Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-14


eseued from their control by some new and undis-
oEered DEVICE
Snen were the extreme Democratic tendencies of
ir. BELL when protesting to belong to that party.
All those familiar with his subsequent history, as
he champion of Federal ideas cannot fail to be i'm
pressed with the marked contrast which they bear
% his public policy and opinions since he hasrevers
ID his position and been the advocate Of Banks of
high tariffs, privileged classes, corporations, monop-
ohes, and form of government more adapted to the
English system. "a
Mr.. BELL in that day, was not only opposed to
high protective tariff upon general principles, but
especially because of its injustice to the South His
sympathies were then with the South. His hopes
were with the South. He had not at that time form
ed his alliance, with the New England capitalists
and manufacturers, which he has so industriousy
labored to cultivate and preserve since that Tina
and in the speech from which we have been quoting
he sassy:
No country srys a leading advocate of this
policy, (Mr Carey.) in recent publication, ever
hOurished more than this has done, ever since the
tariff OF 1924 Now, sir, what country is here
spoken of? The South Is surely not intended to 6e
included. No. Sir, when you press those who en-
ploy this general language, to define with greater
precision what they mean when they speak OF the
fiourshlng condition Of the country, they VIII al
nit that the South as distinct and integral coun-
try is not fourishing, and they Immediately and by
rote begin to recite the causes which they say, must
ever keep that fated region in state OF comparative
depression. Sir. consider the sense IN winch the
word country is used by the advocates OF the
tariff in speaking Of its operation, IS one OF the
worst omens of the future destiny OF the Union
which these distracted times have given rise 10
The country meant is always the taFln states Or
sections Rome is substitution all Italy or ratner,
Italy is substituted for the whole Emplfe. Inc
particular members OF the body, into which, by an
artificial action of The system the nutriment IN
tended for the equal supply of all its parts Is con-
centrated, begin naturally enough, to assume 10
themselves the right TO be considered the whole
body and to deride the complaints OF the injured
and withered members" A..
~ have heard it asserted repeatedly, and have not
heard it denied that the profits Of some OF the
| manufacturing establishment of the country have
risen since 1923 the enormous rate of 80 per cent
upon the capital employed. If the capital employed
! in the manufacture Of iron, which Is one OF the
great articles protected by this policy should be less
than 20 per cent as is affirmed still the large adu
Iional amount of capital annually vested IN tla'
business affords conclusive evidence that the pro-
! fits of this branch of business far exceed the ma
ural and ordinary profits of the capital OF inc
country employed in unprotected branches Oh III
! dustry." .
.Ougbt It 10 be marveled at that the value of the
! Union itself shall become a subject OF calculation
| nv neople whose entire capital is threatened with
/ annihilatiOn? Sir, in this view OF the suDJect Il
matters not whether the burthens imposed upon
the planting interests be great or small IL II %
but a tenth part as great is estimated by some o.
! the gentlemen of the South 1t IS sth grievance
| of which they may well complain"
s.Ir is law in political economy as fixed and Ger
tain any in physical science that an prones AM
Accommodations, whether Of individuals, or OF com
! munities winch exceed the common standard OF llt
profit upon capital and labor of the whole country
are derived and in general, unustly eXtorted 1rop
the capital and labor ofothers. Now 1t Is admlIled
| that the uncommon prosperity OF the tarln 0Sele
| has been produced chiefly. by the protective pohcy
and that the continuance OF TINS prosperity
upon the maintenance of this policy Can gehue
| men who make this admission, still contend Win
out blush that the advantages OF the system ar
equally difused?'
