Delaware journal., 1828-01-29


gave 1t form somewhat varied, drew to its aid some
imposing circumstances, and, at last, gave it the
public sanction OF Gen. JacksOn's name. Mr.. Clay
again pubckly denied it, called for the proof, and
challenged inquiry. No proof has appeared to sus-
tain it, no inquiry has been instituted, and now, in
all its phases, it stands .reprobaled by body OF
proof, strong and SO convincing. to require from
the least charitable, its open dlsavowal, aud from
the most suspicious, candid acknowledgement, that
they have done I'M ustice in thinking it proba-
Bile.
1t may not be unworthy of notice, as one of the
means by which the public mind has been preudced
and infiamet, that opinions, the most offensive to
Republican People, have been unwarantaby aud un-
canddy inferred from some of the Presidents com
munlcatons to Congress, and gravey imputed to
him, as doctrines IN his political creed. He has, Oh
occasion, not perhaps with strict rhetorical pro-
prety, used the expression 'pasled by the will OF
our cOnstituents"-in reference to duties enioned
by tie Constitution.
This phrase has been torn from its context, mis-
interpreted, and used as the authority upon which
the President is charged with the heresy, that Rep
resentatve owes no obligation to the will ofhis con
stituents. On another occasion, taking it for gran
ed that every one would understand that the high
obligation of an oath was derived from Heaven. he
has again, perhaps, without much felicity OF phrase,
made an obvious though not avowed reference to his
oath of Office, imposing obligation above all hu-
man law-and this reference is tortured into pub
lie avowal of the odious doctrine, that his political
power was jure diuiso these had been the taunts
and the railingsof anonymous newspaper scllbblers
they would have been deemed unworthy OF tins pub
| lie notice. But when such charges are seriously
made and reiterated, by men holding high stations
in the Government, and exercising all influence over
public opinion, they cannot be too strongly condemn
ed.
Mr. Adams, it is said, is friendly to a regulation
g ,f
ment of American manufactures, and thl is claor-
ously urged against him, as a serious objection, b.
those who support the election of Gen. jackson
| This objection seems to have been treated, before
the public, as if Mr. Adams the founder of a
new and odous doctrine and the father OF the meas
ures to which it had given birth. Nothing can be
further from the truth. Not single act of the gov
ernment on this subject has its date within his adj
ministraton. And so far is he from being the found
er of the doctrine that it is traced to the earliest and
purest times of the Republic, avowed and acted up
on from the foundation of the Government, when the
Father of his Country presided over its destinies.
Before the adoption of the Federal Constitution. the
power of regulating commerce, and imposing duties
on imports, belonged to the State Governments
and such of them, as deemed it expedient regu-
lated their tariff of duties to give encouragement to
their manufactures. The Constitution transferred
to the Federal Government, by express provision,
the power OF regulating commerce, and Of imposing
: duties An act, passed at the first session OF the
first Congress, held under the Constitution, advo
: Gated by James Madison, and signed by George
Washington, the Goth OF July, 1889 contains the
first tarifof duties on imported goods laid by the
General Government, and its preamble rccitcs that
: it ''necessary for the support ot Government
s for the discharge of the debts OF the United States
u and the encouragement and protection Of nlaauac
y, tatres " This doctrine acted upon, by every
81 d succeeding Administrator, by the elder Adams b.
d Jefferson, by Madison, and Monroe. The policy
of protee ting and encouraging manufactures was re
~ ~ commended by them all the tariff was increased
IL from time to time, with view to that object; ant
er YETI no champion of the Constitution, though man,
~ and bold and able there were always at their posts
IT ever challenged the authors of these measures,
" invaders of constitutional ground until during tn
' administration of tn. last President, when the Fa
u thers of the Constitution, having most OF them re
us tired from the field ofactiOn member from Virgin
III suggested, in Congress, the want OF constitutions
MS power to give protection to manufactures.
n On this question we forbear to enter the field {
- argument and content ourselves with saving, ths
the power of Congress to regulate the tariff OF dutle
III so as to give protection and encouragement to ayr
ey culture, manufactures, commerce, and Navigation
IN cannot be denied, without denying to the letter
no the Constitution its plain import. and to its spirit
III most obvious and essential attributes without
firming that those who have administered the Cover
air ment, from its foundation to the present day, hay
st either misunderstood the charter Of their powers,
en- wanonIy and habitually violated it, without cor
of ing to the extraordinary conclusions either that
on, power which existed in the State Governments, al
of was frequently exercised by them, before the ado
ct ton of the Federal Constitution annhllated
at the secret and magical influence ofthatnstrument
ga that such power does not properly pertain to the
hat gislature of any free People.
sed The exercise of this power is necessarily ree
er red to the sound discretion of Congress, 10 be jus
ite, y and impartialy employed for the common ben
we fit of all-not to be perverted to the purpose
aduancinn tho interest of class of the