The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-03-09
Ia shert, tseu 70 GIVE 20 .he Genera, c.oyerr

Ia shet, then 10 give 70 The eenersi Govern
'nent power coos mate unh that o.; the state
governments. 10 r1aNe internal improvements.
Is unnatural and oppressive and ihclt ole II
for no othetr len, lch sifi IS no.. -. teeed
n the constitution. Get 90 graut -sapcb power
Is 70 give il jurisdiction oser evt1, state IN the
Union aud the constitution expfas % ,antin ..
It's q exclusive jnrisdiction'' 10 tie lsis,re, Of
Colunilia. IL is TO give taat dangerous bod +.
an5ounded controui OVER the private nfapprt,
Of every individual III The un;6u--the great .s
wei, as the smali-the rich as wen as the no,r. \,
the constitution no wherereeogniacs the smallest
portioa ~ such controui. Aud finally il /, 10
consolidate The States into one great mass of
Heterogeneous particles which will not. nor cnn.
not ever adhere. And will here cyprr.s my
regret that many of those who would give to
Congress the power and the means Of making
roads aud canals are perhaps inconsidcrate and
even ignorant as to thu ultimate conscouences
which may result from SO comprehensive n
grant. They seem TO be fascinated with the
tceting show Of present advantages, without
looking forward TO see what other conSeaucn.
ces may ultimately preponderate against them.
II was no longer than the other dnv, that |
heard TWO individuals disputing as TO the power
IN question. One was willing that all internal
improvements should be made by Congress, aad
expatiated at Length, though believe not with
the eloquence OF good cause, on the signal adj
yantages which might result 10 Virginia from the
eread road which is proposed to connect Wash
ington City with New-Orleans But he forgot
that the profits of at work was 10 enrich the
Federal treasury, and not the treasury Of the
safe. lie forgot too in his eagerncss 10 catch
the splendid bubble which hontrd upon the sur
face, TO feel for the rocks and shoals which were
concealed beneath and the argument of his
antagonist threw him. | would entreat every
individual then, to deliberate maturely as 10 all
the consequences OF " hat he is about to do,
when he proposes to surrender TO the General
Government the power which that body wishes
to assume. Exercised by Congress It Ray do
much mischief: but while it is held exclusively
by the States, it cannot fail to secure much
good to them, and consequently 10 the Union
There rs one other subject appcrtanng 10 the
General Government which will notice, ere
dismiss that dic.atorial body to such treatment
as you may choose 10 bestow upon il, BID
has recently passed the House of Representa-
tives in Congress, which proposes to increase
the duty on imported Woolens; the effect OF
which IS a manifest profit secured TO the northeru
manufacturer, from the southern aericulturalist
for Which no value is given. pretend not &c
discuss the constitutional principles of the bill
since Mr.. Giles in his late report has noticed that
part of the subject in manner which trust
will satisfy every individual among you, and pa
ralyzc the tongue of opposition; but | mus
speak of its policy as tending 10 rub ont all the
principles of equality, and to operate lasting
injury TO the Union, by depressing one portion
for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of another, and by cher
iShing those sectional prciudiccS which fcal
titl Ia Inc IlU cd
had thought that Virginia had enough to do IN
the support of herself and IN the periormanc,
81 her share IN he support of the Union. | had
thought that these we're pcrilous times and that
IA, our energies as a State were required 10 main
tdln our general happiness and our peace; bun
this is trivial task compared 10 that which az,
nov called upon IN perform-to suppct the
aspiring ayallc, of the north. have no EMMY
gdnst ny te..oW citizens of the north, more
than nave for all other asprants after gold -
sigce It i very natural and common with all III,
habits of mankind that they should seek the en-
ipymcnt of ali the wealth that may offer its pro
mlses Of easy access; but cannot have any
charity for the principles Of thai body, to which
We have conhded our national veal, and whlci
can Cypress one class of their constituents fol
the prott and pride OF another In all my oh
seryations a human life, fellow citizens, hay,
when he could get it; and ifCongress will con
time TO CRAFTY every application which north.
ern avaricc, clothed in the garb of peuuIions ne
ccssity may make, will venture TO predict tina
ere long our soil will not afford them a subSiS
tence-much less will il support that numcrou,
community OF hush 'udmcn which cultivate oui
fields by therudnstry and their skill lcanno
suppose that Northern machinery will ever stoI
lis nyOlutionS for the acquisition OF money, while
II can keep in obedient motion the wheels of lie
gislatiye machinery for its aid. But can sup
pose that so long as the manufacturing interest!
are able to control the plant machinery OF Con
eress Hall they will continue to draw from The
Southern soil all that makes it dear TO its tenants
But will suppose that the real object Of TIN
bill is to protect the manufacturers and to relieve
their poverty; and yet can suppose all this
without discovering that the effect will be matt
rally different The encouragement EXTENDED
will increase the number OF factories, and thus
secure nothing more than the original profits Il
their respective owners, while it cannot dininisI
the difficulties from which relief was sought; and
the number and the difficulties of the manutac
turers will progress in a regular and an ever
parallel. They will therefore, ever continue tc
be strangers to that oppression. which will ensut
from compliance with perpetual application fo,
relief, and the southern farmer will waste his lif,
away, to receive no benefit to himself, nor even
to those who have no feeling for him. coulc
wish every thing on earth as free as air, telIo"
citizen; but cannot have any charity for tha
principle which can reproach the unfortunate
sufferers OF slavery in such bitter terms--yet scel
SO zealoo,' to profit by the means OF that an
happy affection of mankind ln.Short, cannot
regard the policy in question in any other lgh
than as tending to an effect similar to thatwhIcI
succeeded the plan Of American ia >ation before
the rcyniation. Britain taxed America for the
benefit %. herself; she taxed one part Of her sub
jcct, for the benefit OF another and the consc
qurnCc was a division of her empire and the los
of her colonies. | know that the proposed an
position III" southern state, does not come II
the shape Of y iaFi Int care not how Fecu
mary imposition may be clothed, or what form i
may assume, il IFS purpose and its object he Tho
same,
With these views of the General Governmea
shall leave il. proposing TO give you one other
short letter ON State politics. entrvat YOU t'
bear with me. ACHILLES ID. JOHNSON.
u \ numerously attended dinner has bec'