Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-06

And with the powers 'hcy c4oifn, what ma! 1"cy
uo, accomplish towards the Attainment of thcr OBJ
;-c,ss Under the power of taSing sales at auction,
they claim, n right over PERSONS. Under that OF ln-
,crn,, improvements, they assert \ right over pro-
n.r,v.-Wi i'll, tn right over persons aud property,
md the ri.lt OF the federal Judiciary 10 control
state laws aud judgments, they may soon remove
every impeachment placed III their way by tile state
governments. Sir, we must lGok very little TO con-
scuences if we do not perceive III the spirit OF this
construction, c~onbincd with the political fanati-
cisn Of the period, reason 10 anticipate, at no dis
tant day, ;hr uSnrpatiunc on the part oil Congress, the
riIh; to ~lcstSlatc ON Il subject, which II you once
touch, will Inevitably throw this country into revo-
luton II mean that of slavery. And, whst2 the
policy OF the government tends directly 10 produce.
resistance, it Is admirably c%o!triyed to render II IN
cfectual, by exhauStif:g the means, ana the strength
OF those from whom il is appcchcnded. In this, as
in other points of view, l can never cease 20 wonder,
that the prevailing system should have found sHp-
porters i'm some OF orr western states. All that
| Tennessee and Kentucky can gain by internal i'm
provcmcnt is nothing i'll comparison with the interest
they have in preserving inviolate the federal con-
stitution, under which so many of their dearest
rights are secuted. As 70 this manufacturing, anti
commercial! an.i-social policy which makes them,
as we'll Us their best customers, Tire southern states,
poor-which places them il the same and Il worse
relation 10 other states than they dcpreciatc as con-
Germs England-that of being obliged to buy, with
out having any thin to give in exchange, it is cx-
actiy the reverse of what they really want. What
they really want is Il system which will enable them
to purchase foreign goods at the same price with
the people of the Atlantic States. Instead of this,
they come to you, (somc Of them at lcast,) tell you
that foreign goods are TOO cheap for them, and
ask you to HI siicin dearer--to make them pay
rorc.
The western states cannot manufacture. The
want of capital (nf which they, as well as the south
era states, have drained by the policy Of the govern
ment,) and other causes render il impossible. The
| Southern states are destined To suffer more Inv This
policy than any otlicr-tlc western next; but it
will not benefit the aggregate population of any
state. 1t is for the beneh; of capitalists only. If
persisted in, IL will drive the south to ruin or re-
sistance. Ii is painful TO be forced to say so, but
it Is necessary. Our burthcns arc already greater
than we can bcar-endurance can 20 no further.
The policy OF the general government, from the
commencement, has been, rs respects US one OF una
hating cSaction. We have, as yet, l verify be-
iirvc, derived no advantage whatever from the con-
stitution-not even that of exemption from foreign
wars for our wars have been for northern, not
for southern interests. The Consequence of this
oppressive policy has been n degree of distrcss alto
Gether Observation-Disclosures Of which there is 10
example ina new and free country. This condi-
ton isnot to DC regretted solely ola account of the
iniiyiaua! suffering but it throws society back =
checks its improvement for geicrationS-pcrhaps
ages. ifyou transfer the wealth of a country by
law, you transfer with it the means OF education.
Its new posscssors, before they have time TO obtain
education, get POSSESSION OF the government, ana they
are interested III so administering il rs TO pcrrctu-
ate that state of things to which they owe their che
vatinn- The struggle between the rlundcrcrs and
the piIndcrcd, corrupts the morals Of the COMMUNE
ty, and begets contentious which poison the foun-
taifs 81 social life, aud shake the foundations of So
cal order. Society vcrgcs TO the state which the
Able Maufy said characterized the French Rcvo-
lution,-a state III which every man who has roth
ing, says to every man who has something, Oc
Tor itej e mY Mstfs-" take yourself away, that l
may get into your place " These are the consequent
ccs which may be anticipated, ifthis system is per-
sisted in.
SIR, can we be mistaken as to the ruinous tonden-
cy of this policy : Can whole nations be mistaken +?
w hen speak of natious, | mean Virginia, the Ca
rolinas, and other great southern CONFERENCE.-The
| admit that nations have, occasionally, been mista-
Ken; bat our rcpublic is founded on the supposition
that i'll the long ram the. people see yightly,-tha,
they are capable Of sclf-govcrnment. II this max
i'm he true, and If for Il series of ycars-ior morc
t11n a sencraiion-in peace ard iii warm pres
pcTty ana yersity,--in every vicissitude we have
Undergone have entertained but one clear,
determined, unalteTat'lo opinion of the destructive
effect of this policy, is it possible 10 believe we are
miStaken: II you say 50, then you rcnounce the
principles oil your government. Ii you say we arc
not mistaken, but that you will use your numerical
superiority. 10 impose this odious system on us a.
S'inst our Will, then you arc willing to incur the
suiit and reproach oil tyranny. You must either
fenonnce the principles of your govcrnment, or
must abuse its powers. The alternatives are be-
lore you. Bat when I look OH those by whom /
am surrounded, and consider that the very circum-
stance OF them being here is n proof of their attaci,-
mcnt 20 the principles OF their governments, I Will
never Believe that they viii renouuce them. When
l regard them as iel!ow-mcn, with all the kindly af-
iectiorS and generous spirit ofhumanity, Icannotb be-
iIeye thatt they viii everhe tyrants. When look upon
mem IN the more cndcaring character Of country
men, and The more sacred one of patriots; whc,,
L eneinber that our fathers purchased our
common freedom with their common blood. |
VIII not, cannot, must not believe that the sons arc
gong TO turn against each other and the stronger
to raise their tfatricidai hands 20 destroy .!,eir weak
CT brothers.