The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-12

to benefits thcrofrom. Especially is this the
case in reference to the tariff Such laws bear d.
recty upon the general industry of the country.
They regulate, to great extent, the whole system
of exchange Of products; they make and exclude
markets; they open and close the very chan
nels Of trades they say to whom the producer shall
sell, and OF whom he shall buy and even deter
mine the price in either II is manifest that
laws of such character must excite universal in
terest and large amount of individual cupidity.
They are speculative in their very nature They cut
oil or restrict foreign nportations, and compel the
consumer to purchase of the domestic manufacturer
or producer Ii is. then, perfectly natural tllat in
their enactment great individual interest should be
felt and exercised for it is the province Of ndivid-
uals in this country above any other to exercise more
less control over its legislation. This we
derstand but it does NOT explain why the subject
should, in any event. assume partisan aspect The
people of the United States want just and equal
laws. If burdens to be borne, they ready
and willing to bear them upon principles of equity
and fair dealing. They proud of their institu-
tions and of their historical fame Whatever is
wanted for public account in order to maintain the
honor, the dignity, and the common welfare of the
nation, they viii give withoutmurmur But they will
not permit their institutions to be used instru-
ment of taxing one branch of industry for the benefit
of another-to make Congress Legislative lobby to
advance individual schemes and fortunes. To tho
tent that the principles of protection advocated
in that body private interests are represented and
to the same extent the legislature is prostiued and
-. - .c,,I 4
This evil, however is sustained by very high
authority. 1t has been too common to send to Con-
gress persons avowedy elected to represent certain
branches of Industry, and thus to impregnate that
body with antagonisms fatal to the integrity of the
government and subversive of all patriotism and
national unity. 1t may well be questioned, in
view of our struggles, for instance, concerning the
tariff since the adoption of the constitution, whether
we have not, in this way, laid the foundation for
that bitter sectional strife which now threatens the
existence of the Union? 1t was the recognition of
an interest apparently opposed to the general well
fare 1t was special representation in Congress-
always ready to sacrifice every other object of
legislation to effect its peculiar and paramount
purposes. Massachusetts sent here for long
series of years, special advocates, rather than
constitutional representatives Lowell and Lynn,
Providence and Chepachet, had their attor-
news upon every committee, their orators in
every debate, and their powerful lobby in every
Congress. Was this what was contemplated in the
organization of our federal system? Was it not
snre 70 generate in the national legislature the
fatal elements Of distrust and thus impair the unity
- \ Al, .cxr;., ~ o,,r constitutional eyoyorn,oant
coud we hope TO continue a harmonious whole
when the parts are in hopeless conflict? Once