Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-25

To follow out the case, have supposed: The in
come OF every man, except the exporter, IS to be
reduced oneShalf in the value Of wages and proper
ty while all foreign merchandise will cost the same,
which will obviously, in effect, double the price,
it viii take twice the amount OF labor, or twice the
amout of the products OF labor, 10 purchase 1t.
do not ascrbe this power to the bill, but it is
enough for me that friends do. What response
will the farmers, mechanics, manufacturers and Las
borers make to such lagittiOus proposition! Can
they be reconciled to such measure of opposition!
-one that EFFORTS from them the fruits OF their in-
dustry to professionally enrich the planter, who
now enjoys prosperity unequalied IN the rest OF
the country? No. sir such plans OF sectional ag-
grandizement, and such disregard of the interests
of the greatest and most powerful class OF PEOPLE
in the country, can only excite their disgust and
and indignation. Thus, sir, have traced the bene-
hts of this BILL if il have any, Interpreted by
its friends to the rich and powerful. | have, if |
mistake not demonstrated that they are to be made
richer by tax upon their less fortunate, but more
industrious and necsssitous fellow citizens-a
tax that they never and never will submit to,
so long as their power be felt through the ball
lot box.
But, sir this is not all. While we are thus to
have intoerable burdens loaded upon u.s. to add to
the weight of our embarrassments, ard to Increase
our sufferngs; and while the debtor portion OF the
public are TO be crushed and ground to dust be
tween the upper and neither milestone OF this pro-
cess the man of money is not only to escape un-
harmed, but TO have his property doubled. He
who holds cash. its equivalent in notes, bonds or
stocks will be able to buy double the amount of
property with it, and will therefore have its value
doubled on his hands; for, while wages and proper
ty are to go down, money is to go up in the same
ratio.
If the friends of the bill have given it true con-
L . al, Il k,N,
scourqe to all others What is the debtor portion of
the public? Sir, will venture to assert that the
amount of existing Indebtedness in any commercial
country, is near, if not quite, equal TO the value OF
all property in that country, whether it be rich or
poor, prosperous or unprOsperous and you cannot
change to the extent gentlemen have supposed,
the relation of debtor and creditor, or thus dmin~
ish the resources of the debtors without crash,
waste and desolation such as has never been expes
renced. Suppose a man has purchased $4,000
worth of property at present prices and give his
bond for IL YOU reduce its value one half, and it is
worth S., 600 How is il possible that, without
sources, thus reduced, most debtors can ever pay.
But sir you cannot maintain state OF things
such have been supposed. You may embarrass
and distress u.s. you have done, but this bill will,
in the end, work out no such advantages as are
anticipated for the planters The theory contains
in itself principle that will defeat the end in view
Go on, sir, if YOU please, and so legislate 10
bring to the cotton planters the extraordinary pro-
fits anticipated at the expense OF the other branches
of industry; how long will it be before that pursuit
will be overhauled with competitors till the market
will be inundated with cotton, and it's prices fall
Just in the ratio you have stimulated its prOduc-
tons? Down il will, down it must by the laws of
the trade level with the fall of other pro-
ductons Aud what will be gained by the whole
process? Nothing, absolutely nothing, except that
it will take more of labor and of our pro.
auctions to buy foreign merchandise; gain will
turn literally into loss. This is capable think,
of demonstration, if it does not already sufficiently
appear; but have no time to enlarge, interesting
and all important as the subject is.
What motive can we have, sir, to reduce wages
and the value of property? When did the sun
shine upon aboring people so blessed those of
our country have been? Where have they ever
been able by industry, to feed, clothe and edu-
cate themselves so well? The history of the world
proves nothing more certainl y-nothing with clear
er demonstrations than that where wages are lowest
there is greater poverty and suffering; there the
condition OF the aborer is most fOrlOrn and wretch
ed there is the least moral and intellectual culture;
and there our race is sunk into the depths of po.
litica degradation, incapable Of raising itself to
that lofty elevation attained by free, enlightened
people, capable of governing their own affairs. 1t
tends TO the opposite OF everything dearest to us
for the descent will carry with it not only wages,
but all the high qualities which fit US to be what
we are-lree and independent. This is sufficient
answer to all that can be said upon the subject
Such is the remedy for the disease which ailllcts
our country; and while its advocates shadow forth
its evils far beyond any conception of mine, if the
bill be carried into effect, as has been proposed
here must confess that Sc in it nothing to
soothe or relieve the public-nOthing to restore
confidence, which is the great and desirable end
nothing to avert future panics-nOthing to stop
this scramble after the gold aud silver going be
tween US and other cOuntres-nOthing that has
healing power enough to revive and maintain pros
perity.
But, sir, much as remains to be said, must draw
to a close, as my object merely to notice some
leading remarks of Senators, which have develop
ed new and extraordinary doctrines Of this Admins
istration. | was anxious to vindicate the RIGHTS
OFTHE GREAT MASS OF THE PEOPLE, WHO
ACQUIRE THEIR SUPPORT BY LABOR, AND
WHOSE INTERESTS, AS LAYING AT THE
BASIS OF ALL Pa OSPERITY, HAVE AT ALL
TINES AND ON ALL FIT TING OCCASIONS ES-
POUSED AND MAINTAINED WITH WHATS
EVER OF ABILITY POSSESS. In this, sir,
have taken great and sincere satisfaction believing
it to be the great end of our free Governments and
the only sure means of sustaining it. In the name
and in behalf of that great, powerful, aud enhght
ened class of my fellow citizens of Massachusetts,
whom have the honor to represent, / enter my
solemn protest against the doctrines here advance
ed; and il my voice could reach them in their dwell
lugs their shops, and on the decks of their YES
sells, | would exhort them not to be deluded by
false theories leading them on to ruin, but to rouse
up their energies and, AT THE BALLOT BOX,
MANIFEST THEIR INDIGNATION AT ALL
ATTEMPTS TO CYPRESS THEN BY DIMINISH
ING THEIR BUSINESS AND TAXING THEIR
LABOR TO ENRICH OTHERS l would entreat
them not to sit still and be made such as they see
the distressed aud impoverished Iaborers of Europe
aud Asia.