The Litchfield County post., 1828-05-15

tercourse throughout the Union wsuId he ia. cilitated; roads shortened |; interior navigation
 m our eastern side opened, and the commu. ,icatiOn between the Western and Atlantic l districts, and between the different parts of ,ch, would he rendered more easy, by con- ] cting and completing " those numerous ca als with which the beneRcence of nature has lntersectesi siaF country"
 The daugeFs anticipated from the exercise of the power, are imaginary. It is not easy to discover how government eminating from the people of the United States, admin is!ered cOnjOintly by the representatives of the people, and the States in their federate character, but restrained from the exercise of municipal powers. can be seduced intosthe a. doptiOn of measures endangering the rights of the States. If however, an event so un. likely should happen, and majority Of the
 National Legislature, in opposition to all the
 motives which ordinarily influence men {;
 in disregard of sacred obligations and in defi- ance of public sentiment, should venture on an invasion of State rights, the simple opera
 ion of the elective franchise, would consign them to 0hloquey, and bring the government back tO the exercise of its constitutional pow
 ITS.
 The power vested, be it remembered, is the power to do good It is the power to en-
 nance the wealth and convenience of the peo-
 'e by facilitating intercourse and internal commerce among the States. The power to appropriate money for such objects, has been repeatedly and benefciaily exerted in sustaining works. commenced by individual anterprise; by authorizing subscriptions to the stock of companies, formed for the purpose of efftcting internal improvements. Can this power be dangerous government felt only in it's benefcient operations, need not be dreaded.
 It might reasonably have been expected that apOwer to protect national industry in its varied and multiplied forms, exercised by the general government since the passage of the first act leyying an impost by a Congress composed of men who were active in estab fishing the Constitution, would not at this day have been c0fltrOverted. That act distinctly declared"' the encouragement and protection of manufactures" to be one of its objects. This assertion of the power by such men. at such time, ought to put the question at rest. But its existence is not shewn solely by a con structiOn of the constitution nearly cOtempO- rary with its adoption. Every administration has, not only admitted: but expressly sanc- tioned it.
 From the authority to levy taxes, duties & impusts. result the right and duty to protect manufacturers, and agriculture as incontro. verbally. as does the power to protect navi gation and commerce, by discriminating du- ties. By the imposition on foreign tonnage Of protecting duties, the vessels of other nations were shortly after the adoption of the Con- stitution, virtually inhibited participation in the coasting trade, and that fruitful source of individual wealth and national power, was secured exclusively to our own shipping. The power Ofaf0rdlng adequate and ca lal prOtec tiOn to agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and nav igatiOn must reside in Congress.
 The first exertiOn of this power tu prOtect industry on the land, Was most beneficial to the states now protesting against it. It en- couraged and prOtetecd by heavy duty the culture of cotton, which was then scarcely grown in this country, but now constitutes besides the domestic consumption, more than one half the amount of our unmanufactured exports. Whenever protection has been ex tended to any article SO as to put down for eign competition, the result has been condu cive not less to the interests of the consumer. than the manufacturer; domestic competition having uniformly limited its price.
 The interests of agnculture depend in no iacon iderable degree, upon perseverance in this policy. When the populous nations of European produces from gigantic efforts withdrew immense numbers of European producers from their accustomed employ ments, and destroyed the pre-existing pre- portion between consumption and prOduc- tiOn. TheIr neutral position gave to the cit izens of the United States the lightly lucra tive employment of supplying. as far as was consistent with international law. the nulner aus wants of the bplligerents, md agriculture and commerce advanced with unparalleled progress. But the return of peace to Flu rope. checked the prosperity of our country. which war had accelerated.
 Disbanded armies laying aside the sword resumed the plough. Instead of being con i sumers only. they became producers. h. stead of being dependant on us to supply their necessities. the European nations soon found their agriculture oppressed by retiun- dancy of its productions. The consequence is. that agriculture. deprived of an European market for it's productions. and finding but limited demand for them elsewhere. than in the West Indies, fanguishes in the northern & middle states. The farmers receive for their grain and other productions, prices which. but few years ago, they would have deem ed entirely inadequate, if not ruinOus.
 Constituting the sinews, and natural safe defence of the country, and hearing large proportion of the public burdens,the cultiva- tors of the soil should receive such legislative