Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-26
TO THE pUBhIC

serves, anu usefulness to our beloved coHatr tho
comprehensive, high and responsible duties deyoI
yea upon US by ITS Assumptions, will DO our sincere
anu perseVering cndea vor--but, not our pledge.
NO one can be NOR, sensible than we are of the
multiplied cmbarrassmcTts and difficulties which,
at the outset Of our career, must stand i'm the
way oil eminent success, III the attainment of an
object, which, we are persuaded, all will allow
To be laudabie. Some of the cau,es to which,
we allude, arc perhaps too obvious to REQUIRE
enumeration-the inoX perence of the Editors
the remoteness uf the town from, the u,eat COM
mereial, and politlca Emporums Of the nation
aud the still lumentu bic fact, that @ have not
been hitherto surrounded by what may DC termed
news-rcadlng community to any thing like an
adequate extent. These are causes of disccou-
ragcment.-But on the other hand, various cir
cumstances, have, within the prog ress of the
last rev years, developed themselves combining
TO produce, we hope and believe. an almost ra-
dicol change in public sentiment on this
suoJcct Inc want Of respectable publis
Journal, at this place, ia generally admitted.
The removal of the obstruction to the nayisa,
ton OF the Roanoke, and Dismal SWAMP Canal.
by afording an uninterrupted water commands
cation with Norfolk, the finest seaport of tho
southern Atlantic States; the impulse which that
interesting fact has already impaired to the
trade of Danvillc-tha natural and assured de-
pot OF the commerce of the Upper Roanoke Or
Dan River counlry-the consequent aupmen,a-
ton oflts population; its mechanical, manufactu-
ring, mercantile and Banking Capi,al;--the we'll
known TACT That IL Is now, to most advanta-r
goous extent, the merkot to which the PlsHtars,
Farmers, Graziers and others resort, from copx
siderable distance West and South, 10 purcha "a
their supplies for home consumptien-snd to
vend their agricultural products and marketable
commediiies-all these causcs combine 10 prove
that tho wsnts and convenience of the public
require tho extensive circulation of a Jour nal
issued from this point, which shall lmbody in
compendlous form, intelligence of the passing
| events OF the day, concentrated hero from ali
quarlres Of the world. We hope it will not BIO
deemed impairment to add, that the Editers
draw cheering augury of the extent eff patron
age likely To be- bestowed upon their paper
from the fact, that within a few days their
list of Subscribers has increased with uuprece-
denied fapidty. Should the public liberality DO
continued to us, we shall take both pride and
pleasure in plscing the GRANVILLE RE-
PORTER at the earliest possible day, on tho
best practicable footing
fhilip OF Macedon, Is represented to hive
said, "that with toys, he amused children-v;th
oaths, men," But Philip was a heathen-and
though he was polite prince, his maxims were
heir-looms, common then, as now, To kinglv
scoundrels every where. We make no puri-
'anicai pretenslons to purity of life and CONVEX
satlon but will say, with solemnty due 20 the
occasion, that we ''wear no mans livcry;" that
we Will sooner go supperless to bed, than barter
our politics for our bread. We shall never har-
party-the submissive followers of blind lead
ers of the blind We shall not cry, s'great is
Diana of the Ephesans at any mans bidding
nor will we sing hoZannas at the heels Of any
earth-born man For the present chief NJ gstrato
we entertain the highest admiration resuoct
| and gratitude. We have with some executions
given to his administration, our support aud
snail continue to do so, precisely long, and no
longer, as we esteem it pursuing the interest of
ouF country. In the language Of the Father of
MS country, "born, educated and raised in
land OF freedom we are in heart and soul devo-
ted 10 the perpetuation of it's free and happy
institutions. But we Slate Rights men-ds.
clpes OF the immortal author of tho Declaration
of ndependeRce-o the Act OF Religious Free
dom-and Father OF the Univers ity of Virginia.
We believe with him that the constitution of
inc United States, is Federal compact,
among Free, Sovereign anu Independent States
VINO are now, as Free, Sovereign, and In
dependent, over the whole mass of reserved
hights, as they were previously to the RAJ
tlhcation OF that sacred lnstrumedt. That the
grant OF certain enumerated powers and
81 such as are necessary and proper"
Tor carrying the enumerated powers into
execution, invested the government of the
United States with authority to exercise speci-
he'd portions of power only, not inconsistent
withithe rights of sovereignty reserved to tho
States-the parties to the compact.
We regard the present Tariff, as unconstitu-
tionai, unwIse, oppressive to the last degree, and
utterly suhVersive in its tendencies of the NOR.
ais oil the country. We deny to the govorR-
ment OF the United States, The power Of laying
and collecting revenue not for ''paying tho
Debts and providing for the common defence
and general wclfarC;' but, for distribution a
mong the several States; or fer appropriation to
magnificent schemes OF Internal Improve
mcnt.
We are alive tc the propriety, and oven necos-
SHY ofImproving the condition of oRr navigation
and highways; undor the authority and wthia
the convenient resources of the Stalos, by tho
united action Of Individual and public means.
we shall take warm interest in pointing public
attention to the Importance of Education, it's
transcendent aHd inestimablc blessings, public
and private.
1t has been justly said, that, ''Grest States,
arc compelled by regard TO their own safety,
to consider the Military spirit and martial habits
of thoir people, among the main DIRECTS of
their attention-whle small Her States" EXEMPT
from this cruel necessity; bard condition eg
grestness--a bitter satire on human nature
devote Themselves to the arrs ST peace; the cul-
fIvni!oh of lLerature; and the irnpro vemeDt of
reason Our columns will be open to the in
quiry, what s tho host plan Of organizing tbs
Militia?-tbe natural, and safe defence Of a free
state.
We shall be highly graIiied, to lnve it in our
power TO stimulate he industry Of tho aprioulta-
rnlisis-the bone and sinew Of o1rcou6try-by
cleaning from works Of merit and publishing the
results OF experiments and improvements IN agri-
culture, made both at home and abroad, so Inc
as they may be accessible to us. In fine, We
shall endGavor 10 deserve the patronage and
gUNFNf MT f,F, IL Il. A.