The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-22

'Let rs prepare for our own protection" is
the heading of an editorial article in the Savan-
nah Georgian, urging the policy Of encourage
ing Southern manufactures, by the considera-
ton that the importation from the North of
every article which might be produced in
Georgia adds to the strength Of the former and
diminishes that Of the latter. 1--WE give her,"
says the Georgian, "the means to increase her
population and add to her political power, while
we depreciate our own resources" We have
repeatedly expressed our cordial sympathy with
every effort to develop the unequalled natural
advantages of the Southern States.
Believing that the attainment Of any as
signable grade in agriculture, manufactures, and
commerce, is within the reach Of that section, and
especially that its agriculture can never be carried
TO that improvement Of which il il susceptible,
until it ceases to be the sole employment Of South
ern industry, we have urged, in season and out
of season, all those arguments which recommend
the introduction Of manufactures and the me
chanic arts. We have, from day TO day, chron-
icled with high satisfaction every new cf-
fort in this direction, and the progress Of all
those works Of internal improvement which we
regard simply as auxiliaries to the same object
means of diminishing the effective distance be-
tween consumers and producers. Not, assured
ly, with any view to disunion, but for the good
Of the whole country, do we desire tho highest
degree of commercial independence in the
South
Precisely as the necessity Of resorting 10
the Northern workshops diminishos, the power
10 do 80 will increase, and that power will be
exercised to the benefit Of both sections, and
the inauguration Of their mutual goodwill.
We are very ready, therefore, to cheer on all
those who advocate the Investigation Of
Southern industry, though the purpose and
expectations of some Of them differ widely
from our own. In this thing we can unite
heartily: for whatever the event, whether con
tnued union, or secession, the preparation
which the Georgian counsels cannot prove
other than beneficial.
| But we think that, in order TO hasten such
preparation. TO facilitate and 10 make it efIcc
tual, the South must restore the protective po-
! lcy-not high duties, but fixed duties, mod
crate in amount, and decreasing, II at all,
not according to the reductions which the for
eign manufacturer may make for the purpose OF
breaking down his American rival, but accord
ing to a scale determined by our own legisla-
ton We have been endeavorng to remove
the objection that duties, really protective, ope
rate as a tax upon the domestic consumer. An
article in another column, relating TO this sub
ject. is, we conceive, seasonable for the consid
Grafton of that class Of persons TO whom we have
referred We are trying to clear the way for theii
becoming thorough protectionists, and availing
themselves Of what they cannot avoid seeing
would prove a powerful auxiliary in the ac-
complishment Of their objects. They seem tC
rely solely upon voluntary association against
The adverse action Of the Government, through
the ad ralorenl system Of levying duties. 1t Is
incumbent upon us, and we shall try, therefore
more fully to expose the operation of that sys
TEN.