Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-06
Estate RIGHT ASSOCIATIONS

/ iSdsc"eS OF MeSSrS. Hamilton and McDItie, at
the State Right Association-Nou. 7.
We have determined to find n place for these
Speeches, as documents illustrative of thetenets
and purposes of the party of which these gensle-
men are the most conspicuous members, and for
the sake of offering in connection, few reflections
which occur to the present state of parties
in the Southland in Virginia The rich and
splendid elocution of Hamilton, also conveys a
pleasure which disposed to extend to our
readers.
Gov. Hamilton expresses the opinion that the late
Free Trade Convention at Phade lphia, had pro-
duced union among the opponents of the Tariff
and 'that SO far as the union concerned the South
ern States, the Convention had brought them at
last together; and it would indeed be now nothing
short of AFFECT pusillanmty and unutterable base
ness if we conceded surrendered one iot of our
right, since thot Assembly had given Judgment in
our favor"
This Judgement is the pronunciation of the
Tariff to be unconstitutional, by the rejection of
Mr.. Galatians motion; and the ''union". of the
South alluded to, is 4 supposed union in the con-
clusion come TO by the Convention that point.
Than this inference of Mr.. Hamilton, nothing
can be more :failacious. Nothing we believe is
farther from the truth, than that Virginia-we
confine ourselves TO Virginia, because we know
personally, nothing of the sentiments farther
South-thinks the Tariff unconstitutional. Be-
sides that there is within her bosom, a powerful
party, who concur both in the constitutonality and
erpediency of protecting Tariff, restricted within
the actual wants of tho Treasury, the opinion of
unconstitutionality,- even among the avowed enc
mics of tho principle of protection, is far from
unanimous. We speak from personal know
Ledge and observation. We believe that the
numbero of those who think the Tariff unconstitu
tonaI is exceedingly limitcd-that it bears no pro
portion to those who, unrelenting in their oppos-
ton to it, yet will not agree to be persuaded, that
the fathers of the country and its institutions,
were all guilty of violating the Constitution from
1888, and never suspected were suspected Of
the sin, until forsooth, Providence gifted Mr. p P.
Barbour with the wonderful sagacity to compre
bend the Constitution better than those who made
it. The people of Virginia, have not believed, do
not believe, cannot beeIr AIDE to believe any such
lmProbability. Their opposition is decided is vio-
lent perhaps, but it is directed against the policy
not the constitutionality. Many upright, many
distinguished individuals, undoubtedly hold the
opinion-but the mass, who do not refine, do not
split hairs, do not care to be wiser than Wash
lhgtoDt Jefferson, Madison, or GallatIn, reject the
faith. Their acquiescence in all the arguments
used to overthrow system which they dislike, is
the most natural thing in the word-it results
from that dislike.
Mr. Hamilton has fallcnin the mistake from
the unanmity of the Virginia Delegation at the
Anti-TarifF Convention. But. how many of the
people Of Virginia actually represented tberc7
Perhaps hundrcdth part; perhaps not so much.
This city has population Of 1000. From twenty
four TO thirty five individuals, constituted the meet
ing which chose Representatives. Those Reprosen-
tatives, declared the Tariff unconstitutional Did
they represent the opinion of thegPeople of Rich.
nond in that voter Undoubtedly not. We believe
that the AntrsTariT Party itself in this city, would
not sarction the vote Such is the evidence upon
which Gov. Hamilton relies Such is the evidence
which induces him TO pronounce that the South is
now united in crusade against the constitutional
ity oftho Tariff. Such are the slender facts which
persuade him that 'eyrginia was waking up, after
long and ingloTious slumbCr."
There other causes at work, more potent
than truth, to sustain the constitutionaty of the
Tariff in Virginia. Gen. Jackson thinks it con-
stitutional-thc Stale and he must not be arraycd