Year: 1859

eFS-A Fine PcrOaratiOn.


We never seen the democrstic Theory ofpro-
lection to home industry so we'll and eloquent
ly set forth as in the following extract from
Senator Hunters speech on the tariff. We a.
dopt it (says the Ohio Eugls,) as our own. know
ing that we could not by filling our columns
with the subject as clearly, truth(ully and efee-
lively illustrated our faith. as the Senator has
done in few words. The American laborer,
the skillful mechanic, the agrculturist the hew.
ers OF wood and drawers Of water, are not the
men who are pouring in on Congress petititions
for protection by means of tariffs. They have
no fear o. competition. The time has come
when everything we wea: or use almost, is the
production of some eastern factory, from the
hat which covers our head to shoe which pro-
tects our feet-and the more effectually foreign
competition is excluded, the greater the price
we pay the Yankee factory. But we are de-
laying too long the introduction Of the reader
to the mastery speech of Senator Hunter. So
here it is:


Mr.. President, the Senator from Rhode Is


land made an appeal to US in the name Of the
American laborer and whenever he speaks on
that subject he moves my sympathies, because
he is eloquent and sincere; he touches my heart
if he fails to convince my head; but when |
come to reflect cooly upon it, find that my
theory of doing is very different from his. /,
too, would aid the American laborer. The paths
we would pursue to reach the same end diverge
most widely. | would cheaper the AK with
which he hews his ways into the forest; the hoe
and the plow with which he wrings from the
reluctant grasp OF mother earth hard earned
substance for his vile and his children; the
blanket which covers him at night, and the
coat which shields him by day against the
storms and rigors Of winter. | would diminish
the price Of the bolt with which the sailor lus-
tens the sides ofhis ships together, and cheap
en- the cordage which hold the spars in their
places; and by all justifable means in my pow
er would open 10 him every port upon all the
seas | would cheaper to the manufacturers
all the tools which he uses and the clothes
which he wears. / would cheaper to him the
sugar that sweetens "the cup that cheers but
not inebriateS;" and | would relieve him from
sense of dependence for his subsistence upon the
bounties to be extracted from the earnings Of
his fellow aborers II would extend because
would cheaper the cost CT making" that
iron path upon which our citizens of ev-
cry degree are speeding by day and by night
in pursuit of their objects Of pleasure or OF
proft--In short, sir | would open wide the
door to the self development of American
industry, and leave it free to pursue the bent Of
its own genius; and lift did not then achieve
whatever is grand and useful or curious and
beautiful in art, the fault would rest not upon
the want ofproper opportunity but upon its
own incapability. For mosel, am willing to
abide the result I do not distrust the capabili.
ty ofmy countrymen to do as much as has been
effected by any other nation in founding empires
and building up industrial systems.


Sir, the young giant Of the West has now as
sumod the full Dimensions CT manhood. 1t is
ridiculous to attempt to guide him by the fee-
BILE leading strings o { Your protective system
1t is idle to seek to bind h i'm for fear he should
do himself mischief if he had free use of his
limbs. No, sir let him 60; let him take the
range cf the earth in pursuit Of his royal in
stincts Of power and Of empire; and my word
for it, he will not stop to set up his pillars at
the straits Of smooth and tdeless sea, he will
not pause at the first outlook upon the wide and
stormy ocean, but he will bravely breast its bill
lows and buffet with its storms whether it be
to coast the icy cape or to pursue the burning
line, and he will leave monuments of his pro
gress and of his power which will endure, l
trust, as long as the Rock Of Gibrater ITSELF
That he will be prodigy Of power, | doubt not.
That he will also be minister ofmercy, wish
were equally sure Of; but much fear me
that, wherever he may 60, and however dis
tain the land if there he . handful of earth to
be had, or single twg growing upon tree,
he will return to them as emblems ofhis seizing
and evidences of his title to possession that
may be worse than useless to him after all.


Sir. observe that, at the very name Of Ter
ritory, his whole nature seemed to change; he
becomes as wild as the old Phoenician with his
bull skin measurement Of land as crafty as that
old Saxon seakng his progenitor, perhaps, who,
having obtained the possession Of apful Of
earth, sowed the dust over whole fields, which
he claimed to hold under such fctions Of law
as the strong alone can impose on the weak
But sir, while would restrain him from this
universal lust Of acquisition, | think there are
exceptions to the rule. l would not dssuade
him from the use ofall honest and just means
for the acqu ition of Cuba. 1t is the rib which
Was taken from his side: "Male and female
created lie them" H-H4a
d. .kxa