Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

From the Fredericktown Examiner.

We some time since stated that appearances indicated an attack upon the Tariff. These indications are every day strengthening. The following extract is from the Georgia Journal, a paper printed at Milledgeville, the capitol of the State. It is an editorial article, and professes to speak 'by authority.'

'It affords us great pleasure to inform the people of Georgia; as we now do on good authority, that the policy to be pursued by General Jackson's Administration is decidedly more favourable to the southern interests, and in accordance with southern opinion, than the last: even more so than we had reason to anticipate. This is a direct and positive assurance, in which we place the highest confidence, both on account of the quarter from which it comes, and from the fact that it is confirmed by extraneous circumstances.--In the first place, it was announced, simultaneously, in Charleston and Philadelphia, extracts from which annunciations we published in our last paper, that the Administration was to take a decided stand against the protective Tariff.--This was the best news we heard for a long time. In the second place, the facts communicated in Genl. Thompson's letter, published in our last, were of a character that could not be mistaken. They are as strong as any can be in favour of the presumption that on this point the southern policy is to prevail.

'We shall wait with much anxiety for the full development of this anticipated policy. And if it should be such as these givings out, by no means ambiguous, lead us to expect, it will go a great way to atone for the extreme mortification many of the President's best friends, in the Southern States have both felt and expressed, at several of his appointments.'

The writer of this article seems to think that the President's embracing the anti tariff policy will atone for the relentless manner with which proscription has been carried on, and, like the mantle of charity, hide all his faults. In the eyes of self interested persons this may possibly be the case. But we are not of the number to laud motives so selfish. The South seems to think that New England, the Middle and Western States are arrayed against her interest--We regret it;--we would check sectional prejudices as we would a pestilential disease, and we object to monopolies--but we think the interest of the majority is to be regarded where conflicting interests cannot be reconciled.

South Carolina, in 1812 was as decidedly in favor of protection. to Domestic Manufactures. as she now appears opposed to it. Her legislature at that time was unanimous in approbation of the policy of fostering our own industry, and made an appropriation of ten thousand dollars to establish a Cotton Factory.--The same legislature sent an address to the President of the United States, from which we make the following extract.

'From the inconveniences and privations incident to a state of war, we affect not to expect an exemption. but we are able and willing to support them. We shall support them with the more cheerfulness, as they will not fail to be accompanied with more than correspondent advantages--to wit:

'A commercial as well as political independence, predicated (first) upon the improvement and advancement of Domestic Manufactures; (secondly) the extermination of the spirit of faction; (thirdly) a cordial union of all parties for the common welfare; (fourthly) a happy amalgamation of the various, and, in some instances, discordant materials, which, to a certain degree, compose our population; in a word, the formation of a national character--these are some of the benefits confidently anticipated from the present contest.' Passed unanimously in both Houses.

If, then, the legislature of 1812 were impressed with the importance of the improvement and advancement of Domestic Manufactures, may we not infer that they had the voice of the people with them at that time? is it not fair to presume that the sentiments of the State were as fairly represented by that assembly as by the one which, in 1828. presented the protest against the Tariff of 1824?

It is too often the case that the opinions of a few leaders, who constantly obtrude themselves upon our attention, are taken as the sentiments of the people. There are always enough to echo the sentiments of the leaders, but it is not just hence to infer that these are the sentiments of the people.