Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-09-03

ct e the Government, and by high color
mo and pictures of imaginary distress
n a7 nors,,ade itself that the measure IS OPP
Urossive. that minority may appeal to arms
and f # can. dissolve the Union; such
or;nc;,,le would reverse the established
poav,,m of representative government, &C
cor5;nq 70 which the will Of the majority
nrst prevail. If it were possible thai
the minority could govern and CONTROL
bo TTnion. may indeed, as well be dlssolv-
cd Cor If would not be worth preserving
The conduct of an individual would not
be more nnwise and suicidal, who, because
of some trihing disease affecting his per-
SON sbould. in teverlsh and freJtul mo-
ment resolve to terminate his existence.
Nothing can be more unfair and rdlcu-
Ions than to compare any Of the acts OF
the Congress- of the United States repre-
sentiu0 all. and acting for all, to any OF
the acts of the British Parliament, which
led 70 our revolution. The principles on
which the colonies receded was, that there
should be no taxation without representa-
ton. They were not represented IN the
British Parliament, and to have submitted
70 taxation, would have been TO have sub
mitted to slavery, and to have surrender
ed tie most valuable privileges OF treemen.
If the colonies had been fairly represent
ed in the British Parliament, and equal
taxes, alike applicable to all parts OF the
British Empire, had been imposed by a
majority. a case Of remote analogy to any
act of Congress to which a minority IS
opposed, might be reduced from history
9th Revolution. But every state Of this
confederacy is fairly represented, and has
the faculty of being fully heard IN the
Congress of the United States. The rep
resentaton has been regulated by Joint
principle of distribution, the result of a
wise spirit of mutual compromise and con
cession, which / hope never 10 see dis
urbed, ofwhich none canjustly complain,
and least Of all, those citizens who have
resorted to threats of an appeal to arms
and disunion.
But there IS, I hope and believe no rea-
son to apprehend the execution Of those
empty threats. The good sense, the pat
riotism, and the high character Of the peo-
pie Of South Carolina, are sure guarantees
for REFRESHING, without aid, any disorders,
should any be attempted within her limits.
The spirit of Marion, and PIcAens, and
Sumpter. ofthe Rutledgcs, the Pmckneys.
aud of Lovndes yet survives, and ami
mates the high-mmded Carohnans. The
ravlors, and the Williams and their COM
patriots of the present day, VIII be able to
render a account ofaIl, If there be any
who shall dare toraiso their pricidal hands
against the peace. the constitution, and
the union ofthe states. Rubukod by pub
he opinion. q sufficient corrective, and
condemned by their own sober reflections,
the reasonable purpose viii be relinquish-
ed, IT it were ever seriously contemplated
by any.
] have no fear Of the permanancy ofour
Union. whilst our Liberties are preserved.
Il is a tough and strong cord, as all Will
find who shall prcsumptuously attempt to
break it. 1t has been competent to sup
press all the domestic instructions and TO
carry safely through all the foreign wars
with which we have been afflicted since 1t
was formed, and it has come out of each
with more strength and greater promise Of
It's the choicest political bles-
sing which, as a people, we ENJOY, and l
trust and hope that Providence will permit
us to transmit 1t uaimpaired to posterty,
through endless generations.
] thank you, MIR. Chairman, for the fat
tering opinion which you have expressed
of my public services, and especially Of
those which have endeayOred to render TO
the West. WhlstI am sensible that you
them much too highly, it is at
the same time true that | have sought, on
all occasions, that appeared to me proper,
to advance the interests of that section, of
which am proud to be citizen, whenever
have thought it could be done without
prejudice to the predominant interests of
the whole. / have nevertheless in several
Instances given my most jealous
support to measures (the navy and the late
war for example in which the West could
rot be regarded as having any distinct or
other interest than that which belongs TO
the honor, the prosperity, and the charac-
ter OF the whole Confederacy. During the
short period ofthe present Administration,
hopeI may be permitted to say, without
meaning to claim for it exclusive merit,
that more has been done and recommend
ed, for the West, than ever was done dur
ing the whole preceding period ofour pre-
sent Constitution, with the exception only
of the acouisiiiOu of Louisiana. under fine