Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1828-12-02


prepossessons and local preludces. and IN spirit Of
fair just and liberal concessions by all parties Under
the guidance OF such spirit, nothing but good be
expected by the proposed recurrence to fundamental
principles whilst evils Of great magnitude only,
be anticipated by permitting angry passions false pre-
possessions and local preiudces TO be nterunged in
the enquiry. How DISQUALIFICATION, would II be for the
people also IN making their primary elections Tor
representatives. tn the Convention be guided solely
by the desire OF choosing citizens the most renowned
amongst them for their public and private virtues and
talents From benign influence, the Convention
would consist of the best talents and integrity III the
Commonwealth, from whose deliberations all disrust
would be banished, and nothing but the best results
anticipated Its whole energies aud talents would be
directed To the discovery Of the true elementary prn\
cples of political science, and | most eryenty hope
they will be found competent upon these great princi-
pies to lay the solid foundation Of perfect Common
wealth, far at least, any human tribunal is per
mitted TO approach perfection.
The Gencrts Government has now been in prac-
cal operation for nearly forty years. During the first
thirty years of It's adnnlsr ration it was generally con-
Quoted with respectful regard to the written proYl-
sons OF the Constitution. At intervals however dur
ing most-o that time, nsHcatluns of spirit of en-
croachment may be seem lJWithn the las. ten years
The administrators Of the General Government have
as conceive set up cla'.is to powers To indcna-
bic and unlimited extent. They have substantially
in my Judgment asserted general jurisdiction over
iIc soil, the liberty Of the person. and over the
rivhts of private PROPERTY within the Limits of the
States respectively. They have US conceive assert
ed the power and unlimited controul over the whole
proceeds Of the labor OF the community Us the great
desideratum of their political economy. In this
claim to unlimited power will DC found the essence OF
all modern despotlsn. II would satisfy. Us think the
whole pretcnsions to power of the most absolute Au-
tocrat upon earth. 1t substantially the pro-
position the all rights held by individual man are The
gifts of the Government and not the gifts of his God.
It thus converts individual man from natural being
endowed with rights from his God, into an artificial
Inachine the slave ard property OF the Govern ncut
Here there is seen ttdcratiye govcrmuans orignat
ing in external causes, created for external elects
declared echoed, and rccchocd TO he of un..,ated
powers ininuating Itself into the sanctuary OF grgate
rights inermedddmg with individual occupations and
dealing out portions 10 individuals of the whole pro-
cceds of labor of the community at pleasure ro civ-
ing to the Stutc Governments according t. my best
Judgment one exclusive sovereign power which would
as the basis for the formation Of state cons,i-
rution.l hope in this extraordinary and pcrplcNing
state OF things may be permitted 10 congratulate
the General Assembly upon the recent of
great event which has rendered the present auspi-
cious moment for the momen;ous enquiry into the
true foundation and best notifications Of orr state
constitution. feel myself more particularly called
upon to make this cheering congratulate by the
deep and anxious interests felt by great majority OF
the freehodcrs of this state, recently manifested in its
favor by the solemn pronunciation OF Their audible I'M
rressive voice. The recent election OF electors Of
president and Vice President has given the GER
tain assurance that the r., sent administrators Of the
General Government VIII sc removed from their Off
cial stations and others introduced INTO their stead
This great event has been brought about by the audi
bic voice Of above half million of irccmrn resolved
10 remain free. The loud thunder 81. the voice OF
above half a million Of irccmen must present IN in
siructivc lesson the present ncumbents i'll office as
we'll their delegated successors, and indeed to
the whole people of the United States IL denounces
language too plain to be mistaken, and in too
awful to be dSregardcd, the despotc doctrines ayow
ed, and the unwaIrantable USurpations adopted BY
the present administration. II proves that the people
not prepared TO permit themselves be stripped
OF the rights aud Liberties secured 20 them by the
training provisions of their written constitution,
and to accept in lieu of them the unlimited viii OF
the administrators of the General Government in dis
regard of the will of their constituents do not be-
lieve, and scarcely indulge hope that all these
complicated usurpations can be put down. and the
Constitution restored TO its pristine excellence any
short time. by any administration whatever. They
have been unthinkingly extended. fear, far into
the internal administration of the State Governments.
and enlisted IN tder support, too many local and par
tial interests 10 be put down IN moment; hut have
fll confidence in the delegated Successors that every
thing will be done, when can be done, re-nstatc the
Written Constitution according to their understanding
OF its original meaning and extent
Intimately connected with this subject, consider
the several tariff to he, which have heen passed,
not for raising revenue their only legitimate object in
uty best Judgment, bnt for protecting manufactures
different and even incompatible @ object. For what
eyer may have been the inducements u the passage
% these acts, it must be admitted thar IN ther prac
tjca operations they stand amongst tue foremost OF
the muny usurpations OF the general government. II
Is far from me to mpugn the motives oithc advocates
of these measures to condemn any for his hon
est opinions however different from my own, and /
now deem It proper state that after the subject Of
tire tariff had been several times laid before the
Legislature / regret the necessity which Inpcs
INC to bring it again into notices Int could
not avoid doing so, without the sacrifice Of a
Conscientious duty, for selfish Purposcs.-This
impcrious obligation arises from The cIrcumstnn-
COS, that another Tariff Act has been passed,
since the rising of the last General Assembly equal
~ understandable as believe, in principle. with the
rest, and more in rous in its operations ond also
from an alarming and instructive fact, developed in it's
passagr, cxhbting niis colours in ~ Inost I'M
Iortnnt fcatucsrhat fact is--that every rerrcsrn-
fltivc IF tho people nhabirng the oppressed sccnss
Of country from the Potomac TO The Gulf Of Mexico,
however differing in political opinions upon other sub
i,rts voted against tho passage Of that act.--lIcrc
then is exhibited in the republican system, the poi-
,l anomaly ofu tax ofthc most unjust character impo-
sid not only without the consent but against tho