Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-03-21

had been stipulated, that no person Whatever,
not even the fnmer owaei, should if allowed to
get water from this spring, till my need was sup.
p lied; and thus, the use o. this sprkg would he
&c annihilated inr the nation" The premises IN
this argument appear To tne to lie good and the
reasoning consistent; but must confess, Mr.. Ed
itOr the CONCLUSIONS staggefs Inc not a t'le. But
my difficulty proceeds from my benny suct a
bungIer that cannot make ''the KEYS Of tons,ruc-
ton fit the locks of the constitution.
You will. readily perceive, Mr., Editor, how
much it must aygravate the dltfiguitiss, and con-
dense the darkness, in which avn .l'olved, to
be deprived, as we are, OH this occas,oi, of the
use OF some of those good old keys how con-
sidered fuse keys, which, believe, wre former
ly much used, the most suitable ,pdpiopcr iu-
struments Tor unlocking such praca ~ 49,
ccssa-y machii es he soosi,uc,,p . f,..s inter
States Que of those forbidden keys Ia the pre-
0n6tc, which has heretofore been generally con-
sidercd MS suitable, and proper, and intended, to
assist us in obtaining correct Knowledge of the
objects designed To lac accomplished by those who
trained the instrument ami of the proper applica-
ton of the means provided and granted in the
body and details Of the instrument itself
Another OF these exploded keys, is the author
ny ct hrcrcafntS, or the cxposilnns and decisions
OF those whose official situations require them
make frequent practical decisions with the great
eft care aud S"lemnty, on the true uten, and
t"ce at the instrument In the debate upon this
subject, ia our last Assembly, ii was contended,
that licccdeirS, or authorities, are entitled Ia no
vel ht IN CONSUMING our constitution that though
| the presidents might lie as numerous as the acts
u! our stature book, and as old tune whereof
the memory at man runncth not to the contrary,
they could never make that construction legitimate
ahd binding which was erroneous at the com
mcucememt. Should this rule of construction be
established, which seems cone very near to de-
prIvIng MS OF all rules of construction whatever
every poor iterate clnd-hopper, like myself, who
wishes To know the meaning of our constitution,
must q" immediately to the body Of the ins,ru-
Ineni itself, and construe well as he can, for
himself; and bnlI q one of the independent
parties Ia the compact, between whom ,lere is no
| common arhtcr,' SHOULD he conclude that the
r, sent Tariff law is unconstltutinnaI he may law
fully knock down the col!ecturs ar mar shalIs or
any officer of the government, who may attempt
I" execute the law upon him. A rule like this,
| vcs,ing in every individua the right 10 exercise
the highest attributes of independent sovereign,
must be regarded with parfiany, Ivy the aIdrnl
lovers of liberty; but | must confess, Mr. Edi.
tor that II is mt without regret, that can con-
sent to be deprived, in my efforts construe our
constitution, OF all assistapce from snch lights
'!.ttai,ie aud elegant commentary calico tie Fed
eralist and OF all that has been done and writ
ten by Washington, Jefferson and Madison and
which Mr. Clay SAID most eloouenily, aud most
| truly, 4" the Virginia Assembly, have ontaincd
| Tor heir author. immortal renuwn." This severe
exclusion also deprIves of all aid from various
acts of Congress, laying duties and imposts, with
he declared purpose OF encouraging domestic
manufactures: and also, of the decisions of our
| judiciary upon our laws and constitution.
! With these keys, Mr.. Editor, ! might perhaps
be able SD far To unlock the constitutions as to re.
move the cruel doubts and difficulties which a,
present. threaten 10 torment TO death, unless
can obtain help from you, or from some of cur
| bold and ingenious pickl"cks. But in the pre-.
| sent singular state of this argument, have look
ed to the law aud the constitution alone Tor NY
| testimony, aud lave endeavoured TO Try them by
the strict letter; and i'll my next ~ mber, land
promise there shall be but mcre,) | will ex-
hIbii To you the unfortunate result OF my lahours
in this comparison which has left me as helpless
as Tick IN TAR BARREL
ct,nnr Cd nv I a