Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-17

Itself 10 WIZ. whom would hnnoas,o wi.outro-
MORSE the victim that dares struggle and battle II to the
last.
In my lectures government, have already endca.
voured to shcw the Importance and necessity of two
checks upon tho governors of every nation: one is that
they be responsible in the exercise of their
authority to the people, the fount OF all legitimate pow
or; the other that they should their character of c
izcns be subjected TO all the consequences of their own
legislation, whether good or evil Upon the former, l
shall say nothing at present. but the latter call
your serious attention The wisdom of this too
evident, TO need comment. The Legislator has every
motive, when this is the case, to make laws of the most
saintary character and avoid those which injurious
In their operation for in his character of Citizen always
the most important in every wisely constructed repub-
can government, he will be benefited by the former,
anu injured by the latter; consequently such aegslator
would always be mpelled by every motive of interest
and ambition to act honestly and fairly these would be
ties that would rarely be broken; these the guarantees
that would furnish all the security which imperfect man
could ask for. But, when the legislator may pass laws
to the operation Of which, he his immediate constitu
ents are not subjected or where they to gain advan
tages, at others expense, then this fundamental prnc
pie OF government volated there exists longer any
saiutary check upon the powers of government the
very injustice of The law furnishes the motive
Tor its adoption; and upon every legislative enactment
therefore, concerning the sectional interest the nation
you might expect all the of the benefited Sec
tons enrolled on sde and those of the injured on
the other What security here would the latter have
when the former by artful combination became the
majority Evidently none. When apply this rea-
soning to our tariff acts fear shall find violation
this great fundamental principle of all Legitimate go
vernment The sections in our country which form the
majority are those which support tariff and system
oil internal improvements Nowif this aiorty YOU
urge argument the losses which the injured Sec
tons will sustain, and the consequent injustice of their
measures, you in fact state argument the po-
tent with them, against the side you advocate The
votes on the tariff which have already been mentioned
exhibit melancholy proof Of this want of principle.
The unanmity in the votes Of the cations of the
Southern and South States but
| Showed the injury which awaited them; while the
equal unanmity of the Western votes, on the other
side, together with the socde expressed for the
cess oil the protecting policy, and the almost indecent
hurry with which the bill pressed through both
houses, clearly demonstrated which they
expected to reap from this unjust Of Legislation.
Even the divided state of IT,; of the Middle and
Northern States, clearly showed the prin-
ciple, and the same attention to local interests.
There would have been the unanimity here, but
for the importunate demands of other sections engaged
IN the compromise, and consequently the very high
price at which their cooperation to be procured
Thus, perhaps opposed the BILL because il did not
impose sufficiently high duty lead; second, be-
cause the duty on iron, in which his district
cerned was too great and another, perhaps, because
the duty on moasses too cxorbitant, SC.
But you all, doubt before this time are ready 10
| ask me- what must be done, seeing that the majority
thus Disposed to act! Are we rashly to sever the
Union which has hitherto been considered the ark of
safety, and the sacred pledge Of the emancipation
OF the world!" Ii belongs TO detail those par
ucular expedien,' which the minority should have
course to- in emergency Of this character; greater
and wiser men than am, must be called on here; spi-
rits that ride in the whirlwnd and direct the
Storm, and in whose virtue, inellige and patro-
tism, the nation rcposes the implicit confidence
But thing will mpre IS upon YOUR minds
IL IL what should teach and what every man in the
land should teach; what the mother should instil into
the mind OF the infant boy, and every peagogue incul
cate upon his juvenile pupil that the dissolution Of our
Unionis the last remedy TO which the friend Of his
country and OF man, should look. Every eIpedent
should tirst be tried CHnctd priIs tendn5.-Iet the
cup OF our caames he filled to the brim and the last
drop OF patience be exhausted, before this remedy
is applied. There is scarcely any event which could
fen. he forth,
dence in its strength and power, and the South may
look forward to the accumulation OF wealth and riches
in the freedom OF its commerce, yet il disunon take
place. the history OF our country will shew distant
day, the folly and delusion Of these dreams.
Universal Impeachment and degradation, will be
sure to teach when il is late, the error OF our
ways. Look to Europe, how torn sioin, ed and op
pressed. Is France ambitious! Does she raise in
times OF profound peace her hundred or two hundred
hossand soldiers, and equip them for the eld thereby
destroying the OF her wealth. and furnishing
the engine which is to annihilae the civil authority
Austria must follow her example, and enlist troop.
for her armies at no matter what expense and danger
to the liberties OF the country England too, must or
ganze her militia, and repair and build up her expen-
sve navy. Is the Antocra' in mrtion with his millions
OF Cossacs at his heels All Europe is in consterna
on and the note Of preparation heard in every coun
try These nations thus divided among themselves,
exhaust their resources and their wealth the field of
battle and in constant and ending rxertion for
the maintenance of the balance OF power The wealth
which is thus lost, sas 1t had been thrown into the
deep, buried forever in the bowels Of the EARTH
They fight and scule for power, until
and impotency exhaust them all, and after short re-
spite, they rise again 10 the interninable contest
Such nations may not perhaps be impover ished and
oppressed by unprincipled majotes ordinations of
sectional interests but their vital energies DESTROY
ed, and their progress in wealth. arrested by vain strg
giles with each other, and neither gains all or even
part of what the others lose is all absolutely lost TO
the world.
So will our country be torn to pieces oppre ssed
with debt. impoverished and ruined, if ever disunon
take place. These are the consequences which we
must apprehend from event Of this me anchoy char
acer IL is in vain that should look for other re-
suits, as long as man remains organized he is with
his present passions, feelings and prejudces Well
then, does il behove all, to beware of pursuing
course, which, peradventure may hasten on thi. de-
precated event; and il the South should pause and we
reflect before it takes decisive measures, which NAV
leopard the Union, the awful responsibility which is
nding the North and West is still greater and
should admonsh them, that their fatal and unge
policy, may hurry the country into irre,revable ruin
and that the sin will and ought to be, laid at their doors
But will not sketch farther, this neiancho picture
which fear will be found be but faint exhibit of
what the reality would be.
With this, therefore, shall close my alton of
the causes, which have contributed the success OF
the restrictive system 10 my enquiries into the pow ers
oil government, Ihave not debated the great Constu-
tional question, involved in the claim which govern
ment urges TO the power Of passing tariff for any 9th
er purposes but revenue. This is que sion which oil
ITSELF would require inve almost as long as
the one through which have gone. 1t would involve
me necessarily too much in politics, which have al
ways most studousIy avoided my great object being TO
incuIcae upon your minds, those general principles
which are fitted alike TO govern you III private or public
lie, whether IN quiet trou blos times But when