Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-16

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This phrase has been torn from IFS context.
misintcrpreted, and used as the authority.
upon which, the president is charged, with
the heresy that representative owes
no obligation to the will of his consti-
tuents On another occasion, incautious-
ly taking it for granted, that every one
would understand, that the high obliga-
ton of an oath was derived from heaven
he has again perhaps, without much felicity
[ of phrase, made an Obvious, though not avow-
ed reference TO his oath OF office, as imposing
an obligation above all human law,-and this
reference is tortured, into public avowaI,
Of the odiousdoctrine, thathis political power,
was jare derino. Ifthese had been the taunts
end the ratings of anonymous newspaper
scrlbblers, they would have been deemd
unworthy of this public notice. But, when
such charges are seriously made and reiter-
by menholding high stations in the GO
Vernment, and exercising some influence
ever public opinion, they cannot be; too
strongly condemned.
MIR. Adams, 1t is said, istriendly tothe regu-
lation of the tariff of duties with view to
the encouragement of American manufac-
lures. and this IS DANGEROUSLY urged against
him, as serious objection, by those who sup.
port the election of Gen Jackson.
This objection seems to have been treated
before the public, as if Mr. Adams were the
founder of new and odious doctrine, and
the father Of the measures to which it had
given birth. Nothing can be farther from the
truth. Not single act of the government,
on this subject, has IFS date within his admin
lstratlon. And so far is he from being the
founder ofthe doctrine, that it is traced to the
earliest and purest times of the republic,
avowed and acted upon from the foundation
no al,
Country presided over its dcstines. Before
the adoption of the Federal Constitution, the
power of regulating commerce and imposing
duties on imports, belongedto the State Go
vernments; and such of them as deemed it
cXpedient, SO regulated their tariff Of duties
as to give encouragement to their manutac-
lures. The Constitution transferred to the
! Federal Government, by express provision,
! the power of regulating commerce, and of
Imposing duties. An act passed at the first
session of the first Congress, held under The
! Constitution, advocated by James Madison,
and signed by George Washington, on the
Goth of July, 1888, contains the first Tariff Of
duties on imported goods laid by the General
Government, and It's preamble recites, that
it was necessary for the support Of govern
''ment, for the discharge of the debts of the
'SUnited States, and tie encouragement md
was acted upon by every succeeding admin
istration, by the elder Adams, by Jefferson,
Madison and Monroe: the policy Of protecting
and encourag ing manufactures was recon-
mended by them all; the tariff was increased
from time to time, with u view to that obicct;
and yet no champion of the Constitution.
! though many and bold and able there were
always at their posts, ever challenged the
authors OF these measures, as invaders of con-
stitUtional ground-until, during the admin
istration of the last President, when the
fathers of the constitution having most of
! them retired from the field of action, a mem
Der from Virginia suggested in Congress, the
want of constitutional power to give protec-
| ton to manufactures.
! On this question we forbear TO enter the
field Of argument; and content ourselves with
saying that the power of Congress to regulate
the tariff of duties, so rs to give protection
and encouragement TO agriculture, manufac-
lures, commerce and navigation, cannot be
denied, without denying to the letter of the
constitution its plain import, and to its spirit
its most obvious and essential attributes
without affirming, that those who have ad
mlnStered the government, from its founda
ton to the present day, have either misun
derstood the charter of their powers, or wan
tonly and l.bitually violated it-withou
coming to the extraordinary conclusion
either that power which existed in the State
governments, and was frequently exercised
by them, before the adoption of the fedora
constitution, was annihilated by the secret
and magical influence of that instrument, OF
that such power does not properly pertain tc
the Legislature Of any free people.
The exercise Of this power is necessarily
! referred to the sound discretion of Congress
to be justly and impartially employed for the
common benefit of all; not to be perverted tc
the purpose of advancing the interest Of one
class of the community, or Of one part of the
country, at the expense ofanother; and what
ever some ofus may think as to its abuse.
under former administration, or Of the dan.
ger Of such abuses under the present, all must
concur in the opinion, that the remedy is not