Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-03

free citizens Of a free Republic. A different
language Is now held, and the repeal Of this bill
of Nominations is demanded as an act of simple
justice, which it is obligatory on the part of the
Government to perform.
l am far, very far from approving the violent
councils, the rnflammatory harangucs. and the
openly avowsd determination to nudity tho acts
of Congress. which afford evidence of the high
ly excited state of public feeling in one part OF
the country. The cold apathy Of the Northern
and Middle States, owing either to the influence
Of self interest, or to the belief that the evils
complained of, do not exist, or to both these
causes combined, has done as much to throw tue
South into this violent ferment, as the iuinous
effects of the Tariff. 1t becomes the Tariff
States to manifest a spirit Of kindness and to
shew the people Of the South that they are dis
posed to relax somewhat in the rgid policy they
have supported.
But it is sale, that it would DC unwise to listen
to the remonstrances Of men, holding language
hostile to the very Government under which we
live-that it would encourage a spirit Of disSatis-
ldCllOD TUtilOuS u tnc WCii UCtUS WI 'HN oe"'y
and would place the National Government at the
feet of a single State.
A few words will suffice to shew the little
force which can possibly be attached to this ob-
lection. 1t is to be recollected, in the first place.
that in passing the Tariff Law. Congress acted,
to say the least, by virtue of a doubtful authority.
The constitutional objections. are certainly OF
great force, and in this and all similar cases,
where resort must be had to constructions, 1t may
be. a little forced, and refined reasonings, the
only safe rule by which a wise and patriotic le-
s~islature should be guided, except where the cx-
%igencies Of the times imperiously require a differ
emf course of conduct, is to abstain from the ex-
ercise of an authority so circuitously and am5isu-
ously derived from the express grants of power.
1t is clearly wrong to stretch the powers of the
government by implication for the purpose of en-
acting a law, the ~expediency Of which is a matter
of serious doubt.
The authority By virtue of which the Tariff
Laws were passed is a doubtful authority. The
laws operate injuriously and oppressiyely upon a
large part of the country, and what substantial
reason, under these circumstances, can be assign
ed against a partial repeal which would allay an
CRY feelings running almost into rebellion, and
not affect very seriously the new species of in
dustry which has been called into existence. 1t
is proper and indeed obligatory upon the nation
al government to repeal the parts of this system
which bear most heavily upon the agricultural in
terests of the South. because il is a simple act Of
Justice, and because it is the only power ccmpe-
tent to make the repeal. But is it said that it will
place the Federal Government in an attitude de-
rogatory to its dignity and so far at least, subver.
sive Of ITS own authority? This reasoning is weak
and i'll founded. Conciliatory measures, said a
great man in the British Parliament, come always
| with grace from superior power, and conciliatory
measures, dfscreetly pursued, will alone be of suf-
icient efficacy to create anew the harmony which
| once existed between the different members of
the Union. Will the dignity of the government
be compromised BY listening affectlouatcly to COM
| plants of evils which it is only in the power of
government TO redress? Will its authority be at
all impaired by performing an act Of justice in the
repeal Of an obnoxious law?
thrust Mr.. Editor, that a spirit of mutual for
bearance will pervade our Rationale Councils, the
happy effects Of which will be seen in the entire
removal of the excitement which this subject has
occasioned. Mild legislation will do much TO-
wards curing the disorder which now reisns in
our republic. Let the people of the states only
believe that their civil rights are safely trusted in
the hands of the Federal Government-let their
confidence in its justice never be weakened, and
: no force under heaven will be of power sufficient
to tear them from their allegiance believe
that the proposed Convention will 60 very far TO-
wards correcting the opinions of the public. with
regard to the policy Of the tariff system. that it
will spread such a mass of facts before the peo-
pie as will force upon them the belief, that in its
present shape at least it is an evil which should
not be suffered to continue-Let the manufactur-
ing States manifest a little sympathy and a real
desire to do what justice requires, and the South
,.;ll abafa . LITTLE in lie claims and tbe nulIiGr,-