Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-01-17

holding high stations In tue So'.,,
exercising some influence over puohe op'"'o"'
thew cannot be TOO strongly condemned
'"e H. Adams. il is said, is friendly to regu>
,.,;on of the tariff of duties, with view to the
encouragement of American manufactures ana
this is clamorously urged against MIN, as Sc
r;ous objection, BY those who support the eiec'
ton Of Gen. Jackson.
This objection seems to have neeh 'rea'ea'
before the public, as il Mr.. Adams were the
founder Of new and odious aoctiine, aho me
father OF the measures, to which IL had gwen
bir,h Nothing can DE farther from the truth
Not single &C, Of the government, on this st'>-
;ect has It's date within his administration -
And 50 far is he from being the founder OF the
doctrine, that il is traced 10 the earliest anu
purcs, times Of the republic, avowed and acteo
upon, from the foundation OF the government
when the father Of his country presided over
its des,ines. Before the adoption vi the 1eoera'
constitution, the power OF regulating comhe'ee
and imposing duties on imports, belonged 10
the state governncmts;-and such q! 'ne!h as
deemed il eXpedient, so regulated 'heif 'a':n
of duties as TO give encouragement 10 'neir
manufactures Tine constitution transferred 10
the federal government by express PROVISION
the D .wer OF regulating commerce, aud oil ms
posing duties. An act passed at the h's' seS'
sion Of the first congress, held under the con-
stitution, advocated by James Madison, ana
signed by George Washington, on the 2o'h OF
July 1899, contains the first tariff OF dulles on
i'm ported goods laid by he General Govern
men,, and its preamble recites, 'ha' II was me-
c. ssary Tor the support Of government, ior 'he
discharge OF the debts Of the United States, ana
The encouragement and protection Of MANUFACTURES
This doctrine was acted upon, 10y every sue
ceiling administration, by the elder Adams, ~
LED; rs"n, by Madison and Monroe. The poll
cy OF prolect Ting and encouraging manufactures
was recommended by them all;--the tariff was
increased from time 10 time, WIN vie" 10
that ohjec,; and yet, no champion oil the con-
| s,i,ution, though many and bold and able there
were, Away, al their posts, ever challenged 'he
authors of these measures, as invaders OF con>
stitutional ground; until during the admins
| ration Of the last president, when the 'a'ne
| rthe constitution having most OF them rrllrea
from the fed Of action, m mbcr from FirSi>
MIA suggested, in congress, the want OF consul
tulional power, 10 give protection to manu'ac'
| lures
On this question, we fobear to enter the
field Of argument; and content ourselves with
seyinc,-that he power ofcongress TO regulate
The tariff Of duies, so as to give protection and
encouragement, 10 agriculture, manufactures,
commerce and navigation. cannot be dFnieu,
! withou, d rying 10 the letter Of the conslilu.
tion.its PLAIN import, and 10 its spirit It's most
obvious and essential attributes; without atiirm-
my hat those who have administered the 60
vernmsn,, from its foundation to The present
dav, have either misunderstood the charter OF
sion, ci,her thaIa power which existed in the
state governments, & was frequently exercised
b. them, before The adoption Of the federal con-
siituli"r, vas annhilalrG by The secret and ma
gil al influence Of that instrument, or that such
power does NOT properly pertain to the egsla-
'u'e OF any reepeope.
The exercise OF this power is necessarily re-
! ferr.d 10 the sound discretion OF Congress- to
b" Justly AVID IMP 'rllaIly employed, FIR the
Common hench' Of all; not to be perverted 10
| III" purpose Of advancing the interest Of one
| class # the community, CT one part Of the
country, al The expense of another.-and whats
ever some of US may think as to lis abuses IN.
der former administration, Of the danger
Of such abuses under the present. all must
concur in the opinion, that the remedy is not
TO be found, in the election o. Gen. Jackson;
but il sought al all, should be looked for, IN the
vigilance and excrtiors Of faithful and able Sc
nator, and Representatives in Congress.
The opinions Of MIR Adams, and his recon-.
mcndations to congress, iI relation to internal
Improvement. are unpopular IN Virginia, and
have been urged againsr him with much earn
es'ness. and perhaps with some effect, even
though il cannot, with any color Of reason, be
commended, that his competitor Gen. Jackson,
is not exposed 10 precisely the same objection
We do no, vindcate these opinions. or discuss
th-m bee use they fall within the interdct, we
ave imposed on ourselres:-we differ in opin-
ion concerning them. But we will remind you
that these opinions, whatever may be their
merit, have produced but few and unim portant
acts, during the present administration: and we
will avail ourselves Of the casinn to appeal
TO the good sense and good feeling Of Vii GINA
and invoke il, Influence, in tempering the as
perity of party politics, and in securing to ev-
err, subject Of national interest, deliberate and
andd consideration. We beg leave also to
remind hem, that the question Of constitution !
a law and state policy connected with the sub
jrc', are important, delicate and Of acknowI-
eigrd dificuIty, that there are arraved on eth
er side OF lhrm, statesmen OF approved patriot.
i'm and talent, whose opinions should be exam
ined with grea, consideration, and whose nIea-
Ri ,o1 h.,