Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-07-17
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
WEDNESDAY, JULY Is, 1929.
THE UNION.

THE UNION.
Correspondence betmcen John Quincu al.
ans, Esquire, President of the United
States, and Several Citizens of Massn-
ctusettS, concerning the Charge of De-
sign to Dissolve the Union aNcdgcd to
hare existed in that State.
CONTINUED.
A weghty argument for limiting government
to the simple and general legislation which we
have now recommended though not intimately
connected with our main subject deserves n
brief notice. 1t is found in the great and grow.
ing extent of the county. The attention of
Congress is already attracted and ovcrwbelned
by the multiplicity of affairs, and every session
is more and more in danger ofneglecting its pro.
per Objects and doing nothing we'll We fear
that the most pressing business is most fire.
auently postponed We refer TO the claims Of
individuals on the government and we call
these the most pressing concerns, because the
nan WHO has been wronged by unanticipatcd
operation of The laws or of any public measures,
has right to immediate redress; and because
delay ofjustice may be his ruin Already we
hear angry complaint and derision of the nef fiji
cheney of Congress, and the evil will Increase,
until that body shall select from bewildering
crowd of applications, its appropriate objects,
and shall confine itself to legislation demand
wants of the community.
The principles Of Legislation now laid down.
seem to have an important hearing on two great
questions, which have already agitated the
country, and which we fear bode no good to the
Union. We refer to the restrictive system and
to internal improvement The first which pro-
poses to correct certain branches of domestic in
dustry, seems to us sngularly wanting in that
simplicity and impartiality, which as we have
SAID, should characterzei our Legislation. 1t
cannot be understood by the mass of the people,
and it will certainly divide them. In the first
place, the restrictive system involves a consti-
tutional difficulty. We, of this region, indeed
generally concede to congress the right of limit
ing trade in general, of annihilating PAL ticu-
lar branches oft, for the encouragement of do
mestic industry but the argument for a mar
rover construction of the constitution is GER
tainly specious, and certainly strong enough to
give to those on whom tariff may press. heavily,
the consciousness of being wronged. In the mex
place the general question of the eXpcdiency OF
restriction must be allowed by its advocates to
be difficult one. The growing light of the
age, certainly seems to oppose it, and the senti-
mentS and reasons by which it is defended even
if founded in truth, are yet so intricate and so
open to objection, that vast numbers, even of
the enlightened, cannot be satisfied Os their va
lldlty. But supposing restriction to be admitted
the question as to its extent, as TO the kinds of
industry which shall he protected, to the
question Is the most perplexing which can be
offered to popular discussion, and cannot fail TO
awaken cupidty, jealousy and hatred. From
the nature of the case, the protection must be
unequaily extended, nor any wisdom bal
ance the loss to which the different states will
be exposed. A restrictive tariff is necessarily u
source OF discOrd. To some portions of the
country it must be. evil, nor will they suffer
patiently. Disadvantages imposed by nature
communities will bear, but, not those which are
brought on them by legislation. We have, in
deed, various objections to the whole system oil
protection. We believe it to be deceptive
throughout We also oppose it, on the ground
that our country in adopting it, abandons its
true and honorable position. TO this country
above all Others belongs, as its primary duty and
interest, the support of liberal principles. II
has nothing in its Institutions congenial with
the maxim Of barbarous ages, with the narrow
monopolizing, restrictive Legislation of antiquat.
cd desPotisms. Freedom, in all its forms, ouI
life, strength, and prosperity; and every system
at war with 1t, however speciously maintained, ID
"a contradiction to our characters, and wanting
harmony with our spirit, must take something
ihowever silently from the energy of the institu
tons which hold US together. AS citizens o.
The world, we grieve that this country shoulc
help to prolong preiudces, which monar
chy is out-growing; should, in imitation of med
ding despOtisms, undertake to direct the indus
try and capital Of the citizen, and especiali,
should lose sight of that sublime object of phi
ianthropy, the promotion of free unrestricted
commerce through the world As patriots, we
grIeve that a precedent has been afforded for
kind oflegisation which, if persisted in, will al
mostcertainly loosen, and may rupture the TN
ion. The principal excellence Of the late tariff
is, that is it so constructed to please one tina
even its friends pronounce it an Accumulation
for by offending and iniuring all, it cxcites les
luminosity in the principal sufferers Tariffs ne
yer will be impartial. They will always, in
greater or less uegree, be the results Of selfish
comblS ,tions of private and public men, through
whicieA majority will be secured to particular
interests; and such is the blindness of avarice
that TO grasp short-lived partial good, the inf
mite blessings ofunion will be Iazarded, and ma,
be thrown away.
If We may be allowed short DEPRESSION
we would say that we have no paitiality TO Ia
riffs of any kind, not even those which are
laid on imports Tor the purpose Of raising rcven
Juc. We suppose that they are necessary a
present, especially where they have become tn,
habit of the people, and we are not insonsiblt
TO the facility they afford for collecting the rev
enue.
But we should rejoice, if by some great i'm
pToyeinent IN finance, every custom house coult
be shut from Maine to Louisiana The interest;