Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-29
IcoNTINUED.l
+ 4llr. Raadoph's Speech concMasd.l

T Mr. Randolbh's Speech concluded.
But IN viewing the policy which has been
pursued for some time back, and gentlem.i
seem determined now to adhere,to it, | am
irres;stibly led to enquire into the causes
which produced our present form Of 60
vernment. believe they grow out OF com
merce. The principal difficulty, / believe,
among the states was that there was 10 ge-
neral power for the regulation ofecmnerce.
That commerce was the principal source
whence revenue was be derived !; and the
want Of general and uniform regulations
dried Up the very source. The first propo-
sition was lowest The old Congress with the
power of laying an ad valorsm duty, general
~. Certain am that the meeting at Ar
papolis, tie precursor ct tie convention OF
1857, was meeting directed to the promo
ton Of the commercial interests of thi,,
country. The United 0ts.ss sNep~.,sovt !, Il
by this consideration prmarily--ior surely
they were IN very little danger of going &c
war with one another--in forming govern
ment under which this very commerce has
arisen to height to which nc man could
have anticipated. And are we ncw, with
out w:rning, 20 break Up all oui Institutions
heretofore, ard declare fer q Chinese poll
e-.-.i- 49, RENE lrbef, when dls'
elimination was made between American
and foreign ships, the excitement which it
created? The gentlemen fiom the southern
rtates said you are going to tax US for the
benefit of the eastern navigation. When a
proposition was made to lay heavy duty on
the imro1t Of foreign manufactures, tie
gentlemen Of the southern states said
YOU are song to tax US for benefit of your
manufactures. This is well remembered.
But did any man ever dream that these two
sections OF the country should unite, tho
one to destroy the raw material, and the
other to cut up commerce by the root p
There was indeed formerly contes, be-
tween he grower and ehe carrier, each con-
tending for his separate iDtsrest--but HAT
both should unite, the one to prevent. the
growth, and the other to prevent The Carl
age of produce, is really a sc.ecism am
unable 10 explain. 'The. gentleman from
Massachusetts, Mr.. Quincy speaks feel
ipgly of the sufe,ings of the people Of
Massachusetts,. Ibclieve the picture which
he drew may be correct. am even willing
to allow (holding up my hands at the same
time against all his calculations that his
constituents may suffer more than mine.
But what is the situation of the tobacco
country, and / live in the. heart Of it, whe-
Their YOU draw the lire from north to south
or from east to west? Ii we pursue this
course of policy, the product of the New
England fisheries may be consumed, the
rice of South Carolina may be eaten, and
the cotton Of Georgia may be spun. What
is the tobacco planter to do with his two
crops of that ridiculous and nauseous luxu-
ry! What is he to do with the third crop,
for the time is fast approaching when pre-
paration must be made to plantit? And in
what situation are we placed l have no
disposition to enter into highly colored pic
lures of the state Of the country. Ifeeltoo
much the condition of that part from which
I come, to say much about it. It deplo-
rable that is enough.
But perhaps it may be said that whatever
objection be taken to the two FIRST resolu-
tons, there can be no doubt of the perfect
prppriety Of the final one. What is it FL