The national Republican., 1860-12-27
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
From the Illinois Monthly Journal, July, 1882
THE STATE OF THE SOUTH.

.o" 'ne innu Vi tne Marlons and the Plnckneys
From that very quarter from which we have
= been wont TO look for the brightest and mos
attractive examples of large and liberal policy
of magnanimous zeal for the common good, and
OF loyal attachment TO the Union, our ears are
now invaded by the tones of complaint and
menace. The complaint is TANATIoY-the
menate is DIsUYIpS.
The complaint and the menace have been
regarded by some as fit subjects for merriment
and ridicule. In that light we cannot regard
them. When one member of this Conlederacy
appeals to the justice Of the rest, the appeal
ought to be heard. II, provoked by real or
seeming delay, resort is had to threats, the nat
ural impulse to retort ought not to be permit.
ted to disturb the even course of reason.
The issue is between South Carolina and the
country. To understand, precisely, what it is,
it may be well to review, briefly, the revenue
system for the last twenty years. We begin
with the late war. That war was preceded BY
an embargo, which, during its continuance,
suspended all commerce. When the embargo
was removed, commerce did not return to its
accustomed channels. War strobe across the
paths Of commercial intercourse and, in some
quarters entirely cut off, and in others greatly
interrupted, all communication. Our people
could no longer be supplied from abroad and
as natural consequence, manufactures grew
up az hoiht. utu ptdCe TetuTneu, IL became
question whether the protection which the
war had incidentally afforded, should be with.
drawn. The Congress of 1916 determined that
it should not. In 1924, it was found that the
protection granted in 1916 was insufficient, and
the tariff was revised, and in 1928 was still
farther amended. So far the Legislature rec.
oguised, and steadily acted on, the principle of
protection to domestic industry. The success.
sive acts Of Congress- with the exception of a
few clauses forced in to reudcr them un palatable,
were thoroughly imbued with this principle. In
the mean time, South Caroliaa, who had siren.
uousy urged protection in 1876, wheeled round
and as strenuously opposed protection in 1924
and 1873. While these things were taking
place, the public debt was gradually diminish
ing under the operation Of the sinking fund.
AS the period OF its extinction approached, it
became necessary again to revise the revenue
system. Duties had been imposed with double
PurpDse-to rasr revenue, and to afford pro.
tection 1t became question, of course, on
whi b class of articles the duties should be re.
duced. South Carolina demanded a general
reduction on all imports aud this demand was
resisted on the ground that to grant it was to
destroy the anuiactures, which had been estab.
Ilshed on the faith oil Government, repeatedly
pledged by solemn acts of legislation. This
SUBJECT was fully discussed and thoroughly sifted
at the session Of Congress which has Just closed
The best exertIons of the strongest minds were
contributed to its elucidation. Every view
which reason, or ingenuity or interest, or pa
triotism, could suggest, was presented in the
most iorcible manner. Every motive which
can actuate the human heart was successively
and powerfully addressed. The result was, the
adoption OF tariff Of duties by numerous ma.
Jorities in both Houses, in which the principle
OF protection was distinctly recognised, and by
which the gross amount Of the national revenue
will be reduced many millions. This tariff.
however, did not satisfy South Carolina. All
her members voted against it, except three, who
belong to what is called the Union party; "
and one of the most distinguished among them
declared, with the impressive emphasis of an
appeal to Heaven, that, if the question were not
satisfactorily adjusted then, he believed that
South Carolina would not bear the existing leg.
islation fre months longer! The question has
not in his judgment, and in the judgment of
those who think with him, been satisfactorily
adjusted. God grant that his anticipation may
not prove prophetic
Was the majority right? 1t was admitted,
on all hands, that the abandonment of the pro.
tecive principle involved the ruin of the manu-.
featuring interests. 1t was contended by some
and strongly denied by others, that to retain
that principle was to PROSTATE the South If
~ uo tue tndI tne VUal interests OF the two
great divisions Of the country are so irrecon.
cllably opposed, then is our goodly ship, the
ConsfnutiOn a wreck and the law of self
preservation rises above all other law, to i'm.
perious supremacy. Is it true?
Almost the first consideration which presents
itself to the mind, ponderng this question, is.
that the ground OF complaint in the South has
been entirely changed, within the last five
years. The first complaint was, that the price
OF articles was increased by the whole amount
OF the duties imposed, and that the enhanced
price was a tax on the consumer, for the bene.
mt OF the manufacturer. 1t was predicted.
when the tariff Of 1924 was under debate, that
the duties then proposed would cause a great
rise IN the price of imports. The duties were
laid, but no such consequences followed On
the contrary, prices fell Fact touched the
theory, and it fell, crumbling into shapeless
ruin. And now the ground Of complaint is
changed. new theory is constructed to meet
the exigency OF the case. The consumer no
longer pays the duties on imports-the producer
OF the exports pays them all. The planting
States, or the cotton.growing States, produce,
1t is said, two-thirds Of the exports aud there.
f2re pay two'thirds of the revenue and are
grievouSly oppressed.
startling and appalling inference imme.
diately and irresstibly follows upon the admis,
~ " ','' 'u0oiy' ~ IL, that our present sys-
TENS OF deriving revenue from imposts enables
foreign nations to throw the burden of taxation
on whatever section of the Union they please
BY admitting the PRODUCTS of some States
and excluding those Of the others, the Europe
an Powers could exert tremendous influence |
on our internal relations. Another inference,
not less appalling or irresistible, is that it lights
up the flame of eternal discord among the
States 1t introduces a topic of everlasting and
bitter contention and debate. 1t has already |
gwen birth to the monstrous proposition, that,
IN justice to the South, the custom houses
should be abolished, that the revenue should
be raised from direct taxes alone, imposed
equally upon the manufactures and products