Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-25
From the Lynchburg Virginan
; Letter from Er- President MADISON 10 me
E1liLnrs nfthe YirginiQn, dated MOntpe-

SlRS: have Just seen III dpO'hei 'aHS''s NV
following paragraph, noted as an extract from
the 'Lynchburg Virginian; VIZ:
We state as a fac, within our own knowi,
edge, that very recently the sage ana patriot oil
Montpelier expressed his deep regret al the
course now pursuing by some Of the most emil
nent politicians Of Virgina-That he reproba>
ted il, as sapping the foundations OF her power
and influence in the confederacy, whilst by a
course Of moderation aud prudence, she might
have won over a majority of her sister States
TO embrace her principles-That he defended
the right of the National Government, under
the Constitution, TO impose tariff oil dulles on
imports, with reference TO other objects than
reveuue--he a,erred that such had been the
course pursued by every administration in the
country, his own and Mr.. JeiieEson's included:
that 10 call all The lateut resources ot the coon-
Try into action and give them such protection
as circumstances might suggest, WAS one OF Inc
princlpal reasons for the establishment, OF the
confederation system, which was found made
uuate for that purpose, and the adoption OF the
Federal Constimtion-and that the resolution
passed by the last Legislature in relation TO this
subject was extremely unwise and impohtic.-
Here, then, is man eyerlastingly quoted by the
mar,exts of the Constitution in this State, who
assisted TO frame this instrument and who was
one OF its earliest and ebest cotemporaneous
cxpounders, and who, in the exercise of his Ex-
,scu,ive duties, at later day, was called on to
construe its provisions, no says, that he is cr
roneousiy thus quoted that William
Giles, that dog in the manager, IS fast hurryinS
his beloved Virginia TO ruin and contcmpt-
We again repeat, that what we have here stated
is Of our own knowledge, aud cannot be contra
dicted
Without being aware Of the ground on which
the statement is alleged To be within the person
al knowledge Of the Editors, | think il proper
10 observe that, as often happens IN The report
Of conversations, there must have been some
decree of misspprehension, or misrccollection.
IL is true tha, have not approved the pro-
ceedings Of the General Assembly oil the State
which would limit the power OF Congress over
trade, to regulations having revenue alone tor
their object; that have, IN occasional CONVEX
sations, been led to observe that contrary
doctrine had been entertained and acted on,
from the commencement of the constitution OF
the United States, 10y the several bran1h hes OF
every administration under II; aud that re-
GREETED the course pursued by the General AS
semblv. as tending 10 impair the confidence and
cordiali,y of other parts Of the Union, agreeing
with Virginia in her exposition OF the Constl-
tuition on other points. In expressing these
ideas, however, more respect has been felt Tor the
pa,riotic sensibililies Of the Legislative body,
and for the talents and good intentions oil me m
hers. personally or otherwise known TO me to
be particularly entitled to II, than might be IN
ferred Fl ON the tone Of the publication. l must
observe, also, that though II is true that have
spoken of the powers of Congress in its enlarg-
ed sense, over commerce, as primary and
known object in forming the Constitution, the
language of the statement is Inaccurate, al least
as being susceptible Of construction embrac-
If lb,aa tIrNY rec
or the county.
must presume thar the expressions which
refer bv name, TO the Governor Of The State,
were not meant TO be ascribed 10 me; being We
~ sure that could never have so tar forgotten
what owed 10 myself, or the respect due 10
him.
II with much reluctance, sirs, that have
had recourse to these explanatory remarks,
Withdrawn as am from scenes Of political agi-
tation, by my age, and pursuits more congenial
with it, II is the single instance Of commu>
nicatioa from me to the press, on any subject
connected with the existing STATE of parties.
With respect, JAMES MADISON.
To the Editors of the Lynchburg Virginan.
Remarks 6y tie Editors Qfthe Yirginian.
The ABOVE letter, which we received yesier-
day morning from Mr. Madison, needs no Conls.
ment. We regret that we so inc autiously word
ed our paragraph as 10 leave room for inferen-
ces which we did not intend to convey. We
did not intend, for instance, that our readers
should understand it 10 be Mr. Madison's OPT
MON that the General Government possesses
"indehnte powers over the entire resources Of
the country" for We did not ourselves believe
tina, MIR. NJ entertained any such sentiment.
We intended to confDe our illusions 10 MIR.
Madison's opinions exclusively to the power of
The National Government TO lay duties on i'm
ports with other objects than revenue. In this
we arc happy to say we are sustained by our IL
lustrious ExsPresident
We should equally regret that any individual
should suppose we intended TO make Mr. Ma
olson express an opinion unfavoraoic to the
"patriolic sensibiities," "ialents," or personal
characters, either Ut Mr.. Giles, or those who
sus,alned his resolution, at The rast meeting OF
the Virginia Legislature. We hope we feel too