Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-09-17

tJnion SnUuu ue suiiei0iv So,4 ...cS 49, -ii@
capable of connecting cause and effect that
protective tariff was lie, m absurdity, q mon
strous imposition upon common sense, mere
contriyance for taking money out OF the hands
of one class, and putting it into that OF another
class.
But the schemers and clap trap men say that
thew, too, are in favor of free trade, If it IS
practicable; but they will not consent to " one
sided affair" to give free trade to fereign ma
ton that refuses to extend the same to us IN re-
turn. This is in truth a still greater imposition
on common sense. 1t Itamounts to exactly this.
because England or France taxes one class OF
their people for the benefit of another, why' we,
forsooth, in self.defence, must do the same!
could there be or is there anything more child
isb. and vet such is the slow progress OF ideas,
that multi.udes of people at the North, and
among them, we are ashamed to say, Democrats
or professed Democrats, that are so deluded oy
this wretched sophistry as to vote for ana sup
port tariff policy
Another set of humbugs assume that the peo-
ple are not prepared to support direct taxatlon-
that !. that each man honestly and straightfor-
wardy pay over to the support OF the govern
mept lust in proportion to the amount OF his
nroperty. What an outrageous insult TO the
popular intelligence that the people must be
cheated into a support Of their own government
TO be b.ibcd into defence of their own In
terests!
Finally, it is said that indirect taxation or
thrift on foreign commerce, is vastly more con-
yenieut. WE'LL this possibly may be wel.foun-
ded; at any rate it is the only argument ever
put forward by the protectionists that has !,
single grain of common sense in it. 1t is odd
and amusing to witness the strange and absurd
notions of persons and classes on this subject.
Free trade in England did not spring from any
sense of right, or reason, or sympathy with tae
oppressed and plundered millions but simply
because the nonied interest would not consent
that the landed interest should rob the masses
any longer without giving it share of the plum
. dor! That was ALL at the starting point OF the
q free trade" movement, though 1t afterwards
expanded into real reform.
The abolitionists of the North, are, to great
extent. free traders, not because they compre
hend the subject, or have the slightest sympathy
with the producing classes who arc wronged anc
plundered by tariff laws, but simply because
, the British abolitionists are advocates OF fret
/ trade. and they borrow their notions on this sub
iect, lust as they have those in respect to negro
slavery, from their British allies.
> Old Giddings, in speech to his constituents
tells them that he offered to unite with the
Wings in Congress to give them protectiv.
tariff, if they, In turn, would stand BY him ant
! his party in the cause of freedom. Now, thi
was virtually and actually telling his constitu
! enss that he was ready to sell them to the spec
= ulators, to tax each one of them an additlona
!, amount for the benefit Of New England manu-
factures, on condition that they, in turn woult
! help him (Giddings to degrade bis constituent
! to a level with negroes! or in other words h,
Il proposed that his constituents should be taxed
: and each man give portion Of his days labo
. to aaboish slavery" that is to put negroes OIL
level with themselves. But the ignorant an'
deluded old man knew not what he did or trie'
il or offered to do. He was as ignorant Of tn
q subject as he is of so.called slavery" an
" doubtless, honestly believed that he was drivin
. a famous bargain with these "Whiga," an
+ helping on the great Z" cause Of humanity" Will
d in truth he was proposing as vilainous and infa
q nous thing as it is possible for human bein
n to be guilty OF.