Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-13

80 iE' I-e07iR Cf fSs United States.
potion OF your fellow citizens resident in
N"oront States o. tho Union, who arc numerous.
icS?cr' hie and Intelligent, who like vourecIvrr
''o "laehcd TO the principles of rrco government,
'E" o'"ch''y coveted - The great constitutional
tlai'eI, winch couSoCratGs and upholds thcn-1-ho
"7" only an equal participation in tho benefits, and
'5e ready 10 bear equal share OF tho burthon, Of
~ SuFSrhmcnt--who willing. moreover 10
'oncidc TO others perfect right to tho full crjoy
mont on whatever they ask for thcmsolvos; such =
PORTION OF your fellow citizens whose condition
,ntracrS, motives and view, arc thur, r.i,Lf,liy
"ednedted, havo dcPutcd 10 represent them
Oh an occasion deeply interesting TO their rrr,ino,
ga men, and vitality important H. their interests ms
c''zcns OF this great cor.cdcrated Scrnblic Ticy
H2.o caiicd upon liz 10 unto councils for the
redress OF the grievances under which iov Inbour:
an" nave EMO. ned II upun u1, E, duty, 20 omit
no Ec1us Tor the accomplishment Of thi, Object
iiah may consist with our obligation, as ctizons
aGI with their faithful and ardent dcvot,un 10
;lo hord oil oar common union In the performances
al duty like this VIC cannot be irrscns;blc 10 tho
prorsic'y Of Il frank and respectful communities ton
With cur i".low citizens at large. We are members
OF tie same great political finIy. Car interests
NO common, ANA go also IRE dutcr and IL can
not he that any portion of brethren can desire
10 Withhold from our just share of the benefits
or 10 SUBJECT us 10 an undue proportion of the bur
mons, which How from tl;e government rndcr
F"'ch We live. We have equal confidence IN their
JoEtiao and intelligence; and assure ourselves that
u ~ only necessary to bring home 10 their under
Si2hdmgs the conviction of tho evils under which
m
prompt ana oitecluat tuCasures for their removal
would Commune with you, then, in the spirit Of
.EcSe iee'inS0. We must speak with frunkncss.
- may be that cur language will borrow strength
from ilu conviction GO, but VIC will not
FORGET the jz-. respect which ~ aue 20 those who
dtIer from us in opinion, and cannot ba unmndful
0i TIE affection which bear, and which we
earnestly desire 70 cherish towards our bre,I,nrp
Throughout tho Union.
The rePrusun tativos of portions Of our fellow ci,i
Ioa belonging TIC hteen different atutcs of this con
adoracy, have assembled in tho city of Phndclpha
30 consider the grievances VI frch thcy su fer pnlcr
ti,o existing tariff et duties, and to devise If han
PITY 'hoy may do constitutional and poaco
ial mode Of redross. Speaking Ccncrallv tboy
HnVe come together es strangers to each other
WIN all The yeriety of o7iniu;s Oh most subjects
. aici sPrings from different habits and pursuits
nd Is crhapa, inevitably incident 10 The iinperfoo
ZION oi our common nature. Cn ono engrossing
question, that which constitutes thc subjccL of
th.s address, looking well to It's principles MS It's
details, they haze found concurrence cf opinion
winch, as they believe entities III I'm to ask for that
'pinion, and for thc which it is founded
iH' attoniiyo and d'sPossoaatc confederation Of The
American people.
Among the evils which flow from the tariff sys
'e':' an at prosent established by luw, tho ardent
and determined opposition 10 that systcrn which
NA!sl5 IN various paris of The Union,-the deer and
collie! "iscontent Thisl is felt, and has boon man
i.Isied ~ numerous, putrioiic, md Intelligent
portion OF our fellow ctizens,--cannot fail 10 a.
