Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-12-22

which were reserved 90 tHc stttcS, auo Wy the \
people lJy the compact or constitution when
the several states, FIR their own benefit and
convenience, created the federal goyern
meut.
That government. merely the agent Of the /
ststes. and onig allowed 20 exercise those
power, which were Intended to oIr'rate ex
ternally, and upon nations. foreign 20 those !
composing the eeufederacy. ha, too often /
transcribed the limits pre.crih 81 to it. ard |
eyinces an increasing disregard TO the rights |
Of the states, by the passage Of uac0rsttu |
tIonai acts. and by propositions fpr others, ii !
il he possible. of a still more understandable |
character The complaints, uvr,oriais and |
protests of sJ,ns Of the sovereign states oil |
tnts cenfederacv have heeh upnotlced or 'ts
regarded. and the constitution seems about
TO he merged in the viii Of an uuresirained
ma jority. No one can now doubt the ten
dencv " that government, or tie numerous
evils which must en-ue, unless speedily ar
rested in its downwsr5 career II the Dil OF
that ajoritv is unrestralned. and that gov
ernBIcut ia suffered to search through their
own records for p.ecedenfs. upon which 10
found their claim TO power, AMI thus melt
way the solder of the federal cham. by ma
king that CONSTITUTIONAL now. because hereto
fire the same acts have been done ny them
selves. 1t IL equivalent 70 the actual destrac
tion of that instrument and the Substitution
Of government unres' rained IN its powers
/ end unlimited IN its sway II ia even n0S
strongly insinnaied that tn 5tqies cannot in
terpose TO arrest AZ unconstitutional measure.
fso, there is already no lni t. federal pow
er, and our short experience has shown q
the utter InsuflicirHcy of al restraints Hp,n
parchment.
Virginia resisted the usurna,isu Of Fog
land, and encountered the haZlrd Of war Cor
political existence, and sorgAt 20 guard A.
gainst oppression that her citizens ui Int en-
joy the liberty which belonged to them, and
apprcpiia lated 10 their own use lhat which
their lahor had earned THE tariff Ia,-, Of
which all TIE s1n,h.rn states so Justly com
plain is calcufiira 10 take from our citizens
the ptofit they have earned bv ttleir industry.
and -. also violation of the constitution.
! Not oily has this been done, hui is'es have
been passed. slprnpriating the pnliic money
| for purposes foreign 10. snd uawarrantrd nv
{ the cons tuition, agents have ty"en appointed
. ~ n@gatfstc treaties wIthgut consulting the
senate, and propositioa. have been ma e 10
srlze upon the snrplIs revruHr H. he treasp
~ n the u Sfates te ne divided among the
| states arc riding 10 representation, though
some of them export nothing and corsc
qIeuth contribute ljtlc - that fund which i
IN reality reducing the states 20 he con Iii N
Of vas>als and pensioners pad by funds llle-
| <al'y esac,ed from thea al.
II these Laws. these acts. AMI this clau, 10
power be constitutional the consl,'uion OF
| the United State, mas been misundsi sfaod.
| and il insufficient II acco npilsh the ohjcct
for which it va. designed that Of preserving
tm liberties nj or eights--if they are nm
Constitutional The federal government ba- u
\ pt.rif al .tt{as
,iitnting itself the sole judges Of its powers.
has created new political system stlbve rsive
| II thai e Hh'ch allegiance Is due
| II iegIsia'lTr ,podency is to triumph over
| constitutional rights, and the obligation of
| paths he disrrgar!cd, then nil human mcias
J tor the security Of liberty will avail Us Ho;h
| ing, and freedom IA gone iofer-s.
| Wcmay sec these laws continued by states
! conhiung 20 advance their eF'n local inter
est, and using their power 10 Cypress the nj
nOrity. which would then be without redscss:
these CONSIDERATIONS ought not 10 hc disregard
ed, At least by the southerH states, who are
| thf minority, but the producers and export
crs OF he products which hrins into fle trra-
slrF the wealth, 10 obtain which, all tie safe
guards Of liberty are about 10 be rr,nnhled
| to pieces No state has made 50 many saert
| fees tor thls Union as Virginia, 10 Which size
| has been much devoted She has calmly
awaited the period when returning sense oi
justice wouln lad t. an allt Walton Of Der
burthenS. and an abandonment Of thsse IN.
constitutional measures. Calling as the on
presson has be en- mlder which we have Ia
Dor j. we have been content 10 make our sit
uatl0n known through oar members Of con
gross and Ivy our legislative rceol"es. Here
talors the pnhlIe debt has been the pletext
for Tins oppression: now, however. il j. upon
the eve OF eXiinctioa, when. for The sake Of
union, II not justice, We hope a change in
these fatal measures But fear. doomed to
disappointment, We must now prepare to com
bat scheme which has been suggested. and
has enlisted, or is likely to enlist strong in
terest VT its support refer TO the scheme
Of distributing the surplus revenue among
The states The legislatures Of two of the
largest states. have already expressed Tor it
their approval and the president Of the u.
states has recommended it to congress, in
his two last annual messages No scht me
could he devised more ruinous to us and the
other southern states, than this. Should IL
be adopted, all hope Of relief from this Op
PressVc system of measures will have van
lNhed, as each year will show results which
will present the strongest aurrmenrs to their
increase Those who contribute least, viii
be tcmpted 10 urge forward the most oppres
sive expedleAts "a increase their portion of
the spoil--while those who pay most. al best
receive back bat a small portion of what
themselves con'rbatei thus producing the /
cola hiua tIuu OF large states 20 tax ths. small.