The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-11-24
Reduction of the Tariff.

the Congress of the United States than thorough
revision Of our tariff with view to the reduction
of duties. In spite OF the vast expenditures OF
our government, necessary and unnecessary In
spite OF the debt occasioned by recent war, IN
spite Of an immense cash payment to Mexico the
treasury of the country is at this moment filled
TO overlooking with fund, which, if the prosper
ity of the country at large be regarded, had bet
ter be scattered over the high ways and bye ways
of the nation, than boarded in her subtreasury
vaults.
Viewing this surplus part Of the
available capital Of the Union we are too apt to
consider it source of national advantage, as it
certainly is of national pride, and shutting our
eyes to the great evils OF such an uncommon fund
Of corruption aud wrong, we look at 1t alone as
an evidence of the gracious favor Of Omnipotence
and the wisdom Of our system OF policy. A mo-
ments reflection will convince one, that OF all the
evils that can afflict Republic, the most danger
Gus and insidous find their root and sustenance In
an OVERLOOKING treasury. We have no intention
Of engaging in the superoragatory task Of proving
this; let the experience of the United States for
the past ten years be our testimony and the
shameful corruption of names high, in the conf
dence of the people, our for the assertion.
But aside from the great dangers of such fund,
it will strike ono at the mercst g lance that the
trade Of the country must suffer severely from the
withdrawal of such immense sums Of money from
the working circulation Of the country. Nor is
this, as might be imagined, an evil which affects
only large importers the Wall street stock job
bers who throng the shade of Trinity church it
IS an evil that comes home 10 the humbIest artizan
in the humblest hamlet of the land inerieres with
the conduct Of the smallest farm that dots Viz
ginia valley hill side, and affects the daily OPP
erations of the paltriest retailer on our Streets
We all feel it at this moment, and the country is
now writhing in an agony which the judcious ap-
&c al IL (ar 10 81
levatlng. If then, there advantages but
all evils consequen, upon this state of things, why
not abolish it? The protective system is the
creed Of no political party and Of few political
men, and why should we adhere to it in ever so
minute degree? Because, and only because, it
is the interest of the cotton spinners and iron
manufacturers of the northern States TO bar com.
petition with the world that their own pockets may
be filled.
l, is in this respect mainly that it becomes us
as Southerners to view this question. For
enty odd years we have contented ourselves with
IoIng in easy chairs by comfortable fresldes
reading the same books and going through the
same routine OF duty that our fathers did before
us, employing the strong ambition Of few asp'r
ing individuals in the making of stump speeches
and holding of Presidential }cvees and while
have daIlied with these baubles, frittering away
the spring time of our existence selling these ia
they have applied themselves 10 the task of build
ing up individuals and State fortunes with
cess, the magnlficence of which, almos: consoles
in the humatng reflection that it was accom-
plIshed at expense.
We have sat idly by, like the proud medieval
barons, wrapped up in our mantle of ''chvalry,"
while The despised merchants and factors have
built themselves fortunes under very walls,
and now come to us to bargain for our ancestral
castles and the broad acres of our foreathers.
Who build our lines Of Improvements Who
export and import our goods Who own our lines
of steamers Who are studding our water
courses with manufactures And above all, who
CLEAN the profits Not ourselves but Northern
men. Not ourselves, but Northern men. Nor
can we blame them much Can we find fault with
the people Of New York because in 1852 Con.
gress appropriated 1857 44s for internal improve
meDts in that State alone, while to the hole South
and Southwest only 1924, OOO was given. Can
we blame them If Of the 5000, 900 worth of
domestic produce exported from this country, Il
few northern cities export nine tenths ? Can we
object if puny Dutch settlement on the southern
shore Of Manhattan Island has grown to an EN-.
pire city, with a taxable property amounting to-
day to fully $500, OOO,0 900? Why, the time was,
and that within ten years before Revolution
when Virginia imported one fourth more than New
York and all the New England States together,
and exported within a fraction of four times as
much New York the proportion stands,
instead of four to one, TO a hundred or a0o1Se.
And what has caused this? Supineness and ne
glect on our part which ne can correct, and I'M
equal Legislation which Congress must correct.
We carry our goods TO Northern men, in Northern
ships, insured in Northern offices, inspected by
Northern officials, and incidentally support a
army of seamen, wagoners, wharfmen, draymen
and agents. and last Of all the government, as far
as is connected with the transfer. Add to this
that we buy there we'll as we'll as SELL and thus
support the producer, the manufacturer and the
merchant, who honestly and in business like
manner, of course,) numerically fleece US. All
this sce can change, but Congress must release US
of the duties. These duties prevent foreign man.
ufacturers from seeking our markets they increase
the marg gin Of price which the Northern manu-.
facturer asks for his goods they support stand
ing army of officials at Northern ports they build
vast government buildings at those points they
attract by powerful gravitation the commerce of
the country to those cities they fill the Golfers Of
the country they are paul for IN tie proportion Of
at least three to By the Southern States, and
are disbursed IN the proportion Of fue to one IN
the Northern States.
The balance OF trade has been against us for a
half a century, and the balance Of power has fol-
lowed it, and while they have thus grown rich and
powerful the contributions Of the Southern
people, they have outraged our feelings, plundered
us of our property, and now while we write, are
openly proclaimng their intention of exaltng their
L 49, II