Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-08
raj interests Of the commonwealth as

raj interests of the commonwealth as
| in nv iudgmen u, will be Of use in your
deliberations. during the session.
1t gives me great pleasure to say,
that with some exceptions, the health
of our people has been good. The sea-
sons during the present year have been
less favourable 10 agriculture generally,
| than for the two or three years precec-
ing. Our wheat crop was greatly cur
tailed in quantity by the rust, and the
price Of the article lower than com
mon.> Our corn crop has, in many
parts Of the State, been much injured
by the dryness of the summer, but IL is
hoped that the average product will be
sufficient for our own consumption
Our tobacco planters have been amply
remunerated for their labours in the
high prices they have obtained; and
our newly adopted culture OF cotton on
a large scale, affords good prospects to
the culivators Of liberal returns Tor
their labours, especially in the tide Va.
ter country. The situation OF oN'
commercial brethren, as far as am in
formed, if not as splendid, is on the
whole, as safe as that Of our iellow-citi-
Zens Of that class Of tn other States;
and if we do not, in our general situa
ton. exhibit as much of the brilliant
and striking as some of our Sister
States, there is no reason Tor US 10 be
thrown into despondeucy, as we have
much to be thankful for, to the great
Author Of every thing good.
The relation Of the Members otthe
Confederacy to the Head, always pre-
sen,s questions Of deep interest, which
demand, and ought TO receive the close
attention Of the States. Our compll-
Gated system Of double SET OF go
vernments, operating over the same
surface of territory, aud occasionally
involving questions and interests OF
conflicting jurisdiction, is calculated
TO excite iealousies, and produce feel
ings Of character highly unfriendly to
thar harmony which ought 10 exist be-
tween the state and general govern
ments. The strong excitement produ-
ced by the collisions Of opinion in our
elections tc offices Of high trust, should
be alIayed rs far as practicable; and
whenever we see in the measures CT
the general government policy which
we believe to be injurious in its ten
dency, or a construction given to the
constitution which we think contrary
to It's intent and meaning. it is our du-
" 10 bring them to the notice OF those
who have had an agency in those mea-
sures, in that spirit of truth and good
temper, which are ever the bcS, prog
nos,ics Of useful results. Ii is IN the
spirit which | have endeavored 10 de-
scribe, that l shall notice some OF toe
proceedings ofthe las, Congress,which
in my Judgment deserve the attrn-
ton of the general assembly. | al
lude more particularly TO the act imPo'
sir additional duties on certain To-
reign articles, Cor the promotion OF a.
merican manufactures, commonly CALI
ed the tariff law; and those acts direct
ing surveys Of routes for roads and ca
nails, preparatory to general system
of internal improvement. | have ever
been of opinion that all restrictions Oh
commerce, with perhaps some few ex-
ceptions, further than such as are ne
cessary for the just purpose OF revenue
are erroneous in principle. The sy:-
tenn adopted, would, according to this
principle, be wrong, even if all the
states we resso situated as to be borne up
on in an equal manner by its operation.
But in their actual situation, IT is more
wrong, because one great portion OF
the Union is taxed. which tax operates
as premium to another portion
This is believed by the southern plan
ter and farmer, and our mercantile
people generally, to be the effect OF this
law; and beliesing this, they Will not
be satisfied with it. never have hot
that under correct construction OF The
constitution, congress possessed pow
er TO expend the revenues OF the I'M.
ted States in constructing roads and
canals; but believe thst the advocates
Of the measure have been sedpced by
the importance of the end, to overlook
the correctness Of the means. HE
present house of representatives is
fresh from the people, and the able and
luminous discussion which took place
in the last congress on those subjects,
having thrown blaze Of light on them
a better opportunity fer an impartial
decision exists now than at any prece-
ding period. would therefore recon-
mend that our Senators be instructed
and our Representatives re9ue sted 10
take an early opportunity Of bringing
these subjects before Congress; ! an
well acquainted with the fact that the
people ofthe United States are divided
into two great parties on these gues-
lions: one strongly in favor of and the
other as strongly opposed to them; ana
[ have no doubt but the friends are as
homes, in their opinions as the enemies;
-: a;a.rence Of opinion on great