| After continuing this argument, with an ability
and force which ever characterized the speeches
Mr. BELL so long as he seems to have pursued hon
est convictions, until he had established beyond
question the gross injustice and outrage perpetrate'
upon the producing States in the adoption Of tn
protective system fo- the benefit of the North, hi
warmed up with the spirit of true Southern pa
| triot and spoke in terms which, had he adhered t
through life, would have entitled him to the conf
dence of the American people; but which, should
Democrat repeat them now on the floor OF Congress
would be denounced Immediately by Mr. BELL an'
his subservient partizans the sentiments OF sec
tionalism, tending to disruption of the Govern
ment He said:
| But have still greater question to PROFOUND
! Assuming that the Representatives of the favored
and prosperous States shall be able by one device
other, to maintain their ascendency IN Congress
upon all qestons connected with this policy ant
assuming further that those who thus hold the powe
| here shall hold it to be their duty to be governed
! exclusively by what appears to them to be thu
most advantageous to their own particular sections
and interests do they not TO be. in any sense
the Representatives of the whole country? Mus
they not admit tina. the legsla ton which proceed
from such a source, must be the legislation OF ;
part and for the benefit of part and not for thu
| whole country? Under such q state q things, !
SOleHTg appeal TO them to sag, i they can Tdtl0nGa!
| calculate upon stability Of system OF policy thu
sustained and at the time expect the GOUernel
! Itself to stand This question deserves reflection
1t is addressed to toe candid consideration of the
Representatives of the if States in this House
Again he said:
| But. Sir, when. in this country, majority OF th'
representatives of the different sections in Congress
shall admit the principle and establish it in practice
that is their right and privilege to consult the inter
| ests and prosperity of the sections and interest
which they represent. exclusively, from hd
moment the action OF The Government becomes Cict0t
and tyraIiaical Congress can no longer be held u
as the great council in which the rights and inter
ests of the whole people may be consulted. In
Government ceases to fulfill the end of s creation
and the prescribed interests must he expected 10 TedreS
their grieUGHceS ig any manner they are d1le. liner
Is no example in history Of the submission OF mi
nority, under such circumstances, when II had IN
power of redress Whether those IN the mlnorlt
shall be able TO redress their grievance, in any way
always depends upon circumstances. In the presen
case 1 know not whether tits to be regarded as goo
or evil fortune, that the prescribed interests an
sections lie in a compact form, constituting many
contiguous States giving them facilities for redres
which no other circumstances could afford If tn
present action of the government is 20 continue, Wit
undated energy and yigOr, 1t Is surely fortuhat
that the means of redress are convenient and re
Cessbe TO the oppressed interests but H. under IN
smart Of temporary injustice, the bands which bln
the Union shall be precipitately sundered all cart
may well deplOre and curse the fatal facilities for S
instant and fatal remedy trust there Is no settle
purpose in airy portion OF the oppressed section
to ayat themselves of the means of redress whIchthe
have at their disposal; but cOnlure those VINO ma.
SWAY the power ofthe House, seriously and earnest
~ to consider the alternative of modifying system
OF policy sustained upon the principle have descrlb
ed Of behOding, sooner or later, the Union oroK
up. and this last, noblest sanctuary OF freedom
polluted and destroyed
These extracts will serve the double purpose o
showing where MT DELL properly stoOu OSlOiS III
alliance in political fortune with the Federal protec
tionsts the North ard at the time of remind
ing the reader of the fact that the sectional hostility
and encroachmeuts Ofhose States upon the rights ant
interests of the South had their inception and have
been persisted in from early period of the Gov
eminent, the history and injustice Of which no one
has had better opportunity of appreciating
than Mr. BELL And yet in few years. upon
change of his party relations he changed his opinion:
with equal facility. and became an advocate of lhC
most ultra tariff doctrines. But fortunately he and hi,
associates have not succeeded in perpetuatng /: as
the true American policy and therefore the country
has been saved so far this question is concerned
from those great calamities which he so forclbly
portrayed but had not the patriotism to continue t
resist.
Mr. BELL has proved himself equally unreliable
and nsincere upon another one Of the great cardnS
doctrines which he early professed. Since his con
nection with the Federal school of politicians at h
North he has been an able champion of the power AM
policy of q system of Internal Improvements by the