcCl tIiS IIllStdhts Hey
established the league--they addressed
the people-they flooded the country
with papers and pamphlets. They al
tackled the corn-laws with overpower-
ing zeal and irresistible Arguments
The minister himself became enlisted in
the cause. The corn.laws are proba-
bly, by this time concealed from the
slatute-book. What has been done in
England will be done here. And Mr..
Owen, in his capital speech, warns the
manufactures themselves to save what
they can. Our countrymen will never
acqujesce in such system of injustice,
which forces nature out of her own
proper channel, and taxes one man, not
for the benefit Of his vernment. but
for the benefit Of another man. Relax
the rigid rules which the manufacturers
have imposed upon the farmer, and re-
duce the tariff to the revenue standard.
and a greater foodtde of prosperity,
much greater content, will rapidly
spread over this great country.