Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-07

HtErnSSlOn OF - ttO $500
a.snmmend = careful ~perusal OF IL to readers OF
-, Sescrin,ioD. Our friends.of the opposi-
:sauiu and in il nothing 10 give them offence,
- unch that deserves their serious consideFa-
ton, -
THE VIRGINIA RESOLUTIONS. +,
The resolutions. Adopted by the Legislature OF
VIRGINS. al their las, session, in relation 10 the
r;aht Of the General Government TO make IN
,sp,al improvements, and to apportion the gu
lies ON imports, with a view 10 protrc' anu e"-
courage manufacture s, are calculated to awake"
The attention of those portions OF the Union la
yor,ble TO the "Amcrican System ihat re-
eis,s,ure have passed three resolutions on inns
sah;ec, The first TWO deny the right OF con-
srrss 10 make internal improvements VIM"
,Ihs Limits of the States, and especially OF VAR
a;r;a y ,r1spf such as are authorised by the constr
1s,,t;op, the third denies the RICH, oil congress 10
Law and collect daties and taxes to be apphea 10
.nv o,her objects than such as are Gufhof1sea ~
The constitution.
These resolutions deny what, we presume
has never been asserted. The advocates oil IN,
ternal Improvements have always coniehotd
ina, they were authorised by the constitution: I'D
regard to the power to construct in'erhdn i"-
Droyemen,s, Of a national character ana oil ma
tional utility, we only remark, tina, IL TINS pow
er is not possessed by the General Governments
,bere is a great defect in the constitution -
That such a power ought 10 exist IN tna' go
yprnmen,. seems 10 be a dictate Of the p%la'ntst
reason. because such works ought TO be pro-
;ec,eJ and modified by The national Will, and
more particularly, becasie they can ohiy oe ca
ecu,ed ~ The national resources. IL is muCh
To be regret cd thatlhis nnwer has been ooss-
toned so as 70 paradise It's exertion.
The mower. however, to make ihternai I'M
movements, though very important, is not SO
imperiously necessary TO the national lnGePeh-
dence and prosperity, as that Of laying duties
for The protection of Our own INDUSTRY, o, our
own manufactures. The power 10 lay dnties
.was Welded up by the States In the iederai con-
s,i,u,ion. They, therefore, cannot afford the
necessary protection. To Congress the powers
are given "to regulate commerce. ITO lay ana
collec, duties" "to provide Tor The general wei
fare of the United States" IL, under lhese
powers, Congress cannot modify the duties win
a view TO the encouragement OF manufacturer
in our own country, we have, by onr const''u.
ton, relinquished one OF those means used anu
nrac,iced by all civilized nations forthe promo.
ton of their independence and the prosperity oil
the neople. But, although the right has Tor
soms time been questioned, bv individual poll
ticians ofthe South, the bolc ground QfLegisla-
IIe DEOtCak an ~
How is thi. Southern Solicy, these legislative
proceedings against the power OF the General
Government TO protect A American manufactures,
10 be reconciled with the following facts!
lst. Tha, the right of laying duties on im-
norris. Cor the protection and encouragement Of
manufactures, was claimed and exercised by the
first congress which sat under the consultation,
and in the FIRST act laying duties passed I'D 1879.
2d. That duties have been laid and appor-
TONED with the same view, from The commence,
men, of the federal government TO this day.
Sd. Tha, whrr re AIDE quate duties have been
thus laid, the effect has been, ultimately, 70 al
ford the articles thus cherished in a greater "a
bundance, as cheap or cheaper, and Of better
quality. :,
The verify Of these facts Can be established
beyond all doubt.
As TO the first fact, ,ha, the power was claim
ed. II appears, by the laws OF Congress, that
at the first session, "!An act Tor laying duties on
goods, wares, and nerchandists, imported into
tAe United States" was passed, with a Pream
BILE in the following words: "Whereas IL is ne
cessary, for the support OF government, Tor the
discharge Of the debts OF the on'.eo states ana
s6s snco,,rooemsat and protection Of manufactures,
that duties be laid on goods, wares, ami mer-
chandises imported" Here was The recogni
ton. in the most ~unequivocal terms by Con
rress, of the very principle against which Vir-
einia now protests. And what gives welshtto
its authority as a correct principle, is, that this
&C, was passed by men of the FIRST standing IN
the Union, many OF whom had participated IN
the formation Of The Constitution, and under the
administration of WASHINGTON, the father OF
his country, and he a prginian The principle
was not introduced c~asuslly, nor without dis-
cussion. Numerous extracts, recently publish
ed, Of the debates. show that 1t was urged m de-
bate on the bill, and no intimation has been
made that il vas then denied.
AS 10 the second fact, that the principle has
been regularly acted on. II appears that in the
before mentioned act, a discriminating and
higher duty was laid on goods imported in nes-
sci. moi of the u. States, with the view ITO en-
courage" the building American vessels AT
the same session, and with the same view,
an act was passed imposing a tonnage Gu.
~ ON ves,els-op American vessels, 8 cents
Der ton; on American built vessels owned