Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-08-16
Letter from George T. Curtis, ESQ,
THE WING STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
ISoLEsipk,


trial Committee:
Ny Dear sr-I address this letter to you ON .ccoun,
OF your official relation to the Wing party, but OF
without wish to make you responsible tor nythng Il
cvntainsL
Ii scarcely necessary for any one to offer any spol-
for presenting his fellow wings such suggestions as
occurred to his own mind on the
OF public affairs The tune snd the occasion demand of
US mutual consultation, and open action upon personal
responsibility TO public opinion, however humble and .
tied may be personal influence. Our poor country
for sometime past by set OF factions deprived of
the steadness and support OF two national parties extend
ing throughout all the states and each acting upon
uniform principles; and threatened with a sectional
combination that IL shake the foundations of the
government has need Of all thoughts Heaven grant
that IL have for duties that NAV
require OF greater sacrifices greater excron
than involved in the effort obtain correct views OF
political duty and To regulate personal conduct by
correct principles.
We are meubcrs Of political organizations which, as a
national party, has ceased hold position from which
expect to be called the OF the
national government In several OF the states however
and especially in our own, still hold position OF great
Importance; and there is resting upon notony the
sponsioily which attaches conduct individuals
but the responsibility that attaches to body OF still
acting in separate organization, distinct from all other
parties Standing in this attitude, the duty upon
of ascertsinng how shall influence 80 a.
best promote the interests and welfare our country
do not wish to entertain you with discussion OF what
constitutes national party shall take il for granted
that party which draws both OF its candidates Tor the
Presidency and the Vice Presidency the free states
and whose chief principle Of organization relates ques
ton or questions concerning the institution Of slavery
maintaining doctrines which be maintained in but one
section OF the Unons In the this
try, sectional party however be called by its lea
ders or members. But passing definitions I wish to
present TO my Wing brethren specific and substantive
propcsitiounamely, that you carry on the GO
vernment of the United States and derive from IL even
the smallest OF the advantages for which created by
means OF parties divided from each other geographically
on the subject of slavery.
Every is that in framing the Constitution OF
the United States became necessary to establish the
fty nf xhn
people OF the United States should be the ruling power
one branch Of Congress- through system OF rcp,e-
sentston. The founders of he government ir framing
such system, had two difficulties contend with One
OF them Was the difficulty of drawing suitable rcpresen-
taton from such great distances centre The
other the difficulty of providing system Of
taon that would afford the of lcgsating states
of greatly diversified interests IL Just as true then
as 1t is now, aud probably always will be- that aside from
this institution OF slavery the interests of the dill.
teent states and sections various Some States
had strong interest in commerce navigation; some
were merely planting or agricultural States Some States
had important branches of industry and
likely have more; others had less of these interests
but possessed beneath their soil almost boundess stores
OF mineral wealth The regulation of commerce. the adj.
usment OF all commercial relations with the rest Of the
world and with each other and levy all needul
revenues to be bestowed by States on the Gene
al Government and il became Of the utmost importance
TO provide system Of representation which should afford
the Of legislatng the various interests of the
States, 50 as to protect and hsrmonize them all
This was great undertaking Still, the trainers Of the
broadcast
basis the popular branch the Legislature and
especially by providing in that majority OF the people
OF the United States should be branch Of the ega.
tive power they could best the means of
ing the special interests Of all the States Ii is quite plain
that in this well in all other things they Judged
wisely for under the system which they provided when
question arises that involves the particular of
one Of the States the opportunity for obtaining
majority willing to act justly, literally and with proper
regard for those interests is far greater more numer
Gus than would be in less numerous of
the people inhabting the different States The trainers
of the Constitution might have made the popular branch
OF Congress exceedingly small without any violation Of
principle. But this would have been TO commit the di.
versihed interests of the States body of legislators in
which it would have been far difficult TO obtain the
consent OF majority to particular measures than is now
They provided therefore, Tor the protection of those
tcuar interests that would be more iInportant To
States than to Others to the whole BY providing for
large representation to be drawn from all the States and
by committing the power Of legislation TO the numerical
majority of the representatives voting per capita instead
OF leaving IT, A. under the former government in
the hands OF majority OF the States.
Hence necessary for every State that has specia
interests which can in any way be affected by the egis
aon OF Congress- TO keep what may called the basis
OF legislation broad and firm it be made If
state for example is 80 situated its various branch
es OF industry must receive from Congress peculiar
and attention, angush into condition of dsas.
ter aud run necessary for it to have the largest pos
sble field from which draw the legislative minority by
which it is TO obtain, from motives OF kindness good
will, enlarged patriotism from the profession of COM
political principles the attention and which its
interests require OF Congress
by its representatives and making demand for legislation
its particular interests without taking any pains 10
conciliate unite the elements Of a majority by means
OF political faith; or by any other means il
simply absurd and il State should not only take no
pains do this but should DO all in power to ALLEVIATE
the feelings and excite the hostility Of fifteen other States
its position would become only absurd aud ridiculous
ain very well aware that IN that school statesman
ship-it it can be called sate-manship-in which 'al
other issues are laid aside for the single question OF slave
ry it is maintained that there are now no questions rela
| he the ofo ;,,l,.
try from foreign competition IL is true that a protective
tariff by that name, founded the mere pruci-
pie OF protection la, long been obsolete idea But
II Is not true that an absolute free trade has taken the
place OF such tariff IN the policy even Of the Demo.
cratic party, that the interests of Massachusetts, no
longer require attention aud discrimination in lrvyng the
Of the government On the contrary the pfinc-
pie acted upon is that while tariff not 10 be laid for the
purpose Of fostering any manufacture vet that the
revenue IS to be so collected not TO nure the industry
OF our people; and accordingly there il or less
Of incidental protection admitted 10y the Democratic doc
ne and provided for in act that proceeds
from Democratic administration Of the government
Without this principle, many important branches Of our
industry could not live all and is consequently lust
necessary to maintain vigant and well inform. d ut
tenton 10 the details Of afcvenue b-to watch
fully our local interestAnd 10 provide the OF
securing the maortes needfu their defence as II ever
was. few statistics will make this quite plain.
According to the official returns there made in
this State during the year ending the first June last
boot and shoes OF the value of s37 4Gs 1856; giving EN-
ploymeut 20 1919 perons, male and female OF course
we do not produce IN this State tenth part Of the raw
hides required to make the leather necessary for this man
uacture and the authorities say that do not tan quite
half OF the leather consumed in the State BY far the
greatest part Of the hides tanned in the United States
comes from foreign countries and could CO. course 10
Europe 70 be tanned II the legislation OF Congress should
take such turn 70 send Il there and il il obviou.
that this great mass Of material, which draw in its
awest state from foreign countries could be
into boots and shoes cheaply in Europe
into those articles which could reach our Southern
aud Western consumers at as low price a. furnish
them, aud evep ~ lower price than get IL tho
revenue lave took pains either upon the material
the manufactured articles Discriminate in favor Of
the industry Of American tanners and shoe-makers The
cost Of transportation the Atlantic would be more
than compensated by the greater cheapness Of European
labor.
| With respect to the cotton manufacture, I not
what the precise amount produced in this state
but the last United States shows that thirds OF
all the cotton consumed in the United States aud two
thirds Of all the cotton goods produced consumed
and produced ia New England IN 1860. The value Of the
material was s23 sol Ooi; the number Of persons
male and female, employed 81 1913, and the value Of
| the manufactured products ff2 The mum.