General bankruptcy spread its darkness over the land. many of the. wealthiest families were reduced to poverty. laborers suffered. for want of bread: improvementsof all- sorts were abandoned. and a. scene of the most intense nauional distress ensued. The same historian gbes on to describe the condition of iron manufacturers at this period. and among other things: says: Every man who made it his principal business. who sold his it on and pur chased his provision and stock. was ruined. His forges. his lands. his goods and chattels were all struck off under the sheriffs hammer at p]iblc.auction. he himself was driven to jail. his workmen were unemployed: some of them followed their employer to prison: others emigrated to new ceatries: their families were reduced to abject want and were compelled to ask relief from the town or resort to beggary. It was this condition of the American people. so graphically and truly described by this eminent writer. that led to the tariff legislation of 1824. and to the still stronger protective. measure known as the tariff lawof 1828. Those who are familiar with the history ofour country immediately following this legislation will beat- me out in the statement that I make. that every industry seemed inspired with new life. old mills were started up. and new ones werebLilt. furnace fires were again lighted. and instead of feeding the laboring class. unemployed and walking the streets in idleness. they were given employment at good wages. and as if by magic a depressed and povertystricken country was changed into a happy. contented. and industrious people.
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emigrated