Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-28

n
rious that the end and aim Of these acts was ex
clusiyely the protection Of manufactures, by sys-
tenn destructive of free trade-when we know.
from our experience, on recent occasions that any
suempt, on the part Of Great Britain, to lessen her
duties, and to open the door to more unrestricted
intercourse, instead Of being met by a eorrespon-
nng disposition on our part, is Immediately follow
ed by new prohibitions and restrictions, lest
foreign manufactures should be introduced into
the country, and the people should be inflicted
with the curse Of obtaining their supplies from a.
broad cheaper than they could be procured at
home-it appears 10 US to be little short of mecke-
~ to be told that the power Of tbus promoting
manufactures arises out Of the power Of "regula-
ting commerce." The State of South Carolina
makes up its issue with the Federal Government
on this point, whether her rights may be Destroy
eJ' and her. interests sacrificed, under the forms
OF the Constitution, but in direct violation of its
| spirit, and by manifest departure from its true
meaning and intent.
lrepeat, however, that il is not my intention
to enter, at large, into the argument at this time.
shall content myself with merely opposing 10
the authority Of hir. Madison, the venerable
names Of Pinckney, Of King, and Of jefferson. /
| am not one OF those who bow to the authority of
great names; but 1t may be well to show, that, if
authorities to govern, thew are not all ON one
side. 1t will be recoected by the Senate that
| the late Charles Pinckney, of South Carolina Ru-
fus King, Of New York, and Mr.. Madison, were
the three last survivors OF that band Of Statesmen
VINO framed the instrument we are now called up
L
the convention, that Mr.. Pinckney exhibited
draft of an entire Constitution, from which many
parts OF that finally adopted were borrowed; and
IT'S known that he, as we'll as Mr.. King, assisted
largely IN the deliberations of the Convention
Now, Sir, from the time when this protecting sys-
TEN became the subject of pulic discussion and of
controversy, up TO the period Of his death, it is
snown 10 me, personally, that Mr.. PinckEey uni
iormly declared that II never was the intention of
| the trainers Of the Constitution to confer on the
ederal Government the power of promoting man.
9iactures-that proposition to that effect actually
fahec Gas the Journals Of the Convention proye)-|
ana that II such construction had been commended
for, at that tiIne the Constitution would never have
received the assent ofthe Delegates the Southern
States.
| II is known TO many who now hear me, that
Ine late RUFUS King IN his place on this floor. and
| on various other occasions explicitly denied the
right OF imposing duties upon imports for the pur-
pose OF promoting manufactures; and, ssthough last
not least" Thomas Jefferson, who, when living,
was called "the Apostle of Liberty;" and who has
been almost canonzed since his DEATH In oAe of
the latest acts Of his great life, he has given US the
| authority OF his great name, and denounced "the
usurpaton' in language that ought to rink deep
INTO me minds Of the American people. I, know,
Sir, that the authority of Mr. Jefferson has lately
been quoted in favor of this abuse of power. But
when we look to his report Of f793-(on the au.
thorlty OF which he is charged with this political
heresy)-it Is discovered that Il treats exclusive
ly Of countervailing commercial regulations: of
protecting our citizens, their commerce, and ma.
vigation," from the "prohibions,' &c. of foreign
nations, by "counter prohibitions, duties and re-
guiaiioDs." MIR. Jefferson no where asserts that a
system of protecting duties may be riphtfuliy re.
sorted TO as the means of directly promoting do.
| mestic manufactures. He states, indeed, (what
no one would attempt to deny,) tina. one of the in.
cidental effects OF such regulations may be the
| promotion Of manufactures, lust as thew always
nave received, and from the nature ofthiDgs always
must receive, the protection, arising out of state
oil war, or incident to system. Of duties imposed
exclusively for the revenue But, Sir, here is the
declaration OF Mr. Jefferson himself as to the pow
er oil Congress, in relation TO one Of the verp acts
| which the State of South Carolina has, in the Pro-
| test, denounced as unconstitutional In Mr. JEFF
ferson's letter to Governors Giles dated 10th De-
| cember, 1926, speaking Of the "usurpatons of the
Federal government" and in special reference to
the Tariff Of 1924, he says: "It is but too evil
dent that three leading branches Of that 1.-THE Fee
derai Goyernmen] are in combination to strip their
colleagues, the State authorities, Of the powers
reserved 20 MEM and 10 exercise, themselves, all
functions, foreign and domestic. Under the pow
erto "Tegufa.e commerce. they assume, indefi-
nitely, that over agriculture and manufactures.
and call treguatioD, too, 10 take the earnings Of
one OF these branches Of industry, and that too
the most distressed, and put them into the rockets
OF the other, the most furnishing of an After
| this, what candid man will pretend 10 doubt the
opinion OF Mr.. Jefferson. II, it can be shown
that on any previous occasion, MIR. Jefferson used
| language on this subject susceptible Of miscon-
struction, here is conclusive proof that he died as
| he had lived, "true to the faith
| But, Sir, l feel that have trespassed unrea.
sonabIy on the indulgence Of the Senate Be-
fore take my seat, however, il may be proper
| to notice one Of the remarks of my colleague,
which, have reason TO believe, has been the
subject OF some apprehension. 1t may be suppoy-
ed that, IN abiding TO the depunciatons against
The citizens OF South Carolina, proceeding from
certain meetings held during the last summer, in
the States OF Maryland and Kentucky, he had i'm
pued to the States themselves the sentiments
which he has marked with his just repIobation.
am sure that my colleague concurs with me, and
I with the people OF South Carolina in seeking for
the indication OF public opinion in these States,
not from The meetings obviously springing from
party excitement in great political struggle, but
from those other more numerous assemble ges,
headed by men Of the highest character and Ia
Tents, by whom ample justice has been done TO the
patriotism and public spiri, Of the South. Sir, we
shall cherish The belief until IL shall be torn from
US by stubborn facts, that the great meetings in
Maryland and Kentucky, whose proceedings have
been immortaIzed BY the eicguence OF Meba-
hon and Barry, presented faithful expression OF
the sentiments Of the great body Of the people in
those States-sentments which will ever be CRATE
? fully remembered and cordially rsciprocated by
: the people Of South Carolina.
MIR. Dcherson said, he was not preraTeti IA
. make any reply TO the arguments ofthe Senators
from South Carolina, and TO the protest from thu,
State; nor he inclined to interfere with any
r disposition they proposed to- make Of 1T. There
was one circumstance, however he deerne, Il hi.
duty TO notice. II had seen stated, that petition.
and renonstraoces had been sent TO this House
and the other, from that State, which had been re.
, erred 10 the COMMITTEE on Manufactures, and
J were heard OF no more. Now, Mr. ~. was not
willing that an impression should 20 abroad, and
! he was sure that the gentleman from South Caro-
lima, did not wish u 10 be behaved that the State