Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-11-01


hts little produced by his labor will soon be ex-
hansteck and he must be left the distressing al
ternaiives, either OF abandoning his former hsbltua
induI sences, OF buying credit in the delusiye
hope OF better times, to enable him TO pay, aud il
they should never come, TO be DOOMED 10 utter
ruin In this section of country much political
discomfort Is seen; but seems To vent Itself in an
cry complaints against the Constitution of Virginia
and not against the tariff law. The writer Is fully
| impressed with the great intelligence and sound
practical observations of the people of this section
oil the s,ate ahd would be the last 10 attempt IN
! terpose his judgment for theirs in deciding upon
Their own Interests; but, he thinks, no one can
doubt OF the oppressive effects of the enormous ta-
rii upon that section of country; and he hopes he
may he excused for saying in behalf of the beloved
Constitution OF Virginia, that after the res
rectiu attention given To the complaints urged a
SanSt that constitution, he has been unable TO see
lSmgie substantial practical erH arising thereirom
TO the people in that section of country and tina,
he Sees or Thinks he sees, more substantial prac-
ttcdf good diused by that constitution, not only
amongst those people, but throughout the whole
State OF Virginia. than was diIisel through
out whole people by any other constitution upon
earth. The writer hopes to be excused tor observ-
ing further, in spirit of respectful candor; that he
mas Tor some years looked on with surprise, at the
tlenton, which appears 20 be given by the practi-
cal intelligent people in that section of the State to
the multitude OF ephemeyal meieOrs which have for
some time beSpangled the political horizon of the
u. >; and that they should seem disposed to fol-
low these political Jacks in their lanthorns in their
devious paths through their ameliora,in,
political thckets; because, the writer thinks that
every rejecting, intelligent must see that these
aheioEang reiIet thckets, are thicky set through
out with Brambles. Bamboos, Hawthorns, Black
Jacks, &c. sc. and that if all the people of the u
=. could be enced to follow these isnes fatui in
all their devious wanderiags, through these en-
chan'ed ihickets, they have their political ha-
bIImenls torn into tat;ers, their exterors mserably
mangled with scratches; and fortunate would it be-
indeed, IT they continued the BEN ildered pursuit to
me ihhitso these entertainments, If they admit OF
any limit, the deuded people should find they had
lett remaining one vital spark OF political energy.
The deluded people of Kentucky, have exhibited
the most awful, monlOry lesson, 10 all other peo-
ple OF the fatal eguences of their devotion to
The kentucky Jacks III THEN relief lanthorns They
seem 10 have become sensible themselves, ofthe Sc
we're scratches they have received in their enchant-
ell wande:lnSs through their ameliorating thckets
and 1t would be well, if these seemingly exterior
scratches, should not have penetrated TO the very
core OF all social morals The colonization socie-
ieS, Will soon add another impressive warning, a.
Sains the indulgence OF ardent wishes in opposi-
tion TO the dictates of sober Judgment The writer
thought IT due 10 The Importance OF the occupation
OF wheat farmers to make this digresson in the ear
nest hope OF inducing them to look at things as
they are; and not as enthusiastic schemers wish
them to be; who, without the vestige of a shade
OF the spirit OF prophesy, vainy hazard their guess
e., as TO what the state of things may be &c cenl-
ries ahead
Cotton and Tobacco planters stand on the same
ground with wheat farmers, with this difference
only; that from the high prices OF those articles the
planters can better bear The unjust burhens OF the
tarii law. All other agrculIursts, except sugar
planters, may be set down in class, for the re-
Guction OF the tariff The next class in point of
suffering is the journeyman artizans. This arises
from the bounty being given upon the price of the
article; and not upon the price of the day labor
Hence The combinations complained of for raising
wages. They are mere attempts OF the dav labor
ers 10 participate in the bounty; and are quite
shocking 10 the feelings of the owner and stock
capitalists, OF the manufacturing establishments 1t
may be laid down as POsulatum in political sci
ence, that artificial variations in the distribution of
tho proceeds of labor did, nor ever can benet
the actual lsborer 1t is this governmental varia-
tion OF the proceeds of labor in Great Britan, by
limeans OF iythes and taNes restrictive stems Sc
which has produced the deplorable extremes i'm the
condition OF the people of that country; and DOOM
ed so many laborers the wretched alienation OF
| poor houses; and many to ask charity oftbose
who, by the partial distribution ol The government
are rlotng in the proceeds oil the labor of the yerv
| ".
Let, then, all laborers beware of every measure
which varies the distribution of productive labor
AL snnuItanis. including helpless widows and or
phars have direct interest in the reduction OF the
tarh = ll clergy-nen, all lawyers all physicians
all snpy rights, ell merchants al, salors--the army
tie navy, and all other classes who consume I'M
| ported goods; the owners of manufacturing estab-
llshments and stock, and the sugar planters on
4 ly excepted. The manufacturer himself would be
II Deferred bis
more than his money; and if an honest reliance
upon his own skill and industry, be better than
lelIance upon a bounty, iorciby taken from the
proceeds ofthe labor Of others But, more than all
others, the government of 90 this Union would
lbe bettered by 1t, because it would thereby re-
claim It's character against ill-udged act of nus-
tice, and consequentiay, far regain its lost moral
inhuence Is this fair picture of the elie,ts OF
the tariff law upon the government itself, and the
various occupations in society? If it he, will it
not excite the wonder OF every rejecting impartial
man IN the community, TO observe the heavy bur
thens imposed upon The many for the benefit of the
lew! And that too. by turning topsey-uryev the
soundest principles in political economy--by sub
shutting the principle OF monopoly, in place of the
principle Of petition--fasely asserting it to
be g the American system for encouraging national
industry" When the principle of monopoly is
expressly and most justly denounced by the funda-
mental laws of most of the states; and when one
great object in forming the Constitution of the u.
States was to promote the general welfare, " in
preference 10 the particular local welfdrei"
This, the writer believes, to be fair picture of
the effects OF the tariff law, upon the various class
es of ireemen In society; but most unfortunately
there is another class Of human beings in the II. s.
upon which this law falls with a cruel heavy hand
/ This class consists of saves--of commiserated
slaves 1t has been before remarked, that some of
the imposs were laid on articles of the first reces-
sity. Amongst these, the duties on coarse
woolens and linens, striped blankets, coarse shoes