Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-04-11

winch was ia these words
Ne it therefore resolved, That the imposition If 1,ae
"u LUIS 10y me Congress OF the United States, for the
purpose oi protecting aud encouraging Domestic Manufac
lures Is an unconstitutional exercise of power and !; h
~ oppressive ana partial in its operatiom.'
Mr. CABELL said
- The resolution ought to be stricken ont with =
we" 10 The adoption OF substitute which should be so
expressed as not hike the original TO cover doubtfnI mr.
forbidden ground. ~ "
he question does not relate merely to the expediepcv
Protecting Duties and Taxes, but TO the constitutions
al power of Congress TO grant such projection FL
resolution seems 10 deny all such power to Conprcss If
" % ..Aueu 10 convey This meaning, the resolution
ought 10 be elected, because il was erropeous II III,
WAS "ot Inc inien0n there could be no reasonable oh
lection 10 an amendment which would express the oh
Ject IN clear and unequiyocal lanpuape
WIN regard TO the policy of projecting duties tbe
gehei rule should be, to leave the Geld of compe,on
opeh anu iec 10 the Domestic and the Foreign Mann
acturer. But 10 This rule there are executions Which
vary IN number at any particular period of time will,
INC s."'e Oh affairs III tue interior, and tie aspect of
our oregn relations. Articles necessary TO the safety
and independence of the nation are clcaII, ,,,o, 49,
exceptions TO the general rule. The power TO nroec,
manufactures of this description is an innortant move,
III every government If this power exists any where
IN uS government, IT must belong to the General Go
Vernment: and TO that government il seems to appp,;p
as The natural and inseparable cuncomant of the pow
crs expressly granted IN the constitutions
In raising The amount of revenue necessary for the
purposes OF the Union wide field opened TO the dis
cfeuon oil Congress. Regard is due from every oovcrn
nent TO the effect of the public butens upon the GREAT
interests OF The nation, among which Domestic Manu-
iaciuTeS hold prominent station. For the burmese of
protecting these, the duties might be thrown upon SET
OF articles entirely different from those which woulI he
selected merely with view To revenue Discrirrina
ZION III ia'or OF The domestic Manufacturer constitutes
branch OF the general discretion of government in tho
imposition OF tie public burthcns EQUAL rcr,rd in tho
same way may be shcwn to the other great interests of
STATE ms discretion may be abused, aud ex crcsed in
manner repugnant TO tie intentions of those ,obo
tyi,It l,nr
the powers OF government could not dspiove their ex
stehce within The limits prescribed by the constitution
lie power TO RAISE money Is limited power IL is H.
m!ted by the debts OF the United States and r., t ~
ers expressly granted in the constitutions In rai;,o
money oT these Objects Congress has ricl 60 discri
INMATE among The subjects OF impost al~ taxation for
the purpose OF protecting Domestic Manufactures
lie resolution, according To the declarations OF some
OF lis friends, does not deny TO Congress tlc oyv ri
protection within the limits asserted Ii is howe
ver certain aud undenable, that another norton bon
ia me senate ana elsewhere, the construction nj
ITS opponents 10 be well founded and disavc,y . n 49,
eT whatsoever IN the government protect Domestic
ah"at ures ii doubts exist here the Ine ,ino
OF our words, may not assured Of their cx
abroad: ana in drawing the line that divides tEe ,u
FeTrnents-a line In which Justly take So doom ON
inieres-ough we not TO express ourselves in appuaoc
The most clear, definite and unequiyocaP
In regulating the provisions of the Commercial Tariff
Inc power OF ODgress to eXcr protection To Do,ne
tlc Manufactures TO be most clear and uudeuia Io
IL has been exercised TO greater less degree hv ali
parties and under oil The administrations from the oun
daton OF the government w TO the present i,nc l.,
seems to have entered or less as lyorite mart
missile system OF policy OF all our Presidents The
pubic documents bear unequvoca evidence that il was
| expressly recommended to Congress by Washington
Jefferson Madison and Monroe. Ii is NOT nrefenJ.d
/ that any question Of Constitutional power can no d,.;
d'd by authority: but il may be safely asked v,etlrr
I'D case u! tins description, imposing mass Of ron
current testimony, is not entitled TO the most scr,ous
Consideration with every prudent and dspassiopate en-
gurer? 80
I In reading the extracts from tie Messages to Con
fgresS, MI e. inved(he attention of the Senate par
cuatiy TO the last Message of Mr. Jefferson and 10 tho
general tenor of MIR. Madisons Messages u,ropoouI
the course OF his eight years OF administration Of Tie
government The opinions of these great and rond
men were deserving OF the more attention, because the
very principles and language of the preamble had mn
cecded from them and deriv ed small weight from tho
sanction OF their most respectable and venerable name
icy were TIE great men, in the History f our Conn
Tue most distinguished for limited construction nj
fthe powers OF the FcdeIa Government. The cncour
agement OF Domestic Manufactures formed cardinal
/ principle IN the systems of those great RenubJc,n
statesmen hey administered the government in
lures very dherent from tie present The country was
'hc N critical situation We still existed in et,,o
OF degrading dependence Great Britain for articles
indispensable TO safety, our indcrendeDce and ON,
/ primary wants. Our leading men saw the storm an
preaching and Ike skiIiu pilots prepared TO meet T.
20 roster the manufacture at home of articles of frs,
necessity and to encourage, under prudent limitations
the general growth OF domestic fabrcks was in too
days considered TIC dictate Of sound polcv forbidden
by no provision Of the Federal Constitutions yYbcn
these eminent men retired from the helm of state tcv
received from the General Assembly OF Virginia the
most decisive assurances of unqualified approbafion
IT, IN after times and under different circumstances the
protecting system has been pushed beyond what we
deem 70 be the limits Of prudence and popretv shall
we turn around, and advocate new doctrines as IN tho
constitutional powers of Congress-
! Il was fayone maxim Of Washington TO take care
always 10 place adversary in the wrong On the ro
sent occasion, when seek 10 restrain the Injustice NJ
another government let US beware not to practice in
justice ourselves.
The weight of Mr.. Madisons opinion in favor If tho
Right OF Congress to lay protecting duties, has been NJ
tempted TO be cssened by the allegation that in his 70
conmendsons 10 Congress he approved the pri1c;ncs
which, IN 1893, he was reProbated in the Report Of Mr.
I Hamilton on the subject of manufactures This nm
founded suggestion requires only to be examined u,
order 70 be exposed. The position Of Mr. Hamilton was
lnat cfdtfrcr conccnshe general interests nj Ieo,1n
9 aSr5cviVre NJ 1a0Hylac,ures anil Of roD5,C,ce ye
'rbtn Tie sphere Of uie national Councly Ms f nc ~
S0'as m HDph'r7ton 9f money" That OF Mr. Madison
IS nat Congress has right, in regulating The proyi-
. SONS OF The commercial Tariff to