Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-08-17
COMMUNICATION-For the pirginiaa
THE rARIFF-NO. |.

MeSsrs. Editors As the principes Of the
tariff DO not appear 10 be generally understood
by the people, aid many honest aud well
meaning men believing il 10 be unconsiiiu-
tional. are therefore opposed To il. On this
point have yentured 10 suggest few re-
marks which you will please TO give place
Ia yonr paper.
The Constitution says, " Congress shall have
power to regulate commerce with foreign ma
hon This phrase may 10 some people appear
TO be very indefinite, and capable of being
made applicable to every regulation commerce
may be susceptible OF, but fnis power, as gran
ted by the Con,it uiion, Is wisely confined 10
a specific purp ose, which Is to promote the gen
eral welfare of these united States--yet the ex
tent 10 which ii may he justly exercised for
that purpose, necessarily is aud must be conf
ded 10 the entire discretion of Congress ow-
ing to the precarious nature oil the objects o.
yer which il is exercised, which is II state OF
things produced by the opposition of exirane-
Gus influences, which are varied according as
circumstances may seem hest to oppose the
purpose, designed TO be accomplished by it.
And every question OF policy which for the
promotion OF this purpose, may justly come
before Congress, must be determined by ma
jority of hal body with the signature of The
| President, which for the time being, constitute
the proper authority TO decide on all questions
! re alive 10 this subject, and the Kramer of this
regulation is also left to the discretion of Con
| gress. The Trainers of the constitution know
| ing ihatno civil process could be devised, by
which Congress could regulate CONNIE, ce
! as to promote ibe general welfare OF these uni
! ted States, bul by inpost lu les; and those
duties on each several article, were intended
! 10 be advanced in regular progression with
our increasing ability TO produce them These
premises ! bold TO be iuconlrovcrtable, and
| in strict accordance with the whole tenor Of
the constitution. and of republican principles,
aud the best national policy, as sustained by
the experience Of all commercial nations. And
there is not clause, section, or article in the
Constitution, which from the wording appears
to be ambiguous, bnt what may be easily and
| correctly Observation-Disclosures, whenever diff
| ferent words which convey nearly or quite The
same meaning, are introduced mo phrases or
sentences in way hat appears justly TO adj
nit Of various consruc' ions, according 10
strict erammst cal rule, the true intent and
meaning OF such phrase or sentence may be
accurately obtained 10y comparing the general
principle and design OF the instrument, with
| the specific purpose which II was intended TO
accomplish In the same way you may arrive
al the correct meaning of any phrase OF SEN
ience included in a section or paragraph, and
| mus lIOHi tnt Hthtidl 'tH'iE VI lHb
and he object TO he accomplished by il, you
| may obtain the trne intent and meaning OF all
| its abstract parts. whether incidental or deIiV-
! alive as they were intended 10 be understood
and to be exercised by the original parties 10
! the compact Because there Is no proposition
! better understood than this, that the specific
design and end of government 10 10 promote
the general welfare oil those who establish II.
and The ways and means Tor the accomplish
ment this end is confded 10 the discretion Of
a majority of the properly identified citizens,
who are or who may thereafter justly become
parties TO the Compact; and every other grant
OF power included in the constitution, are but
50 many arxiliaries 10 aid in The accomplish
ment Of the first great primary object which
was, aud is, and must be the general welfare
of the gTaRtors. The protection and en-
couragement OF all kinds of useful labor, by
ma jorny OF the American citizens is believed
TO be the most efficient means 10 ensure the
speedy accomplishment Of that Object. But
am asked what has labor TO do with the great
political concerns of the nation Is the loom,
and The plough, and The hammer TO be intro
duced into the library Of the s atesman as
oraces Of unerring wisdom from thence TO
draw instructive ina xims OF policy for the pro.
mot ion of the general welfare ! Yes. reader,
these are some Of tho implements OF labor. by
which he IS supported, ana ny "NiCh govern
ment aud national existence is supported, and
will not these nationally direct him 10 protect
aud encourage the mrans by which he is sup
ported la life, and in office, where he IS pac-
ed TO devise ways and means 10 promote the
general welfare. Individual and national indie
pendence, health and happiness are all ,he
Ell, cts Of honest labor and with this view of
the subject, thr trainers Of the constitution
considered the encouragement OF labor TO he
of par amount Importance to any other abstract
principle involved Ia their deliberations.
They viewed the extensive forests offering 10
tile agriculterisls a rich remu neralio0 for his
toll aud the falls ia the numerous streams
offering abunda water power 10 force every
Kind OF machinery los mechanical purposes,
and the mountains bounding with all descr,p-
,ions of minerals, giving evidence Of ample
supply of all the munitions OF defences. And
shall we not profit by ali those natural sdyan-
tages thus placed Immediately within our
grasp, and which so greatly facilitate the pur-
pose for which government was first instituted.
But TO complete this purpose, labor must be
brought into demand and made prof able, be-
cause profit is Of all others the most active and
prolific agent to generate industry, and honest
industry will always command the need of
highest respectabiiity, and respeciabiny and
profit will induce numbers 10 engage in it,
Every one ought 10 he employed in the
calling best suited TO his genius and capacity,
whether agricultural or :sechanica and TO be
encouraged aud protected in the same, is the
undonbted right ei every citizen as member
Of the fadera compact, ind due 10 him for the