Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-06

,o,;c doctrines avowed, and the un"ar' a"aoS
rsurna,ions adopled by the present aom'his>
,ra,inn. I, proves that the people ale no' pre-.
,.red m hermit themselves 10 be s'riPPeo "a
,he rights and liberties secured TO them oy the
restraining provisions OF their written eons,.u
lion. and to accep, in lieu ofthem the un'im,,ea
will of The administrators OF the Genera' 90
yernmeut, in disregard Of the VIII OF 'ileir gu.
s,,uen,s. / do not believe, AMI can scarcely
indulge hope, that all these comP,ica'ee "
surpaiions can be put down, and the Nons'i'u-
ZION restored to its pristine excellence I'D any
shor, time, by any administration wha'eVer'-
They have been unthinkingly extended .ear'
too far into the internal administration OF '"e
STATE Governments, and enlisted IN their sup
port, 100 many local, and partial interests 10
he put down in moment; but have 'u'' co"-
6dence in the delegated successors, that every
thing will be done, which can De done, 10 rem
state the written Constitution, according TO
their understanding Of its original meaning and
extent.
ultimately connected with this subject, | con-
slider the several tariff acts to be, which have
been PASSED. not for raising revenue, their only
legitimate object, in my best Judgment, but.for
protecting manufactures; different, and even
Incompatible object For whatever may have
been the inducements to the passage of these
acts. il must be admitted thar 10 their practl-
cal operations, they stand amongs, the fore
most of the many usurpations oil the General
| Government II is far from me 10 impu2n the
| motives OF the advocates OF these measures, or
TO condemn any one for his honest opinions,
however different from my own, and now
deem il proper 10 state, tina, after the subject oil
the tariff had been several times laid before The
Legislature, regret the necessity which impeis
me 10 bring il again into notice; but could
not avoid doing SO, without the sacrifice OF
conscientious duty, for sel6sl, purposes. This
imperious obligation arises from The oiicum-
stances. that another Tariff Act has been pass
ed since the rising Of the last Generl Assembly,
equally unwarran,abe as believe, in principle,
with the rest, and more injurious IN its opera
| tons; and also from all alarming and insfuc
tive FACT developed in lis passage, exhibiting
iVn its true CO ors in its most important features
That fact is. that every representative OF me
people, inhabi,ogIh The oppressed scenes OF couh
try from the Potomac 10 the Gull oil MEXICO,
| however differing in political opinions upon o.
Their subjecis, voted against the passage OF that
act. Here then is exhibited in the republican
system, the political anomaly of tax Of the
most unjust character imposed, not only with
out the consent tut against the votes OF all,
and the most solemn proestalions of many, OF
the representatives If the people, most heavily
bearing its burdens. American Indepen-
dence was originally founded upon the princi>
| ple that representation was the only legitimate
basis of taxation. and the security afforded the
people by this great principle consisted in the
re representatives. being subjected himself to any
tax imposed upon his constituents enforced by
the poten: tie Of direct responsibility from the
one to the o'her. This principle is still held
sacred, and forms the basis Of the fundamental
laws OF every republic of this Union. In direc,
violation of thi, sacred principle, this Tariff
Act imposes a tax, not by the repre- sentatives
of The people, airing the burlhen. bu, by re-
representatives. Of distinct sections Of country
who instead of participating in the burlhens oil
the taxes imposed calculate upon participating
in The receipts Of the proceeds Of those very
npositoDs, in the absence of all direct respon
sibility from The representative imposing the
tax, TO the people bearing lis burlhen. How
different is this frighlful picture of the Consi-
tuition from that, which has heretofore been
presented to our enchanted view? We have
been heretofore told, and believed, that the
Constitution Of The United States was written
constitution of limited powers-tha: il was
called for, from external causes, and its iuris>
dicliop limited 10 general aud external objects
blu, that lis greatest excellence consisted in
the protective iederalive principle. That To-
cal authorities existed, and were invested with
the express power Of taking care Of local inte>
rests. Instead Of this mos, nchantin., picture,
we now find, in the one exhibited in.ihe tariff
acts. that local Interests Of different sections,
Ear from being left to the protection of their To-
cal au horlies, are transferred TO the safe keep
ing Of other sections, combining for their own
interests, and acting under the influence Of di.
rec,Iy hostile and opposing interests, TO other
interests, thus strangely intrusted 10 their
guardianship. These additional facts and re-
marks are now presented to the General AS
sembly, which will give full view Of the whole
subject, and it is now mos, respectfully submit
ted, as it heretofore has been, exclusively its
discretion. Should il be the pleasure Of the
General Assembly to stay its own deliberations,
and to depend, for relief against these mos; OPP
pressive measures, upon the return Of better
councils to Congress, this day to be assembled,
or upon the better councils Of the next Con-
gress whose meeting, il is hoped, will be under