Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-28

4,
iaternaI improvement
The Ccnmittee on Tutcrnai improvements has. u
an able aud cogent manner, viudcatcd the policy o
the Gsnerai Govcrunont, as regards the .TatT and
Internal improvements.
The State Of South Carolina has assumed high and
pcrous ground, both Of these deeply Interesting
subjects The Legislature Of that State regardless
of the ruling principle Of rcpubIicanism-that the
expressed will of majority shall rule--has erected
arbitrary bsrricr around the constitution powcrs
of Congress- and with sort of bold defiance, have
thrown thor threats Of dsunou nto tho face of this
nation. Having asserted that it is an uncoHs itu.
tiona exercise OF power the part of Congress- 10
lay duties 10 profcc, domestic manufactures and thut
the Of Congress known by the name of the Tariff
laws the object of which is not the raising of revenue
or the regulation OF foreign commesce, but the pro-
mption If domestic manufacturers violations of no
Constitution in its spirit, and ought be repealed;
then comes dark, aud not very ambiguous threat
that the measures TO be pursued consequent the
perseverance, IN this system, purely questions Of
eypefieacy, and not Of allegiance &c. In other
words, it these obnoxious laws not repealed a,
diciation, will pursue such line of conduct
as best comporis with our considerations of self
interest ana erpedent for the promotion of
our views, irrespective OF the national pact and In
defiance OF the general voice of the American people
We'll might the Latin poet say IRA Juror brers esd
(Ang short madness Stung by the severe
modification arising out of disappointed efforts 70
persuade the majority of the nation to coincide with
ticm In their mistaken approximations of our national
pohcy, and goadcd on by feverish restlcseness of
orgeiful OF their former chivalry Of character and
unmlndful of tho glory of their country, have thus
recklcssly d,fied the federal head ofour government,
But these edervcscent movements of passion are
neither new nor dangerous they have been manifest
cd before and repressed by the quick returning
sanity Of the people. The following extracts from
the Report will place the subject of the Tariff and
OF Internal improvements, proper ground of de.
fence. -
"The grant IN the constitution to Congress- of the
power to lay and collect taxes duties, mpos,s and
exclses, Is without limitation, except that they
shall be uniform throughout the United States and
except alSn in the of direct taxes thar tboy re-
TO be apporioned among tho several States accord.
ing TO their respective numbers. determined by
prescribed rule. II cannot be pretended that duties
imposed to protect American productions. with
which rival productions Of fureign nations conn, IN
competition, fall within either OF those exceptions.
Nor, u the qualification were conceded which is
sometimes insisted upon, of this general taxing pou
en- that Is that is to be excrted to paw the debts
ana provide for the common defence and general
welfare, wosld much aid be derived 10 the ARGUMENT
winch maintains the unconstitutionality of srch
dutiess
Without dwelling lmger upon that particular
cIanse IN the Constitution of the United States the
General Assembly concevcs that another clause
clearly grants the power in question II \ tina,
winch gives 10 Congress the power regulac com.
inerce with foreign Nations" Art l. sec a. IL is
gwen without restriction or qualification. Il ought
TO nave been SD conferred upon government, which,
by universal consent has the exclusive control of
commercial and other intercourse with foreign nations
How otherwise would it have been possible for Con
sress to guard and protect the interests Of the United
States against the varying and Infinitely diversified
policy OF foreign powers? If equality Of commcrc
and navigation side ought be met hy EQUALITY
on the ohcr prohibition the side, ought to be
countervailed by prohibition on the other Between
the points OF perfect equality and absolute prohib-
zion, there are many intermediate shades OF differ
cnce, observable In tho commercial codes of foreiun
nations There is not, is believed with a yery few,
nm iOnlr fhox
practically offers to the United States perfect eduaIi-
ty; whilst many of Them and especially those with
wh'cn thcy have most intercourse, MEASURE out to
them prohibition after prohibition, to the entire ex-
cusion of some of the most valuable products of the
Union. Would IL not have been unwise In the peo-
pie OF the United Stutes have tied the hands of
their government, as to commercial regulations
whilst those of foreign powers should be free to inet
on the commerce of the United States uny injury
prompted by their policy their jealousy or their cupi
ditys Would 1t have been possible for the trainers
oi the constitution to have foresoen and provided for
I'LL the cxigencies that might arise out Of the com
nercai policy Of foreign powers by defining the pre-
else manner IN which The grant of the powers "a
regulate commerce., should be exercised Ii il bc
sad, that the object of protecting the products of
american industry Is not specified, the purpose Of
the grant Of the power to regulate commerce. be-
sides The answer already given, the further answer
immediately occurs that 10 other purpose specified;
ana the want Of the specification of the object of
protection, prevent the exercise Of the power to that
end, the want of the specification of eycry other
oo)ect would prevent the exercise Of the power i'm
relation TO any and every other object Aud thus il
would happen, that the grant OF a power unlimited
and unrestraned, would amount a mere nnity; and
the general government would be disarmed of many
oi the powers necessary TO constitute it safe dcpo
STORY OF the rights OF The interests, and of the de-
pcDdence Of the Union.
But Il may be urged that the regulation OF com
marcs implies its continued existence und that what
soeyer be tho nature OF the regulation, must not be
such as 10 destroy tho subject to be rerulated If
Congress were to attempt 20 gnnhilate the commerce
Of the United States there IHight DO loreo i'm ills
argument. Bat M such attempt Is made by the laws
m question. Commerce embraces a variety Of CUB.
articles, or even the absolute prohibition Of them,
Would not amount to its destruction, nor would the
general commerce Of the country be thereby 1Iti-
lnateiy snecied: M other articles would renIan for
commercial operations and the encouraged iraustrv
ofthc Unted Statcs would supply additional subjects
couutcrbalancng those which might he excluded
Itbe regulation of commerce mean any thing IL ,pss
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