Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-17

men an power, ana still more 20 the bod and ex-
oavagant doctrines put forth by them, might very
naturally have created bias in the opposite direc-
uoh. The conflict oil parties was now happily ter
minated, and the judgment was lett free Ia act,
uniniluenced by the passions. The position tax. n
by former Legislature, Mr.. Madison believed To
be- un.enutie. Ii was opposed 10 the exDress lam
gusge OF the ConsIitution--it was con,radicteL by
an UNIFORM praeuce oil near forty years. under il,
/ thro The successive vicsstudes OF political ascen-
dency,& amida all the diversity of opinion which had
az All times prevailed III regad TO the powers of the
General Government The concurrence or accu;.
eScchce OF all the State Governments, had gone a
long with this practice, duIiry almost the whole of
the same period. In Congress, tho Tariff after
lariii had been land, md al! OF them more or les;
| WIN an eye to the encouragement Of manu.ac.
lures, and all ofthetn. too warmly and vigorously
oPpose'k no one hau Deem heard TO question Mc
lPoIoeT, TIL within few years past, and then
when, TOR the first lime, the idea was family sup.
BuSIeu II was treated AS the vagary OF the indvdu-
al, s confined exclusively TO him An idea war
fan'ed by'he plain language ola plain Instrument &
caieu loF' by such frequent occasions in the
pfacuce oil The government, could hardly have
| Deen reserved ior so lite discovery. Mr. NJ Adj
son. AZ man oil long and large observation on the
theatre OF politics, could but perceive that Vir.
CANA. " persisting in so novel and peculiar con
strucon, would seriously put 10 hazard the infiu-
ehce her opinions were entitl III TO have with her
sister oldteS, and iii the Councils of the Nation
ne period had arrived, too, when some hing mJ e
than abstract declarations of opinion were ex-
Pected- If the Tariff Laws were unconstitutional
anu as such null and u0id, measures of coun,erac-
ton ami distance, either Immediate or prospe,
| 1--WE, were considered by many the righttu and
necessary consequence. The moment, therefor,
was, IN every respect critical one, and invited %
deliberate review OF the whole ground, with tn
aid Of the besi lights and fullest examination, be
! lore virginia took her fiual position.
Dut, you seem to think, that Mr.. Madison ous IA,
to have expressed his Misrepresentation of the present
eSiravagant Tarih,' in order to prevent his opin
IONS rom being quoted in favor OF il. ThiSI hiuk
would have been travelling out OF his province Ii
could have been no part of his purpose to inter
.ere with any question OF occasional or party poll.
ucs: III would not have been proper decolo,
Tor him TO do His object as to state general
principles, fundamentally and permanently con-
nected with The Institutions AMI policy of the
country. The application Of these principles 10
| particular measures, he properly !, ayes to those
whose duly 1t Is TO decide upon them. do not
see with what fairness these principles Can be
quoted IN favor OF the policy avowed and pu SUI d
| py tho disciples OF the ." American System" IL
Is evident that MIR. Madison : against the Legis-
!stve protection of national industry, as a system
lie distinctly states his in the general
fu!c OF free trade and its peculiar apple ability
too, 10 the circumstances OF our own COUNT v; t
says, there are special cases, and particular ii
cumstanceS al which departure troa il may ne.
necessary and proper. This is no more than what
Adam Smith. the great champion uf free trad h IS
4
= organizing tie whole labour OF country" by
due process of lazy. | cannot agree with YOU,
'nereiore, thai the publication oil Mr. Madison
opinions Is calculated to do Us mischief. On the
contrary, thi'k, if rightly improved they are cal
culaied to DO US much good-by calling us oil from,
novel and unsustanable theories of constu iionai
construction, 10 the solid ground OF experience, S,
common sense-iron the pur- uit OF visionary O!
dangerous remedies, 10 safe and practice! measures
oil substantial re!ief. Instead OF ydiuiy applying
new standard u constitutional criticism 10 the acts
! oil which we compldiu, or madly welding the
weapons OF irregular resistance against them, he
recommends thu, we mould blins Len thro' the
channels OF public opinion and Official resnonsi;ii
~ =" 'c safe and certain test of justice and
me general SOod'-a test by which they cannot
laii to be condemned for may boldly pronounce
them unjust, unequal, partial q oppressive. Are
we not authorized TO believe, that such a course
would ultimately, and at no very distant day, lead
10 'he redress oil every practical grievance: For
myself, cannot doubt il. Let US pursue practical
ends by peaceful and prudent means, and the re-
suit cannot but be favorable. The counsels of the
new administrations ii not thwarted by temeriIy
ana violence on our part, must be suspicious 10 the
great cause OF justice and the general 'good."-
he late iarif Is known not 10 have been salts
factory to any interest or sec ton of he Union
modification OF ii, therefore, may be expected To
be among the earliest acts under the new admins
tration, and the occasion may be tuy embraced for
revision OF the whole system; adjusting, eq ua-
iLIngI sand moderating the duties, TO remove
II OH every important interest of the country, all
sensible or injurious burthens. In rhe mean time,
10 secure this result, let Us contiive remon-
stranceS against the in Justice, Inc pedency. op
presSiveness, and mischieu0us and diStrGcting
tendencies Of the present system, as forming a
gross abuse OF constitutional power, not as the
assumption OF an unconstitutional one. Let US
l,nfB i,, feat IL, .I,. 81: