Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-20
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE,
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

Spserh Of Jnr. HILL Of Lancaster, on the Re
port e. Resolutions, in relation, to the Tariff:
Mr.. HALL said, the determination of the House
To discuss the Preamble and Resolutions under
consideration. was very unexpected TO him at thi:
late period Of the Session; but not SO much So a:
tis own determination but two evenings ago, tc
take some part in that discussion. The friend:
OF those Resolutions were willing TO give silent
vote upon them, and he thought the gentleman
from Fairfax, (Mr. Fitzhugh,} and the gentleman
from Brooke, (Mr. Edgington,) were mistaken
when they said, that they forced into debate
by the course of the advocates of the Resolu.
tiQnp., Be this as it may, however, Mr.. Speaker,
said Mr. H., we have fairly gotten into debate
and shall ask the indulgence of the House, for a
short time, while give them my own imperfect
views ON the subject. The circumstance Of its
being the FIRST time that have attempted to make
Speech in this House, together with the limited
ficient guarantee, that / shall not trespass long
upon your patience. This subject presents before
us. sir, an almost unbounded field, that shall
not. cannot fully explore. To enter into and pur.
sue il thro' all its ramiicatons is task that bids
defiance to my slender Abilities and shall there.
fore. not attemptit The report Of the able Com
mittee, to whom this subject was REFERRED contains
an argument upon one branch Of the subject, that
will sustain itself with gigantic power against the
most ingenious sophstry; being itself founded on
reason and truth. To that report, then, sir and
not to what may say, do l invite gentlemen 10
look. Demolish that by fair argument, and then
they will find 1t an easy task TO refute my concu.
h0ps.-But, Mr.. Speaker, a word or two only I'D.
on the Consttutionality Of the Tariff If the
right Of property be derived from the Govern.
ment, as some political economistso Of the present
day contend, then, indeed, has the Government
right to change and dispose of it as it may chooses
but, Ii the People be the Sovereign, and Govern
mept the Creature, which no one In this House,
presume, will deny, then, it follows, that this
Government, which the people have formed, pos.
Asses no rights whatever that have not been del
egated What power, then, has been delegated
over The property Of the Country? | answer
the power TO impose sufficient taxes, and no more:
TO defray the necessary and unavoidable expense
Of the Government; OF in the very words of the
Constitution, To pay the debts and provide for
the common defence aud genera, welfare of the
U. S."--We cede the right TO tax for the purposes
OF Government, and not for the aggrandizement
oil individuals or classes OF Society. What is,
then. sir, in the Instrument itself, or in reason and
Justice, that authorizes Congress to take part of
my property and give 10 another' IL they can
take part, they may the whole; and a,n left al
The mercy Of my rulers. Did the trainers Of the
Constitution, those patriots of Revolution, which
was brought on by an unjust taxation, on the part
Of the Mother Country, ever think OF ENGRAVING
the very same oppressive priDcpesBpon the very
charter Of our liberiiesl Never, sff will not
defaue their memories, by sur posing IL possible
No one, suppose, will contend, that duties up-
on imports are not taxes upon the consumer. The
CONSTITUTION expressly provides, flat all taxes shall
be uniform throughoutth the u. s. The Tariff be.
ing tax laid, expressly for the purpose Of bene-
bttiDg Manufactures, at the expense Of all other
Kinds oil labor, - most unequal tax, and, there
fore, unconstitutional Again, the Constitution
says, that Congress shall lay no EXPORT duty. IA
noe system, which takes away the market for
cur agricultural prOducts By prohibiting other ma
tons from buying them, at fair price, an indi- |
rect export duty, can see no difference between
IN enpsrt duty u fr'isr hsfrs'- ur1 corn o. !