Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-03


tam, was, that this power might be exercised b,
Vie Stakes with, and only with the consent or Con
g'ess, and subject TO its control Aud so anxiou
were they,to seize oil every sli;:ng OF our none,
lor tne general government, that they insisted, G.
wen HE little revenue that might thus arise, shoult
not DE appropriated to the use OF the respective
States where II was collected, but should be paie
INTO the Treasury Of the Y. States; and, according
] ~ IT is so determined
| Thus we have all our doubts dissipated as I,
this otherwise singular provision in the inst r,inent
and thus too. we have fresh instance Of the wis
dom oil the Convention. A mode has been provi
dod, ny which at any timt, the people of any
one State; or number Of States NAV protect thei,
manufactures, without charging the cost of such
protection 10 the neighboriDg States. This
provision oil the Convention, to give the States an
opportunity OF protecting their own manufactures
Is 10 exact accordance with the inrautable prrci.
pies OF justice. To suffer Massachusetts for in
stance. 10 promote the success of her manuiactur-
ing establishments by means OF a National Tariff,
would be neither more less than 10 give 10
her, greater advantages, and greater power too
man she could have had, if she had not entered
into the Unioo--
=" II Massachusetts then, will have manufac.
lures, Massachusetts, must be content to have them
upon tile usual terms. Her own citizens must
pay the cost, whether il be directly by taxes for
premiums or pecuniary bounties or indirectly, BY
tax upon consumption Of the home fabric.,'
| " Such appears TO have been the real and gen.
uine object of this clause. After providing. i'm or
DER to prevent any disputes between the States,
respecting the manner or the objects in, and for
which these duties might be imposed, that the
proceeds should be paid into the national tire as,ry
permits each State for the purpose Of protecting
us own manufactures, to levy, with the consent OF
Congress, whatever duties il NAV please 10 i'm .
| pose on foreign productions Tic States which
believe themselves likely to be aggrapdised by
the increased OF manufactures may tax its own CT
-ehs LOT their encouragement and protection; the
people who may find themselves enriched by the
\ increase oil their towns nd vii
increased value of the productions Of their soil
VIII pay, as is most just the price of these bene.
hcient establishments; and the farmer and the wool.
grower ana the specuiating adventurer and the
merchant VIII all rejoice greatly to contribute TO
this tide OF redundant prosperity. Let then, any
state or States which may choose to kindle their
watch-hres at this new light which has lust arisen
on me worlt-to adopt this new american Sys-
lem, which has become almost superannuated in
Europe, under the practice of a thousand wears:
let any State, we repeat, that chooses, adopt this
system for its own people and its own benefit; call
IL by Whatever term OF endearment or of admra-
oh the Iinagauon can suggest laud it in strains OF
unqualified panegyrc but in Justice copcede TO
every other State, the privilege of ENJOYING its own
peculiar views, OF perusing its own domestic no.
Hey" ~
Extracts from the Protest Of the Georgia LIE.
gis!ature.
"1st. We oppose the Tariff Law, last enacted.
because we believe it to be- both in it, object and
its spirit, unconstitutional.
IL Is unconstitulional-lst Because the pow
er to lay and collect duties and imposts fo nm
the debts, and provide for the common defence
ana general welfare of the United States" is
abused and perverted TO the accomplishment of
objects not within the sphere of direct federal lie
gisIa'ion.-The power intended to be given by the
constitution, to Congress, is that OF raising reye
nue., for objects specified.
The late tariff destroys the revenue and is
intended and avowed 10 have for its object the en-
couragement and protection of Domestic Manu-
z Ac 10
revenue, it is so far inexpedient
" IL operates thereby, indirectly, as an onerous
TAX upon me consumers OF Southern productions
30 lar, 1t is unequal and ppressive-therefore it
Is ineXpedient and impolitc as a general law
" 1t intends to encourage and protect domestic
manufactures, by reversing the accustomed course
OF exchanges in trade, viz: the raw materials for
manufactured commodities. 1t thereby intends TO
erect an entire alteration in the system of our
commercial intercourse with foreign na,ions-
Hitherto the trade of the United States has been
comparatively absolutely free; subject only TO
regulations, exPedent, when considered in rea-
hon TO the raising Of revenue. The present ia
rili resirains its freedom and therefore lessons
both its extent and its proflabicncss
g IDLY. 1t is uneonstitutonai-Bec Because, il it be
defended under the power to regulate commerce
win iofeign natons,' while the avowed object is
10 encourage and protect domestic manufactures
i'is papable abuse OF the power given by the
! language OF the Constitution. For, under a
power OF prescribing the rules OF exchanging 70.
reign and domestic commodities, the power is 20
perverted as to endanger, not only the prosperity
oil our commerce, but almost its very existence
IN the anSietyto accomplish an object, altogether
domestic, and even sectional. An object too
which The Constitution intends to effect by means
prescribed and altogether different from those used
For, under the power promote sthe useful arts
an ample and ehectual general power, with pre-
sc;ibcd mode Of use, resides in Congress 10 en-
courage and protect all useful arts. TO use ano-
ther and different power, capable Indirectly of
objects. ,n,ifh ,I,af
viously intended to effect them, is an unconstitu-
tionaI abuse OF the former power''
The greatest stimulant 10 the Improvement ard
extension OF the useful arts, exists in the power
resldant IN the Federal Government TO appropriate
to individual genius and skill the benefits of its
inventions and discoveries. The Federal Conyen-
ton, sagaciously fortseeing this natural progress
son oil improvements, wisely withheld from
Congress the power 10 promote them b, additional
protecting laws BY this power the same rewards
are held forth TO active and inventive genius,
throughout the Union. What further power
could have been necessary? Can Congress incor.
porate company OF manufactures III any one of
the States? II cannot. If power of pro,e ction.
other than that specified TO promote the useful
arts, was intended TO be given by the Constitution
to Congress- why was it not given in some direct,
po'itiVe ihdsputaoIe form: But an express refusal
to give such specific power is recorded on the
journals OF the Convention And the power grant
ing patent rights for inventions and discoveries
substituted as more expedient. a power highly
remuneratiye and incapable Of expressing.
p" tariff for raising revenue is constitutional
and necessary. Further than this, no object was
intended by the power. The legislative power of
the several States is the proper power 10 promote
manufactures, by Incorporating companies. Such
is the common mode of concentrating the wealth
OF individuals, and rendering it, when thus united.
competent TO do what individuals could not effect.
Such too, are voluntary associations, formed with
the hope or the certainty Of particular advanta-
gees, and as such, their efforts may be considered
as private enterprises. Thus, there exist two