Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-07-23

lllJ N4fA VA ICCdCoC u uAo--f f|1Ai4lliiCllt
in any mere party project, such as that Of
the elevation Of General Jackson to the
Presidency, yet he understands the views
and feelings of those with whom, for two
wears, he has been in intimate political as
ISOLATION, here, at Washington; and full
credit Is due to all the limitations Of their
disposition which he may have thrown
out.
In expressing our belief that a scheme
has been secretly agitated, for placing the
State of. South Carolina, and such other
States South as might chose to Join the
Combination, in an attitude Of defiance of
the General Government, we do not i'm
peach the motives Of the respectable por-
ton of its agitators, to whom we have a.
boye alluded. They have odd notions of
allegiance, which sophistry subhlizes
down to nothing. With them the
Union is but name, and they owe no du-
ty to it but such as they chose to pay.
This is the effect of the anti-national
doctrines of Mr.. Giles and his fellow-labor-
ers; among whom may be included the
Editors OF the Richmond Enquirer, VINO
have yet the grace TO experience and e
vince something like alarm at the explosion
of the mine at which they have so long la
bored Far different Is our opinion of this
matter. We hold fidelity to the Union to
be a paramount obligation, and that every
it ought to be, in the language
Of the immortal WASHINGTON, Indignantly
Iownedupon byeyery lover ofhis country.
Inthe South, the means of excitement,
and the only ayowed pretext for it, is the
ne1g Tariff Bill But from Mr.. Rowau's
disclosures we learn that it IS IN the eUent Of
the reelection Of Mr.. ADAMS, that the
Southern States are to withdraw from this
Union, and the Congress Of the United
States is DO longer to exist Whichever
is the event upon which it Is to depend, the
design is inimcal to liberty, and its sue
cess would be fatal to its projectors. To
what point will not the madness Of party
to what extreme VIII not the promptings off
anunchastened ambition carry even polish
ed s. enlightened men.
viii it be SAID. that we look upon this
matter too seriously, and that none THINKS
ofresistauce of the Laws and Government
of the United States? We answer, that,
fit donot take place. it will be because the
actors in this scene find among the People
a strength of attachment to the Union
which will roll back upon themselves the
storm which they have sought to direct a.
gainst the Government of their country.
Already if we do not mistake appearances
they are appalled, They have found a.
mong the Peoploa spirit they did not look
for, and they stand rebuked before it, But,
even yet, some there are who are hardy G
uough to advocate, in anonymous pubhca.
tons, the periodical measures to which we
have alluded. By the very last mail, we
have received the Charlestown Mercury,
the recognized organ the jackson party,
containing an essay conspicuously publish
ed, from whichrthe following pregnant eX
traits are taken:
"Inmy former number / alluded to the
s2yrcignty Of the States, as being the only |
remedy we have for the slayish oppression |
of our country"
"What are we of this section to 90? |
AIustwo 90 down to infamy and slavery /
Must we abandon the rich inheritance oil
our glorious ancestry? Must we yield up |
that for which they commended even unto
death, the right Of taxing ourselves} No! |
five do, / widely mistake the proud and
lofty spirit of my native state. What then
are we to do} Must we resort to non-con- |
sumpton} This is a tame and partial |
remedy, almost only temporary"
"Non-consumption is non-ciyilzation.
But, above all, it is compromising our
principles Is it not a slavish subterfuge
from tyranny! This then, lam persuaded
Is not the course that the lofty, fearless
spirit oftreemen viii ever pursue
"No: we must take a higher and bold |
er stand, the only stand upon which we can
estunshaken. Stand under the sovereign |
ty Of the States and the Constitution oCthe |
Union. Let our Legislature meet, innu-
mcrato the different acts of what Is called
the Tariff Bill, declare them unconstitu- |
honal, null and roid, OPEN THE PORTS |
FREE, and meet the question as freemen
under our chartered rights. Under this act
our merchants would refuse to pay Custom
House duties, and would have a right TO
bring the suit before our own state tribu-
mails. who under our Legislature, would
declare the law unconstitutional, and, of.
course no law; for, the power that made 1t,
had no right so 70 DO. Here then, would
be plain issue made up between } parties,
aud THOSE PARTIES SOvREIGNS.
We make no comment Oh this language:
if is uDDecpssarv Tftbis xvrifnr IL NOT for