INDUSTRIAL PROTECTION. 



BY GEORGE BACON, 



Cfaainnan of the committee, appointed on that subject by the National Convention of Farmers, 4;c^ 



The Committee to whom was referred the subject of "Industrial 

 Protection," beg leave to report: 



They approach the subject with diffidence, and but for the impor- 

 tance of the question, and the hope of being able to present it in a 

 point of view to which sufficient consideration has not, in the opinion 

 of your Committee, hitherto been given, would deem its farther 

 consideration a work of supererogation, it having so long occupied 

 the attention of the most powerful minds in the national councils. 



Casting our eye back through the history of the last thirty years, 

 what do we behold — the tariff — at all times the exciting topic of 

 debate, which, unfortunately, still remains as unsettled as ever — a 

 meagre compliment to the wisdom of statesmen. 



In 1816 we have the Southern States advocating the protection 

 of American manufactures and the Eastern States in violent oppo- 

 sition — long and arduous is the struggle, but protection as a leading 

 principle in national policy, prevails. In the progress of time the 

 sections of the country change positions, the South becomes the 

 opponent of protection, and the East its advocate; their leading 

 statesmen are the same, but like their constituents, each abandons his 

 former position, and adopts that of his opponent. The struggle con- 

 tinues violent, and threatens civil commotion, when that great 

 statesman, who amid all the changes of party has adhered firmly to 

 one principle, " protection to American Industry," with a magna- 

 nimity becoming his character, consents to the abandonment of his 

 still chosen policy, rather than risk the consequences to be feared 

 from the violence of opposing interests, advocates the adoption of 

 the Compromise Act, and the question of the tariff is at rest for a 

 season. 



