Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-23

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When we sec measures OF this character ;,f-
vocated here upon p'5aciptc when we see sucl,
principles sanctioned b. Tic name of SONG Of the
most distinguished men in our country; vile,
we sec gentlemen laiIninga constitution icl,
TO impose on the agricultural and A,lani:c
states a system OF perpetual vassaisga. we must
lament that, in our short history, we may read
a melancholy lesson for maukinG-t;a eyen
mere, as cltcwhcrc, II is not in these idle iurYns,f
constitutions, but to the statute book, we ar. ,
look Tor the character and principle; of a CO.
'erhiieht. we may read that, under tic nainH +.
ana sanction OF Il free constitution, private rimlts
and private prol crty may be violated with as
much cool indifference rs If this government
were armed with the proud authority oftIc law
less Ottoman. We may read iii tne zeal witt,
winch this measure is advocated AN evident in
%dlcaaion of the growth of power we may forcsoc
that even this, the sublimest institution of man
kind, IS destined TO dissolution. We may even
apprehcnd that this government is destined TO
tall, like other human Institutions, through its
usurpatipns, and an abuse offs powers. The
accumulation o. power seems, under every form
OF government, to be inevitable. The poo le
may occasionally rise in their majesty and ds.
solve these accumulations our country NAV !cri
the salutary influence of such reactions but
power will ultimately triumpl-thcsc Airline
accumulateus will ultimately bid defiance 10 tlc
suns meridian splcndor-lct Us be ware oftiic
avalanche.
ouE COnicuCTaCN how rests on a rock OF de-
mand-on our political mOrality-on an inyirci-
bic attachment ofan enlightened people to the
best constitution in the world. but, we must
not fearlcssly calculate on the immortality ofcur
Union if we adopt measures like this; for no
free government can stand firm where it lc-
comes a princi pie of legislation habituallv, and
without an imperative political necessity, 10 yio-
late property and natural rights. No free poo
pie will ever submit to n government wI,i.,,
substitutes such rules for the essential principles
OF constitutional liberty. Let us not, sir, re-
taining'thc forms of a free act, upon the lrincl-
pies of an absolute government, ami render it,
through the tyranny of laws, detcstable to any
portion of this country.
The measure proposed by the committee can
be supported on no ground. Our imlustrv, in
every branch, is probably destined to reach u
premature perfection while into the channel of
manufactures the accommodations of trade and
navigation are naturally and rapidly flowing.
The general question is not the protection aud
encouragement of our domestic industry il is
absolutely nothing but n contest between a sr. II
portion OF Our large nioneyed contractors. who
solicit monopolics on the one hand. and. n multi
tudc of consumers, of all classes, on the other.
The bill reported by the Committee on Manu-
features, and the system upon which it is foun-
ded, cannot be defended. They are both rcpur-
nant TO the soundest principles of political econ
omy; they consume our revenue, vitiate our lc--
gIslation, and sap the foundations of our Union:
while, in reference TO the measure proposed, the
state of the nation, whether VIC look at home or
abroad, exhibits no political necessity to sustain
it. Were the question limited TO this solitary
bill-whatever may be lis character, whatcver
its 1ate-my fears would be in some degree di-
minished; but, viewing this measure as a part OF
aspermanent system, L cannot looh forwards
without apprchensions, lest, excited by our Sec
tonal lealousies, we should be hereafter per-
suaded that the north has a distinct interest from
the south-the cast from the west: lest unreg-
tricted power should, at some remote period, ST.
crilcc the rights Of the weaker portions of orr
common country. / trust, said Mr.. G.. the pco-
pie on the Atlantic border may never be tram
pied upon because they arc politically weak.
we ask nothing but constitutional iustice-wc
ask only that commerce may not be pcrpetully
cramped by laws, called for by neither politi-
cal rules to look TO the future audincyitablc deg
tunes OF this great commercial nation--to rc-
fleet upon the wars in which a high spirited re-
public leading the van of Unconstitutional govern
ments, must be hereafter engaged, and VIC bee.
them to yield something more than a cold ami
suspicious attention to the humble rights Of eur
mariners. TRUST it will never be the policy cT
our government TO TIN adrift, without chart Or
compass, our gallant tars, who, in the midniefrt
OF our calamities-Ehcn thiscapital was blazira,
with fandal fires-aycfgcd the insult-blottcti
out this spot upon our cscutcheon, and waved
our standard on the shores of Englaud, fcarlcssIv
and triurnphantly. l trust we shall never ware
an angry and unnatural war against the heralds
of our reputation abrOad-nor drive from its last
moorings the vanguard of our defence.
IN SENATE.