380 [Assembly 



producer: they would then buy and sell in the same market, and be 

 relieved from their present disadvantageous position, the evils of 

 which would be greatly augmented should they succeed in transferring 

 the entire manufacture of their staple to Europe. 



The evils which the south apprehend from the real protection of the 

 manufactures of the north, the increase of the cost of their supplies, 

 exists only in their imagination. It is a remarkable fact that one of 

 the great manufacturing interests of the United States, has been from 

 the commencement of the government, and is now thoroughly pro- 

 tected; it has been uniformly secured by a duty of from 1 to 200 

 per cent, ad valorem, is spread over the northern, middle, western, 

 and to some extent, the Southern states; confined to no particular 

 locality, and consuming the most general staple of the country, no 

 section of the nation has deemed its interest invaded, none has ever 

 supposed it injurious to national wealth, or imagined that any prin- 

 ciple of constitutional law was violated by a duty of 200 per cent. 

 Though thus steadily and effectually protected, domestic competition 

 has so reduced its price, that it has become to some extent an arti- 

 cle of export. We allude to the manufacture of ardent spirits, 

 which by the tariff of 1846, pays a duty of 100 per cent, and in all 

 former tariffs, has paid a duty equivalent to 200 per cent, ad valo- 

 rem. This highest duty known to the present, and all former tar- 

 iffs, is a protection to the graiji grovnng interest, the removal of 

 which would diminish the value of the rye and corn crops of the 

 whole Union, probably 25 per cent, by throwing the quantity ap- 

 propriated to that object upon the general market for subsistence. 

 The south have paid this duty without a murmur, while they threat- 

 en a dissolution of the Union in view of a duty of half the amount 

 upon iron, or cotton and woolen cloths; it can hardly be alleged 

 that the duty has had a moral influence, and prevented the use of 

 the article, nor should it be admitted that such an object would justify 

 a violation of the constitution; the supply has been abundant, 

 and cheap enough to meet the ability of the poorest, and the only 

 effect in that direction, has been the substitution of a poor domestic 

 for a better foreign article, and the introduction of delirium tremens 

 into the catalogue of diseases; but its effects upon the general wealth 

 of the nation has been immense, the value of the untold millions of 

 gallons which has been consumed, has been retained and has gone 

 to sustain the industry and increase the capital of our own common- 

 wealth, instead of going to increase the wealth of the West Indies, 

 France and Hollaml; the same results would have accrued had any 



