Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-31

o.
vernment up 10 the present time /, seems to have
entered more or less favorite part into the sys-
TEN OF policy of all our Presidents. The public
documents bear unequivocal evidence ihst il was
expressly recommended TO Congress by Washing
ton, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe Il is not
pretended that any question of Constitutional power
can be decided by authority: but it may be safely
asked, whether in a OF this description, so i'm
posing mass OF concurrent testimony, is no, EN-
Titled to the most serious consideration with every
: prudent and dispassionste enquirer?
, In reading the extracts from the Messages to
congress, Mr. Z. invited the attention Of the Senate
particularly to the last Message of Mr. Jefferson
and to the general tenor Of Mr.. Madison's Mes
sases throughout the course Of his eight years of
administration OF the government. The opinions
OF these great and good men were deserving of the
more attention, because the very principles and
language ofthc preamble had proceeded from them,
and derived no small weight from the sanctions of
their most respectable and venerable names They
were the great men, in the History OF our Country
the most distinguished for limited construction
OF the powers OF the Federal Government The
encouragement of Domestic Manufactures formed
Cardinal principle in the systems of those er eet
Republican Statesmen They administered the
government In times very different from the pre-
sent. Ihe country was then in critical si,ua-
uon. we still existed in a state of degrading de-
pendence en- Great Britain for articles indispensa-
Ole TO our safety, our independence and our prma.
~ wants. Our leading men the storm approach
s' anu ike skifu pilots, prepared TO meet il. To
roster The manufacture at home of article of first
necessity and to encourage, under prudent limita-
tons, the general growth of domestic fabricks was
IN those days, considered the dictate of sound
policy, forbidden by no provision of the Federal
Constitution. When these eminent men retired
from the helm Of State, they received from the
General Assembly of Virginia the most decisive
assurances OF unqualified appreciation. If, in af-
Ter times and under different circumstances. the
| ecung system has been pushed beyond what
we deem TO be the limits of prudence and propiie-
w shSa we turn around, and advocate new doc
ines as TO the constitutional powers Of Consresss
IL was favourite maxim of Washington to take
care always TO place an adversary in the wrong
| on the present occasion, when we seek 10 restrain
the injustice OF another government let us beware
| not 10 practice injustice ourselves
| The weight of Mr.. Madison opinion in favor
of the Right of Congress to lay protecting duties,
| has been attempted TO be lessened by the allegation
! that In his recommendations TO Congress he an.
| proved the principles which. in 1893, he has re
probated III the Report of Mr.. Hamilton on the
subject OF manufactures. This unfounded sugge.
ton requires only TO la examined, in order 10 be
| exposed. The position of Mr.. Hamilton was that
" Uhdteoer concerns the general interests of
learning, Of agriculture, Of manufactures, and
OF commerce, are ,cithin the sphere of the nd-
tiondi councils, as far regards al, application
Of money" That of Mr.. Madison is, that Con-
( eress has right, in regulating the provisions of
the Commercial Tariff, to protect the growth of
| Domestic Manufactures. The difference ia a.
" wide as Indus from the POLE
! Our opinions on the subject of Constitutional
power seem TO have been influenced by the changes
in the public mind relative TO the general policy of
protecting duties. The principles of the econo-
msts are more and more diffused through the mass
OF Society, and have exerted an influence on the
lN.ff mats rff t.
Great Britain, the favou'ite abode and home of
protecting duties. Far different, was the state of
opinion at the time of the adoption of the Con-
stuion, the construction of which cannot be af-
fec'ed by our changing views of political expe-
diency: and the lights of the age have done no
more than to suggest the rule without, however.
disproving the exceptions: they admoni.h US 10
more guarded use of the power, without enioicno,
| Its total abolition. ="
DOCUMENTS
Read or referred 10 in the debate On the preceding
Resolution.
! Ertrnct from .Ar. .4fddisOn's Report of 1899
That notwithstanding this remarkable secu-
rlty against misconception, design has been in
dictated to expound these phrases in the consti,u-
ton, 50 as to destroy the effect of the particular
enumeration OF powers, by which il explains and
limits them, mus; have fallen under the observation
OF those who have attended Is the course of public
transactions. Not to multiply proofs on this
subject, il will suffice to refer 10 the debates
of the Federal Legislature, in which arguments
have on different occasions been drawn, with an
parent effect, from these phrases in their indefinite
meaning.
To these indications might be added, without
looking further, the official report on manufactures
by the late Secretary of the Treasury made on
the 9th December, 1871, and the report Of COM
mittee of Congress in January, I797, on the pro-
motion OF agriculture. In the first of these it is
expressly commended TO belong TO the discretion
of the National Legislature TO pronounce ucoo
the objects which concern the general welfare
and Tor which, under that description. an appro-
priation is requisite and proper find there seems
TO be no doubt that tchGteuer concerns The geu-
eydI interests Of learning, of dSricalttye. of
; manufactures, and Of commerce, are ,pifhin
the sphere Of The national councils, as far NJ.
2 regards an application Of money! The latter
, report assumes the same of latitude of power in
the national councils, and applies i, to the encou
ragement OF agriculture, by means of society %
be established at the seat of the national coyernr emf
! Although neither of these reports may have re-
o ceived The sanction of law carrying il into eff
lect; yet, on the other hand, the extraordna,v
doctrine in BOTH has passed without the slOb,es,
positive mark OF disapprobaton from the authority
TO which it addressed
d Extract from General Uashingfoo,x ySoss.6
n to both Houses IF Congress, Dec. 7. 1896
. Congress have repeatedly, and not ,yi,bon,
& success, directed their attention to the enco,r,e.
ment OF manufactures. The object is of too much
consequence not TO ensure a continuance nj tbei,
Efforts, in every way which shall appear eligible
d asa general rule, manufactures on public accom-,
n are inexPedient. Bot where the state of tbi,os
ia country leaves little hope that certain branches
q OF manufacture will Tor great length of time