Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-06

S.~-Cn the 18th ult balIotins TOOK place sup
plying TIA vacancy occasioned " the resignation
OF hr. Macon lii, votes ere, James ;receii ~,
present Governor,) 81, hiontictt Stokes %, b,a,
ind Sc 'tte'ing l5-9l beiIg majority. the,r w.
10 election. On the 2d in-t. another ballot was al
tempted; when Gov. lrcdcll was cected-,he,,
was no other candidate.
ron THE ENQUIRER.
| A number Of the citizens oi !>o,,oway assem-.
, bled at ihex Courthouse on the 9th Inst, Tor the
purpose Of taking inio consideration the subject of
! the tariff. MaJ III. K Anderson was called 20
the Chair, and DR.. II. Z. Worsh IN appointed Se-
cre'ary Ait-r few preliminary remarks from
The Char, EXPLAINING the object OF che meeting.
Edward Bland. Esq Capt. Richard Jones'. Col
Saml b. Je'er, d.. A Watkins, Dr. W. Du-
! puy, d.. Jos. S. Baker, Col. }. ii. Knight, and
r Dupny, Esq. were appointed COMM, tee, to
drai p Gamble and resolutions, expressive of the
views Of the IN citing. The committee then re.ir-
ed, and. after an interval, returned aud submitted
the following:
In whatever light we view the tariff i, pre-
| sents the SAM characteristic, the same Al pailns
features. by wha ever standard W.. C, npare it,
1t is found detective II ureaihes MOI the spirit O,
our constitution; II concurs MT with the principles
oil our con'ederacy; it is opposed to the best inter
est oil our coinnon county: in the scales oil natu
raj justice IT Is found wanting; it shrnks from the
| scrnuny Oh reason; and with the rules Of -ound
morality II + found incompatible. Thougb il bears
| NOS impressed upon il " blood and Carnage" ",
behold, on it, II ont, inscribed as with sunbeam
poverty and ruin" Already his il .:miai eli
our evcnue, dsnantled our ship. dcstroye. uur
trade, depressed our tow ms, and ,ufeai A dear IA Z,
veI our fieds IL has filled our country with tiils
oonds, and consequent hankrupicic, But, nflu
enced as W. arc, by considerations oil q n al IL
UNITY, as well rs by regard for midi, idual in
crests, and the interests OF the section oil county
in which we reside, we feel il our duty 10 stat
more explicitly, the grounds upon which we base
our opposition 10 the principles of the tariff
we believe the tariff to- be utionaI.--
Cong css possesses no power but such as is ex-
pressiy granted by the constitution. Now we can
hnd no clause in the Constitution, which vests con-
gress with the power to levy taxes OF to impose
duues, except tor the purpo.c OF paying the debts
ana providing Tor the common defence and general
welfare OF our common country. Will it be argu-
ed, that the bill has been introduced unde, the
sanction oil that vague ami indefinite expression,
the" general welfare of the United States? IL
VIII not-with propriety, il cannot be- No man.
possessed OF common discernment and common
| integrity, will hazard his reputation by assuming
| aposition so untenable. The very terms, indefi
mite as they are, preclude the idea Of any right in
Congress to Cypress the citizens in entire sec
ton OF our country, for the very qursor able be-
nefi OF those i'll another We say for the very
Questionable benefit; for therr must "A doubt
III the mind, even OF the most Jealous advocate of
tariff measures, whether ,hose measure. will, G.
ventualiy, effect the object OF their enactment -
Both re ason and the history of the past have led us
! TO thu conclusion, hat thu measu adopted are
IL.
the etd desired. But 10 this subject we shall
gain advert The simplest schooboy, who under
stands OF hat ingredients community is compos-
ed VIII be able 10 demonstrate, thai ia the pre-
sion, the :" general weltare" of the country, more
/ is Implied than the welfare of an individual class
tbat happens 10 enter, constituent part. in Tie
formation OF tile community. II will be able O
prove, with mathematical certainty, that he well
iare OF one particular section OF country dos no,
nee ssaIiiy cons itutc the welfare OF that country
at large Before the clause in question can be
cited III justification Of any measure, il will be ne
cesar ihdt proof pos,iv- be adduced, tending tc
81 W, that the measure is essential to The genera
ioeJdFe OF the country. What ,hr pooi al
duced ia the case OF the tariff? The petitions OF =
| lie" lords OF the loom, their allies oil he anvil
forge. &C.. and ven this testimony inyalda,ed h,
evidence oil motives of seli-interest, AMI elf a.
grdndiZement, s counterbaianc-d by petitions an,
memorial, OF an opposite character. from othc,
Classes oil society, equally numerous, and equally
respectable.
The clause in our con stu,ion to which Tie pro
Jectors, he aiderS, and abe;tors OF the tariff refer
with the most Plsusibility, for authority, is that
which en'ows Congress with the right to regu.
late commerce with foreign natIons.' But ihs
simple fact, that the power to regulate CONNIE ce
&c wa. granted 10 Consress, is, in olr estimation
an evidence of the unconstitutonality of the prin-
cipes oil The taiih. IL shews, that il the in.
tent OF the trainers OF our constitution, that a
commercial intercourse should be nain aimed
with foreign nations The fr-t principle assumed
in the clause 10 which refrr, is that such Al
ihlercours Is mai TO the Interests Of coun-
Try Tn Sc oni Is like unto il, and is but a naiu
raj inference from the first, viz thai il is proper and
exp ;dent, from time 10 ;iur 10 adopt regulations
Tor J,Iihering and facilitating hi, intercourse
mirk ye, noi Tor supp essiRg dboiishing it -
Bui 10 what does the tariff tend? To thu cntiT. de-
s'fuction OF all our CONNIE rcial connex ions. The
spirit OF the constitution, and the spirit o our IA
tsfa tell us, commerce is import mt j. advanta-
geous, cherish it, Tho advisers OF The tariff res.
pond, We al wi-eI than were fathers; com
mr,ce Is injurious, il destructive TO our manu-.
features, destroy IT. HON shall We be iieye?-
W. respect the opinions ot brethren, but The
words OF our fathers we ence. Facts, also
incline 10 confide i'll the views of " the us,ri.
oiIs dead"
The very popular plea, founded on the import.
dnce OF our manufacturing interests, scarcely me-
lis Il serious noice.-Not ihM we wouli dispa,a.
hem. Is e know their v'lue, ami are Dis ,ossd to
ncour - hem ags -eatly to the law there il
maze aud prov ided." The constitute has ex.
pessIy roinicd out the manner III which il l. law
iul 20 encourage manufactures, and all other use.
iul arts, viz by securing, for limited time, {
- inventors, the exclusive rgh to their respec.
tive - discoveries" IL p i,ion Of tn cons i
ticr videny irtinlates, tb+t lis ril,,rs deem
ed ! lot prudent to vest Co e. css with any furh
pow. over them Thus are we furnished ind,
rect y, v h additional eViden e. tending TO coro
ora III opinion, that the tariff IS gross violation
t OF constitution
Tn, ia III $ al U0riGnce lcith The general pTi,.-
ctpies Of our corf de, dey. In our declara lion o
intf pendrnc tie right oil properly rrckoned
one OF those unaieDable rights, of which a mar
cannot lawfully be deprived without hi consent
expressed or implied, unless hi. righ ha- been
forfeited by crime IDisdt mcsnors. But by the
: operation OF the tariff, tn prop, t, OF par o
the community is taken way and nded upof
! another, without even a form OF justice TO palliatt