Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-10-29
From the Washington Unto
D.o,ao.;o AZ

NJ.
,ritespopular erroror a pet political here
.sy will remain dead when once killed, or
is ever content with one defeat and de-
.struction. Political heresiessh have as,ma-
ny lives as superstition ascribes to the
cat, and have TO be- met, combated, and
overthrow not only nine times. but nine
ty times and nine. 1t is the faculty Of
truth to rise again when crushed to earth,
and to survive through etrnal years; but
it is also the faculty Of error to rouse it.
self often from overwhelming defeat, and
to sustain as many ,knock.downs as a
Heenan or a Morrissey, before finally gil
wing mp the ghost. ~.
We have an instance Of this tenacity Of
life in the resurrection of the old pet
Wing scheme OF Protection-a scheme
which commanded great popular strength
when our industry was infant, weak, and
apparently in need Of the fostering care
of government; however homogeneous il
may now be with the Industrial Vigor. in
dependence, and prosperity of our coun-
try. Temporary relapse and depression
is one of the incidents and evidences Of
hourishing and enterprising industry /;
and it is during the temporary existence
Of such a depression in our manufactu
ring interests, that the old mounte bank !,
Protection, has lifted up its head again,
like Falstaf at Shrewsbury, protesting
that it is neither dead nor embowelled. !"
and Boosting greater prowess and vital
ity than ever.
The protective doctrine is now present.
ed to the country in more ingenious
form than usual. 1t is adapted in each
locality to the predominant interest and
feeling. The protectionist in PennsylYa-
MIA clamors for a high duty on iron in
New England, he is eager for humping
tariff on cotton and woollen fabrics in
Louisiana, he has a sweet tooth for large
per centage on sugar; and in Virginia. he
is anxious to exclude English and WEIGH
rails by prohibitive impost, and to con-
struct the Old Dominion's connexions
with the great west with iron made only
at Tredegar, Clifton forge. and Manakin
Town. If the Pennsylvania protectionist
is asked whether he is willing to extend
his principle of protection to the cotton
and woollen fabrics of New England. ar d
to tax the masses Of the Keystone State
fifty per cent. on their wearing apparel
for the benefit Of the Yankees, he will
scout the scheme with Indignation for its
inequality and enormity. If the Virgin
ia protectionist. who proposes to save two
millions Of dollars now is asked whether,
in order to do so. he is willing that the
Virginia people be taxed five or six mill
lions on sugar and dry goods. he will re.
ject the project with chivalric disdain.-
So, too, the Louisiana sugar grower and
the New England manufacturer would de-
nounce an iron tariff as vehemently as a
tariff for their own benefit would be de-
nounced by the Pennsylvania or Virginia
protectionist.
Thus. the protectionist in each locality
is prompt to repudiate the principle in ev-
cry application of it but the one intended
for his own especial benefit. Such is the
intense. illiberaI, and exclusive selfish
ness to which protection makes its appeal.
1t has no catholicity Of aim or instinct !;
it has no breadth of beneicence; it has
no nationality Of purpose or policy. The
anti'slavery agitation was at least section
al; it had an amplitude that at least ems
braced half OF the Union. But the pro-
tective policy is even narrower Of scope;
it is contemptibly local; its aspirations are
contracted with pent-up Uticas; it cannot
look beyond its own immediate dunghill;
its vision may possibly extend over sin>
gle State; but, if it looks beyond, if it
casts it's eyes from Pennsylvania to Cons
necIicut, or from Virginia to Louisiana,
it Immediately repudiates its own princi-
pie with misery sel6shness and nervous
alarm.
Analyze the cry of protection as you
may, ond it will be reduced to nothing
but cry for " bread" from the federal
government. What an idea Great
States. sovereign States. appealing to the
federal government for bread "Tax
the people Of the Union" says Massachu.
sets to the federal government, "to feed
my factory operatives" Tax the I'm
ion." says Pennsylvania, "to feed my
iron miners and forgers." "Tax the
Union," say the proteotionists in Virgin.
ia, "to enable our foundries to sustain
themselves and flourish" This is new
commentary upon Virginia's doctrine Of
strict construction and State sovereiqntv !
Can State be sovereign which consents
to appeal TO foreign government for
bread and protection?
" But this result" says the Philadel>
PhIa Press. speaking OF the Pennsylvania
election, is not only an uprising of the
people against the betrayal of their rep
resentatives, &C., &C., but is, as the same
time. tribute to Pennsylvania feeling.
and to that idea which is cherished by all
our people-thas OF protection to Ameri.
can industry" A most sublimated State
pride must prevail. indeed, when a beg
carly appeal through the ballot. box to
the federal Union for help and bread can
be regarded as tribute to Pennsylva.
MIA feeling! '
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