Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-12-02

3, slIFll
fair, just and liberal concessions by ali parties. Under
the guidance OF such spirit nothing but gool can be
expected by the proposed recurrence fund a!cnta
principles whilst evils of great magnitude only,
DC anticipated by permitting angry passions false pre-
possessions and local prcjudccs, TO be iueriRged il
the enquiry How desirable then, would i be iir ti.
people also in making their primary elections for re-
representatives. to the Convention, to be guided solely
by the desire Of choosing citizens the most rcnom9laI
amongst them for their public and private virtues and
talents From 50 benign an influence the Convention
would consist OF the best talents and Int gritty in the
Commonwealth from whose deliberations a L Gistr,ist
would be banished ana nothing but the best results
anticipated. Its whole energies ana talents would be-
directed to the discovery ii the fue cit nisnary y-
rlplcs of political science, aud / most ferven,v hone
they will be found competent upon these ,yeat pri.ci-
pies to lay the solid foundation OF perfect Colulon
wealth, far at least, any human tribunal IS pcr-
nnttcd to approach perfection.
The General Government las now been il prGcti-
c1l operation for nearly Forty wears. Durir tic first
thirty years OF its administration was generally con-
dnctcd with respectful regard 10 the written provi-
Sons OF the Constitution. 1T intervals howol dur
ing most of that time, Indications oil spirit OF
croachmcnt may be sen. Within the last ten years
tie administrators ut the General Government have
as conceive 10 ciauls 10 powers TO an l,.fna-
bic and unlimited extent. They have substantially
III my Judgment asserted GENERAL iursi ctiun over
he soil, the hhertc OF the person. ana over the
Eivhts of private property within the limits of the
States respectively. They have us conceive, assert
cu the power and unlimited controul Uvet the whole
proceeds Of the labor o. the coniu,ity, Us the great
dcsideraturn OF their political ccononv. In thi;
claim to unlimited power viii be found the essence of
al modern despotisI. It Wouid satisfy, rs tn!l, the
whole preensions to power Of the most absolute Au-
focrat upon Garth. 1t substantially assumes the pro-
Position that all rights held by Individual the
gifts of the Government and the Gifts of his God
Il thus converts individual man from natural being
endowed with rights from his God, into an artificial
Jlach!ne the slave ali property Of tue Government.
icre there is tedcra,iye government oriwnat-
Tug IN external causes, created for external objects
declared, echoed, and rcccLoed to BE Of unlimited
poWers lnslnuating Itself into the sanctuary OF ryatc
rights inermedddng with individual occupations and
dealing portions 10 individuals oil the whole pro-
teeds of labor of the pleasure lot icay-
ing to the State Governments, according to my best
Judgment ,olc exclusive sovereign power which would
the basis for the ior;nGtion OF state consai-
'4ltlon- hope in this extraorild N! perpcxincr
state of things, may be permitted 20 congratulate
tt: General Assembly u?on the recent occurrence of
Great event which has rendered the present an aIi-
ious moment for the nnonleiltous enquiry into the
true foundation and best notifications of cur state
constitution. l feel myself particularly called
upon to make THIS cheering gratulatGn, by the
deep and anxious interests felt by great majority Of
tc reehodcrs ofths state recently manifested in It's
favor by the solemn pronunciation OF their audible I'M
presive voice. The recent election Of electors OF
president and Vice President has given the most Ger
tain assurance that the present administrators OF the
General Government vii! be removed from their Off
Cia stations unl ohays introduced into their stead
This great event has been brought ubout by the audi
BE voice OF above half million of reeInen resolved
So remain free. The loud thunder Of the voice OF
above half million Of iroomen must present IA in
structivc lesson to the present ncumb2nts in oce as
well their delegated SUCCESSORS, and indeed to
the whole people of the United States. It danounces
Ill language plain to be mistaken and in tone too
awful to be dsregarded, the despotc doctrines avow
81, and the unwarranable usurpatons adopted by
the present administrations 1t proves the pccDlr
not prepared to permit themselves 10 be sripDct
OF the rights and liberties secured TO them by the res
trGlnlng provisions OF tnalr written constitution,
and to accept in lieu Of them the unlimited will Of
tho administrators of the General Government, III dis
regard of the will OF their constituents. do not be-
lIevc and scarcely indulge hope, tIist I'll these
Complicated usurpationg be put down, and the
Constitution restored pristine excellence in any
snort time, by any administration whatever. They
ave been unthinkngly extended, fear too ;r into
the internal administration Of the State Governments.
aid enlisted tdnr support. toU many local aud par
tia interests to be put down IL moment; but have
tl confidence in the delegated Successors that eycry
thing will be done, when can be done reinatte the
Mriten Constitution according to their understanding
o. It's original meaning and et-'nt.
Intimately connected with this subject, consider
t!e several tariff to b." which have been passed.
not for raising revenue their only Legitimate object In
my best Judgment. hn for protecting manufactures:
h. a different aud even Incompatible OBJECT. For what
ctrr may have been the Inducements to the passaca
o. these acts, must BE- admitted that in their prac-
cal operations they stand amongst the foremost OF
she many uSurpaiou5 of the general government II
= far from TO lnprgn the motives otthc advocates
u these measures to condemn any ono for his hon
est opinions however different from iny own, and !
5W deem Il proper to state that after the subject of
';lr tarf had been several tirIcs laId before the
1paisIatnrc | regret the necessity which iinpcls
,ae to bring IT again into notice; bat I could
not avoid DOING so, without the sacrifice Of a
C6nsccntious duty, for selfish purpOses-This
in1parious obligation arises from the circumstan-
cns thu. another Tariff Act has been passed,
since the rising Of The last General Assembly, cq!a
" understandable as believe, ~ principle, with the
fGst and more injurious III is operations; and siao
iron ain alarming and instructive fact, developed 10 liz
uassae', c;hi5ingt ns trne colours in is most i'm
1t5rtant ioatuias- Thlt fact Is that every r.pre2-
(Itivc Of The people. n'abiting tic oppressed scenes
ofcounlrv from the Potomac to the Gulf Of Mexico.
However differing in political opinions upon other sub
I,cts, voted against The passage OF t.lat aet-lIcre
t'e'n is exhibited in the republican system tho poi
al anomaly Ola tax oftle most unjust character ipo-
sd, not 6rly without t's2 consent, bus against the
,.bes of all and the most solemn p.otc~tatious Of