The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-12-11
TIE. VfRGINIAN.
~LYNCHBURG. DEC. IL. 1928.
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

our readers ~ Mondays paper, without hs'
ing time or room to say any thing Gifts charac.
ter or contents. II was looked for With great
anxiety both by the Presidents friends and foes,
not more, we believe, because IL u an expose oil
the actual condition Of HE country, t!Ian because
twas known to be HE last which would emanaie
from his pen. Many persons eKpecled-some,
We believe. hoped, and others. we know. feared,
= that. sourrd by hus recent defeat. he wouldtake
counsel OF his passions rather than Of his judg-
meni. aud manifest hrs chagrin and moriaica-
ton in every line. These hopes aud fears. how
ever, we are glad to say, hive not been realized.
There never has been a document. which evin.
ces more chlmness of mInd-inore high-souIed
elevation Of sehtiment--and more ardent palri-
otism. Ii contains not The most remote slIu.
aud one who was not acquainted with the
fac, would never imagine that the man who pen
ned II was on the eve Of retiring from the high
est office in The world, in obedience TO the man
dates Of he same people who had formerly ele.
waited him TO the Chan. Suct ia not the manner
IN which the voiaries of Ambition act-men
in whom the lust of Office is the all-sbsorbing
p~assion--Such men we have among us-in
high places. too,-~hom we must watch with
l., ia eyed vigilance il we would preserve the
purily of our institutions. Mr.. Adams retire.
and cheerful as il II were voluntary. What motive
can he have longer TO wish 10 he a public drudg.
aud zee his well-meant exertions rnst Nth con
tumely and reproach-his acts misrepresented
and tortured f'omth.ir true meaning-snd even
his n.0!iues scrutin xed aud censu, ed az though
they were tangible and pslpsble to the touch 7
tbs hone-t ambition has been amply grained
aud if money h AL any temptations for one
VIII, has already an almost inexhaustible estate,
he surely could not expect to obtain IT by filling
al office which has impoverished ainAos, every
man who has held IT. No;
Far more truejoy Aurelia,, sxiled feels
THAN Casm with u Senate at ms hceIs."
II is not necessary, aud we do NOT intend,
,oAh,ske a formal commentary on the Message.
T. is plain and mtelig ible to the most limited
capacity. We would, how ever, advert, for a
single moment, to the TACT. hat, nuIw ithstand.
Jog the loss f'he West India trade, which has
been falsely charged 10 The nd,n,nist alion, the
amount sf our exports 10 the Islands is as great
~ IL ever was. True, IL is RI indirect Instead of
a direct intercourse, and, If necessity, the articles
are enhanced in price before they reach their
destination. But upon whom does the tnx fall
The consumer, Of cour,e. We export as much
of our lumber, 0our, &C, as We ever did, & We
get as much for n-aud yet We are told the
trade IS lost Aud this cry has been made an
~eiIectnal weapon, by those, too, who knew bet.
ter, to pull down the adhinistra ion The req
soning OF the President on the nature oil recipro-
c"i .ights and obligations, is perfectly coucIu
sIve AID W. think that any man who
will discard piejud.c &c sud look ut the question
ia its true pom, Of view, must ac~kno~ ledge tnai
our governmeot coulo no, nave pui.ucd, IN rels-
ton to II, any other course than IT did, without
great principle Tor which IT nd always before
Enormously contended In The uegs tlatlou Of its
commercial treaties.
Not less satisfactory to onr Judgment is MIR.
Adams's briet argument, supported by tue
train OF facts which experience has furnished
Us, on the policy of the Tariff. The predic.
tons OF the opponents of the policy are fslsi.
6ed by tacts-lnslead OF "A diminished reye-
nue., as had. been feared. even by the friends
OF The system itself, the amount OF duties are
greatly larger than had been expected by tue
mos, snnguine, exceeding, by about two NIL.
lions ot dollars, The conieclurai estimate OF Sc
cre,ary Rush in his last Annual Report. Thus
as the system Is gradually maturing, il sweep,
dowa. nne by one, the arguments. founded
ON idoIiz,d theories of Political Economists
Of ',sopponents. They still talk. it is true
OF oppression on particular interests But
who has feit the oppression I They talk
tao, of the enhanced price Of the articles or
which the additional duties have been ,n,posea
blu, they are Contradict,d by that hest Of al
aigumcnts--fdct. They tell rs that i, depresse
the agricultural ,nierest-bnt here, too, they ar,
met in the teeth BY opposing facts. In shor,
nothing which the fears. real and imaginary
OF the opponents of the Tariff policy, pre-
dicted. has come TO paSs-and all the hopes
OF ITS most Jealous friends have been moro thar
fulfilled.
The prosperous state of the Treasury. an,
the consequent rapid cS,iugulshment pf the pub
lie deet, rs well as the constant addilisn to tn
number and extent OF works OF nternalimproye
men' and defence, furnish n practical common
tary ON the wisdom and prudence with which
the financial department of the government ha
been administered, aud Is a sufficient refutatioi
Oh the calninnies OF those who have rhlicuIed tn
administrators as weak and extrayagant. Nba
cause under Heaven, then. was there for
change Of officers 2 II will be well for III,