FUhon The livelsst soeude OF c7ory lover of HE
country iet IL be remembered that this is no tran
:i2nt iechrg-thc offspring of rnonscntary excite
mcn!--one which may be expected to vass away
under the influence of more snlm and Gispaesioi-
&c reflections. No-the system Of which VIC com
aIn Is not oi recent origin, and the feeling of dis
couton'cnt, which cUeval with its INSTITUTION
time and experience have only served to STRENGTHEN
ana incrcUro Let those who sincerely desire to
PcTpctaatg tho political blessing which we en-
Joy, look - this consideration with the attention
which 1t demands. This is emphaticalIy n gov
oFnmenI Of opinion The yigor of the laws is
mora! ioFce The bond which unites il the sense
OF our coE.iHon :1terost-tkc conviction Of our O.
quail riGhtshe assurance of cur oapa city TO assert
and the feeling that wo actually enjoy them Take
IRON any considerable portion of the American
fc0P!o tae coEsc:1usness that they in the full
possession Of their rights fecnon; Substitute for
II lAc spirit OF discomfort, which springs from the
conviction OF wrongs inflicted, not inadvertently
put with celebration, which not tcu,porarv
mt enduring and you array against tho govern
rcnt force winch is of like character with that
which sustains it-you awaken a feeling Of resent
;acnt, Fhich - goaded into activity by sense of
oppression, anu snbittered by the recollection that
II is the hand OF = brother which infcts it, Such
IS the !eciing which PerYades a numerous and reg
pectabe portion OF the American PEOPLE. IL can
rot bo dched, and may not be di~regarded, without
putting to hazard the safety of the confederacy.}
DO you doubt its existence, its nature or iegfee7
LOOK to the character of this asscntlv-to iLc
circumstances under which ii ia convened Give
your attention to the history Of the past and be
admoaished Of Tie novel and extraordinary sDecto
your eyes to tho fact, that this assembly is aIorcth
or without parallel since the foundation Of the rov
eminent; that we are frecmeu and the representa-
tlves OF !reefnen, who speak TO you of our violated
rights; that We have come from different ard dis
t1nt parts OF the Union, Join in dema ndu their
restoration; thG consciousness Of strenoth il the
offspring of united counsels and that oar paruoso
s not tina less firm, because il is announccd 70 vo
peacefully, and i'll The spirit of eoue:Iiaton
4 numerous and respectable portion of tho
American people do not merely complain that this
eystem Is unJGst, but they question the ri chit 10
-ai.biioh It. They do not dou5t-thcy utterly de.
i!--iho constitutional power Of Congress 10 enact
- IN Justice 10 that body we invite Your candid
attention 90 brief confederation OF thcr Tiey,s on
80" o"ajeot. The constitutional validity or inva-
'ii'y OF an act of Congress doss not necessarily
depend upon the question whether tho judicial de-
Partment of tho goV6rnTGent would affirm the ono
or the ctEer OF these propositions. l. may be tl-
an act WA IN IT. operations and effect be sul,ver
slvc c: the principles Of tlo constitution and vet
on its face be superior 10 all jus' exception on that
@Teund. Literally and in terms it may bo in exc
-rt.on OF an expressly granted power--in It's opc-
ration and effect It may not only transcend that
Po. but may directly contrayono it, Under the
pr ta--a of supplying revenue, Congress NAV
Fa'.- money beyond the purposes TO which it can
&c rSiliAdtcIy applied, inay increase tho duties
10 "H amount whc! viii be proi.jbitorv Of impor
tlbun, and consequently destructive Of all revenue
to DC derived from That source. SIN such an aot
would rurFort 20 be in the execution Of the now
or 10 lay aud collect taxes; aud courts Of Justice
Judging "f it Ly lis terms. and Ivy wha: il apparent
On Ha iace would not cGirD its iHYaHdiiy But
ii2 c--z.HuiIon IS equally obligatory on oycry de-
y 'FIiSnt 0i TIC goveTui2eut--On thc legislator
'.' cHacts, as well as OF tEc Judge who interpret
I-". If the iJr@or shall veil his u.lawEI /
purpose as 10 defend it from The scrutiny Of the