Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-03

i5cgease with ue aag,nens ZOO. OF the foreign ju-
ties; the power 10 pay will, under such circuInsian-
ces. be in the inverse ratio OF the dem nds OF Go
ver"ment Nothing short OF armed pow er
could collect direci impost in such state of
things. 1t remains for the National Legislature to
say, whether the Revenue Laws of the country
shall be enforced, with resort TO dreadful an al |
tentative, and in the face of so imminent peril tn
the Republic.
Your memorisls;s also feel il their duty to ex- !
press their dissent 10 the assertion of the Consti,u
uona power OF Consressto impose duties ostensi !
bly, Tor revenue but virtually for protection. They
tel confident that such is the correct interpret
ation OF this part of our Naonsl Charter. Con-
strung that instrument in conformity with is OBJ
vious purposes, and in the spirit which perry aides
he whole compact, your Memorialisis feel I'M |
pressed with the truth, that the power TO impose
duties Tor revenue would hsye been expressly linn
tied TO this SINGLE object, il the trainers OF tie Inc
-irumep, could have anticipated the course of our
National Policy. The right to raise revenue b.
iH'pos,s, is unqualified; because your MemuIiasts
conceive, that being branch Of the ia king power,
u would have been unwise TO have limited it like
The other branches OF the power, it Judi
cously lett IN the sound discretion of responsible
agents. They therefore protest, in the absence of
any express limitation, aud IN the general silence Of
the instrument on the subject, against The sssump-
'ion, that the power can be taken Ia any other and
larger sense, than as means to'a single end-and
that end revenue. Is not this construction strength
-ened by the TACT OF the omission Of any right of
employing other Legislative measures for purposes
| OF protection! is 1t not familiar TO he knowledge
OF your enlighte u body, that there is choice OF
expeden.s Tor this object, and that the favourers
OF domestic industry throughout Europe, in former
GAYS, employed bountes on expectation in addition
10 duties on importaiion TO afford similar protec-
ton to that claimed for the domestic industry of our
own day and coubtryt Why is the Federal Char
Ter silent also as 10 bounties on production which
are more directly promotive OF the same end, But
~ q find ifi.ya
both on Congress and he States, TO impose duties
on expectation for fear evdeutly, that the pow er
might be used TO trammel Commerce in 100 great
deSree, from excessive taxaIion-wiilst such pro-
hloon Terms the only restriction on The taxing
power TO be found in the whole instrument. The
trainers oil our National Charter conceived ths, i,
was sufficient 10 confer the power raise supplies
| In the mode by which revenue is most easily col.
lected but as they wisely thought there could not
be importation Nithout expectation. they would
not give the power OF taxing the exports. IT the
right TO protect Certain branches Of industry is TO be
implicitly aiken from the power 10 impose duties
your Meworiallsts ca0no, conceive what can m
validate the plea for p; ion oil the other branch
/ IS, by claiming premium or bounty either on ex-
porta'ion or on production for any article " hch
may be grown or manufactured IN our widely ex>
| tended country.
! There remains but one other view of the subject
1 10 winch your Memoriali-ts would ask leave TO
call the earnest attention of the National Legisla
ture' ana which, II they did moi press he deep
consideration OF your body. they would conceive
their duty but impe fectly executed Your Memo
raiIsts aude 10 the effect of high duties in Placing
Tue sell interest OF the citizen in opposition TO his
social obligations. To respect the la g is one of
the highest OF our moral engagements; but there are
limits 10 legal obedience, :, ell political al.
lschment, which daily experience admonlshes
| Statesmen is but two easily passed The attach
mem, IN fact which constitutes patriotism is not a
blind devotion, but an enlightened moral sentiment
l. does not consist IN contracted and bigoied love
tor the soil on which lot is cast but in an in
Ieigen and cultivated affection for the institutions
which AFFORD impartial protection to property ne
well as person, and for the laws which look To- the
rule OF equality in the distribution of the burhens
! (pecuniary and personally of the state If in the
delicate relation IN which the citizen siands TO his
government, is found the source of some of his
highest virtues and most DISTINGUISHED exert;ona an
also in that relation VIII be discovered the origin of
some OF the greatest mistakes eyer committed bv
| Statesmen and none have been more conspicuons
! and remarkable than presuming to too great an er
emit on the undminished strength oF.tbat ,Gection
/ when the citizen yields to his sovernuAas IN ths
uno0ught homage OF his voluntary respec, and lbs
raj confidence
All history proves that the spirit of opposition
10 laws which haYe their origin in partial and mar
( row stions-which depress one class of
citizens whilst they elevate another first heei, IN
expressions OF discomfort and disapprobsfon merea
" Out the frequent repetition OF the vTong pro A..
duces at last the senee of sighted interests, and
me allegiance OF the citizen is from that moment
heid oy very iraii and insecure tie. o edience to
law Is then no Longer voluntary. and venerauon
}lor compacts ceases 10 be cherished and haoyyed
feeling The general sense OF injury gathers force
IN me progress OF that Legislation hich Ia partial
ana deal 10 the voice OF circumstance aud enTeaty
Laws incur the heard, In such circumstances, Of
remaining dead letter, from the odium attached to
their execution; those who are appointed TO the
trusts OF administration, may find it harsh az well
as painful duty to discharge under the popular ex-
a@peTauon. Ihese topics not adysTted 10 by
your Memodasis, and thus pressed on the attention
OF Congress, 10 isiiame, TO menace or To alarm.
The cautious they furnish among the striking
lessons of history, and the familiar truths OF daily
e3pe ience. Your Mem Iasts look nth some
apprehension 10 the growth OF spirit Of disaffec
ton, that may come TO regard the Federal Charter
with slienaed ieelbg-. AMI 10 aoy even the most |
remote sense, as The of unequal burihens. /
They hope it may be long among the boasts of the |
parties TO that compact, that affection for the IN
sirument itself is so bound up in the sentiment Of |
patriotism as to be ioseparable from H. But your /
MemorIsligts would be wanting in one Of ,hs biglst
Of The Obligations which their present Office limo.
ses on them, If they id no forswarn he I,egi-s-
ture OF the Dnion against a too confident depen
dence on the unmPaiIeJ strength of that affection.
whilst there continues TO be neither pause nor req,
30 the spirit which ha dictated our prolibtorv adj
exclusive policy
JOSEPH JOHNSON, Cbsh'n.
HEHRT ". CRUGza, Sec'Ty.
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