Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-24

| Inc Dali entitled can act laying taxes for the
support t Governmental being under consideration,
IL was amended on motion Of Mr.. Eryce--hIr
May moved farther TO amend tho Bili-Mr Bryce
opposed amending IL farther-The discussion con-
1In"ing' and the hour of IL having arrived, Mr..
rHznugh oil r. said Il was always usual for the
mouse 10 ADJOURN or yacate the chair on such
day-(the anniversary Of washingion's birthday
lie moved the chair to be vacated till O'CLOCK
MIR. Atkinson Of w. opposed tho motion
MT. Smith Of Il. supported, when, on motion Of
MT Doddridge, the House adjourned 10 this Day,
FOR I'HE ENQUIRER.
No. VIII.
.HR. yM4DISO.N'S LETTERS
In support Of the right IF Congress to pass the
Tariff Acts.
The contrast between MIR. Ms old costume and
his new
In the last No, the writer gave short spec-
men OF Mr.. Ms principles, and rules of interpret
ing the Constitution in lsOo-The writer wished
to have extended the quotation much farther; but
u would have occupied more space than was at his
command. He earDstly solicits the reader to ex-
anime MIR. MS whole Report, and he will find il
the most unanswerable REPUTATION Of the doctrines
OF his letters The writer was DESTROYS Of making
farther quotations from Mr.. Hamton's Report OF
l79i in favour of the right of Congress to protect
manufactures; the denunciation of which, was one
OBJECT oil Air. Ms Report in 1900. For what was
this just denunciation then made? For inferring
the right OF Congress to protect manufactures, by
extraordinary Authoritarian doctrines in i79l!-.
This is the very doctrine sanctioned by Mr..
nj letters, ncomparahly more latitudinarian both
| in their manner and effect. Can any sound mind
! in contemplating this most extraordinary change
avoid the feelings OF wonder and regret, that Mr..
M, af.er exceeding, perhaps his 10th year. should
become so tar enamoured with the political fashions
OF the times, as TO induce him 10 attempt at this
| late day, to erect new political fame, upon the
baseless foundation Of thedestruction of his for
mcr fame-the well-earnsd fame of above forty
years patriotic labors in the republican vineyard?
Hinc lila i0chryme !!!-Having, in the two last
Nos, proved ncontestibly, from docume ptary ev-
idence-lst. That Mr.. Nj. is entirely mistaken in
hi presidents, derived from the uniform practice
OF the government for nearly 40 years-the actu-
al practice being uniformly against the claim-and
"a, in proving by reference TO his own words, the
direct contrast between his former principles and
ms new doctrines, the task OF answering his own
new mental ingenuities, for interpreting the Con-
stituon, is stripped OF all difficulty.
The writer thinks, after these demonstrations
the i've first suggestions not worth notice, or
recaptulaton, being too remote from any specified
power, actually granted Congress in the Consttu-
tion, and directly in opposition 70 Mr.. Ms own
rules for interpreting the Constitution in 1900 S, as
well before as since that time till his 10th year. So
Tar as they have been relied upon precedents il
has been proved from direct references 10 the Off
eiai papers OF Congress, that the uniform practice
OF the Government, has been opposed to the claim
OF the right Of Congress, until 1924: and is still
SO, il the publie written avowal of the right, is
necessary to make ii precedent. For altho' the
avowal OF the right at that time, was often veie-
| menily made in debate, as was the claim of every
other governmental power, which could by the
most far fetched implication, be presumed TO bet
ter the condition OF man; yet these avowaIs canno;
be found in the acts themselves---No, not even in
the weak and wicked Tariff Act of 1925 itself-an
Act, whose inevitable doom is believed to be fixed
IN the public reprobaon; and well as that of its
| misguided projectors
But, the writer not wishing TO treat Mr. Ms
presidents with too much unceremonous silence
will exhibit two specimens, OF many other kim
dred ones, IN his own words, follow-extract
| from his letters:
Hear the language held in the Convention Of
| Massachusetts,
BY Mr.. Dawes, an advocate for tx: Constitution,
it was observed, Our manufactures are another
great subject which has received no encourage.
g ment by national duties on foreign manufac-
lures, and they never can, by any authority in
" the old Confederation" Agaia-" if we wish
to encourage our otcn manufactures to preserve
" our own commerce, to raise the value Of our
own lands, we must give Congress the powers
" in question:"
by MIR. Widgery, an opponent: {" All we hear
. sc is, that the merchant and farmer will flourish
and that the mechanic s. tradesman are to make
their fortunes directly, if the Constitution goes
" down.
| Does either of these specimens present one
| glimpse OF the property OF precedent! Are they
The deliberate, solemn decisions Of a competent tri-
bunal: Has either Of them been brought sinely
before such tribunal, passed the ordeal of delibe-
rate and able discussion, and received the solemn
sanction OF able, experienced judge after the most
attentive and profound consideration, These are
/ the indispensable requisites of every precedent
whatever. Whence came Mr.. MS precedenisl
| From obiter expressions Of Mr.. Dawes, and Mr.
WIdgery,the one, it must be presumed, no less than
| Scion, the other than Lycurgus. But, who is Mr..
Dawes as he ever heard Of so far from Boston be-
fore? And, after all, what does Mr.. Dawes saw? He
| simply expresses a weak and mischievots o.
pinion, that Congress ought to possess power, to
encourage manufactures by duties--a power with
held from Congress under the old Confederation
Mr. Dawes gives no opinion, that such power is
granted to Congress by the Constitution, nor even
points to the clause containing that grant, altho'
he probably did think What precedent -
Who is Mr.. Widgery' What does he say, why,
| substantially nothing more, than sarcastics:'y TO
rdicuc the ssnguine anticipajons Of certain indi-
viduals perhaps Mr.. Dawes one Of them; be cause,
upon the adoption Of the Constitution, they were
silly enough TO think, that the Merchant s. Far.
rner would flourish, and that the Mechanic and
Tradesman are TO make their fortunes i'm me
ly. From which, it may be fairly Inferred th at he
thought such conceptions foolish extravaganza and
ridiculous. What think you, Reader, of such pre-
cedents as these! What think you Of Mr.. Ms
quoting them as the obligatory law for your opin
ions! DO on not think, that Mr. NJ. must have
been hard run for an argument, when such obiter
expressions as tbese are attempted to be palmed
upon you as precedents? Are you prepared to yield
to their influence, aho' backed by the imposing ati-
tbority OF MIR Mserest name' Suppose some compi-
er IN looking out for presidents should search the
speeches gravely delivered in Congress by the chat
tering political Magpies Of the days do you not think
he might find precedent in favor Of every folly,
iextrayagance, and nonsense, which ever ente red
into the mind OF man, either in this or any other
country? especially IL he should luckily fall in
nd ncJ ~