Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-11-21


5 ses. upon this little invoice, upwards c
500 of duty which was never paid 10 tn
: government at all; upwards of 500 tha
: never went into the Treasury Of the Uni
ted States!
Now, gentlemen, do no, imagine tina
I this is an extraordinary case at all 1t i
+ happening every day, and YOU see the re
{ suit. Not only is the government de
I frauded in the way that these cases poin
out but every honest man in the countr,
. is defrauded. The knave gets his good.
into the market at less price than The
honest man. and consequently the latte
cannot stand the competition.
E Now TO show that this is no fiction. lie
me bring another fact TO your knowledge
Some examinations was made into this
subject in the great city of New York
not long since, believe within one or two
years. Some persons undertook to as
certain who the importers were, anc
where they belonged; and they found il
this great city. the largest city in the
country, and the greatest commercial city
in the country, doing very great pro.
portion. perhaps two thirds of all the i'm
porting business of the country. that il
turns out Just as YOU would anticipate =
/ The honest men were driven out of bust
ness, and 81 per cent of the importers o!
the city of New York are foreigners
planted here by the manufacturers of for
eign countries, to negotiate their business:
81 per cent. That was the result; and
| give it to you merely as proof of what
was saying. that this system drives the
/ honest men from the business. They
cannot stand the competition. 1t drives
your own countrymen from the business
and places il in the hands of foreigners.
| think there are few men who are ac-
quainted with all these facts, who will no;
agree with me in saying that the revenue
system needs reform
have hitherto considered this subject
as matter of dollars and cents-as a
mere matter of money; and perhaps most
men SO consider it. But apprehend he
who limits his views to that consideration
of the matter, wholly misapprehendes the
magnitude of the thing. There are be-
longing to it great moral considerations;
considerations which affect, deeply and
for great periods of time, our social con-
dition; and it is at this. mainly. that look.
1t is of this, mainly, that think. when
reflect upon the subject 1t is this view
of the matter which | wish to impress up
on your minds. 1t is not very material
in my view of the matter, whether calico
Is selling in this country for Sd or Cd per
yard; but it is very great and impor-
tant question whether the industrial por-
ton OF this community. which consti-
tutes nearly the whole Of it, shall be re-
srrected: shall be enlightened; shall pur-
sue its business with success; or shall go
down the scale Of social order, until it
falls into the condition of the people Of
Europe. That is the question to be set
tied (Applause.)
We have seen the heaving and throes
of the popular mind in Europe, during
transactions there, which, in and of them
selves, would seem TO be incredible We
have seen the masses rising, and we
have seen the ancient thrones, which
have stood century after century. crum-
bling to the dust. am thankful that these
revolutions. mostly, have been accom-
plished without bloodshed. 1t was the
restoration Of the old state of affairs.
which brought the bloodshed. Now what
is it that the people of Europe WANT
What is il that you see! This discomfort;
this agitation; why is it! We generally /
say that they are seeking for freedom.
and so they are. And what use do they
propose to make Of popular liberty, when
they get it. They seek a participation in
the government Of the country; but to
what end do they wish participation in
the affairs Of the government! To what
use will they apply this power when they
possess il!
When tell You what l know, many
around me can bear witness Of it, be-
cause they have seen it. and history will
bear me out in asserting that the great
masses of the population in Europe are in
a degraded condition, and not only in
degraded, but in a suffering condition to
a great extent, for the want of the COM
mon necessares Of life You will un-
derstand how it is, and why il is. that
they want to change. 1t is for bread that
they contend. 1t is for clothes, it is for
The ordinary and necessary comforts of
life that they agitate. and that they seek
participation in the affairs of the govern
nent- Then the question arises. and it
IS an interesting one. Suppose the peo
pie of Germany, or Of any other portion
IF Europe. to become possessed of that
power which would enable them to con-
stitute a self government. what would they
10 with it! They would endeavor. first,
20 provide some remedy for the sufferings
which they now endure. They would
endeavor SO to legsate. as to secure to
themselves bread. if it could be obtained:
clothing. if it could be had. This is
what they want Of power. This is the
great and anxious question which con-
stantly presses upon their minds; which
urges them on, from step to step.
Now, Mr.. President. in this country we
possess this power. We are selfgovern-
I'd. We hold that boon which they are
so anxious and DESTROYS to obtain. The
question is:-How would they conduct
themselves if they possess that power!
What weapons OF relief would they seek.
and what would they dol Their study
would be to elevate their social condi-
ion; to make the condition OF the labor