Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-12-15
The Great American system.

We cannot too cordially appreciate that doctrine
which has for its foundation aim and end the es-
Enlistment Of great AMERICAN SYSTEM. Encour-
agement 70 homo industry, and prote ction of phys
ical labor mighty problems The great power
and eventual prosperity Of country restiu them.
Had the wealth and treasures Of this nation been
kept at home for twenty years past TO pay mechan-
les, manufacturers ard lahorers for services render
cd in their own domain instead Of sending it abroad
as an equivalent for duties performed in Europe
for materials made there and worn out here-the
present inancial crisis beyond I'll doubt, would
have been averted. Instead Of dleness, paralysis
Of business bankruptcy, and the thousand Ills con-
sequfnt thereon, peace, plenteousn 8 ara aDun
dance OF lat or would have been our character-ilcs
Truthfuy is it said by contemporary, the Phlladel-
phia NeVs, t at
''The American system msy be traced to its orr
gin and IL will be found that the first demand for
Constitution came from the laborng classes II
the operatives spread along the Atlantic coast,
whose labor needed protection, that made the hrst
movement which resulted in the formation Of the
present Constitution IL not Hancock and
Adams, and their cOmpeers but such men as Paul
ReVie- nd their art Zans who most efficiently a6H
voc8tcd the movement for commercial well as
polite independence. IL was the pouring in OF
food OftoTeign manufactures that gave the first I'M
pulse toward the formation of a Constitution for
own prot ction; aud sooner was ittoImed and
adopted, than Congress pass. Tariff la" design
ed to encourage and protect American labor.
"PrOtection was the aim and object OF those who
were most active and efficient IL securing the adOp'
ton Of the present Constitution. Their desire was
TO have american System, Of Government, and
not be politically free from, and yet commercially
slaves of Great Britain. Hence power was given
10 Congress oreguate commerce. and to lay duties
upon foreign Imports so that the system OF pTotec-
ton ought to be established should be made to en-
brace the whole industrial interests of the country
"Tbe American System il all entire thing for the
benefit Of all; and when you lose sight OF that view,
il becomes partial ana unjust l. contains in itself
II compensatug principle that is designed to do jus
tice to all; and If you take that away, you cannot
fail 10 create discomfort and to weaken the inter-
ests which are not attached. There Is no more
sure va of reducing wages than to assault each
branch of Industry in detail, and by that policy
bring those who ought TO be united to one
upon another. Those who produce iron claim pro- |
lection; but with what propriety they ask for
the couutenaHce OF the navigatOrs who consume il
largely if they take away what goes to protect and
foster the navigating interest? The labOIers and |
by laboTers mean all who work, must stand to- !
gether and protect one another, they will be
made the victims OF policy that will bring them
10 a level with those who struggle for existence in
Europe. They must not be deuded by little prom
ised advantages to adopt course that will be ru-
inOu5.
at is to be regretted and depIored that the time
has rot yet come when this great matter NAV be
disentanged from politics and politicians and be |
approached IN spirit Of mutual concession and !
fOraearanCc and the Southern and Northern indu.-
try be pl ced upon footing that will secure to it
a stable and enduring prosperity. We hope soon
TO see that day arrive and we think we see even
now, the dawuing Of such era, and gradual
conviction upon the public ind that the prosppri-
~ of the North and South may exist in harmony,
If We rcrace our steps in the pathway of error and
once more allow ourselves follow in the foot
steps OF Washington and Hamilton and Of Jeffer-
son and Madison. When that time comes, as we
hope 1t soon will come, then let the Anler1can SUS~
tenn be restored, and public harmony will follow
upon It, giving to the Union new strength and !
new Vigor, and to the country peace and plenty"
We waHtand must have a purely American sys-
TEN. Past experience, dearly bought has estab-
lshei, b, yond controversy, its absolute necessity
80 long as We indulge in European Injuries, en-
cOuragIug eGtr.Vagance and iiIcnoss at home, fos
ttrlHg industry DEMONSTRATING cur gold across the
ocean to pay for materials that SHOULD be made
"thn ourselves-just so long must we expect to
De III ulthcules Two hundred millions of dollars
a year, to pay artlzlns in England, Frar &C. and
other parts OF the old world for products which
"hen worn out by us in a few brief months, are
Wholly valued ss, tringing nothing in return must
ever continue to absorb our substance, monopo-
NE sources Of industry, aud keep US poor ever
subjects to monetary Tevulsions. TruthfuIly Is it
salH' We want an American system, and the best
way OF obtaining this will be through the instru-
meHttiIty OF a literally and purely nationalized
ATuJ - TyJf5y,l..1 , ~