Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-02-03


are infailibly right, and every one else IS abso-
luiely wrong on such, reason and argument
can have no influence. sill, the cause which
eoables our Chief Magistrate 10 give us such
glowing view of tue prosperity OF our coun-
try as he has done, must and will continue
The States, in their sovereign capacity, as ex-
pressed in the Message, and cannot be denied,
hadt the original power OF imposing duIes on
imports. IL IL now transferred to the Govern
ment OF the Union, in the most ample manner .
Had the States retained it,they must have eIer-
clsed ii as they pleased, TO accomplish any
object they deemed proper. Ii might have
been foi revenue alone. II might have been
| employed sofety 10 counteract the selfish policy
! of other states or nations. 1t could have been
exercised Tor any purpose which suited the
pleasure Of sovereign power. But the States
have delegated their whole power over imports
| 10 the United States. IL would indeed be
strange anomaly il il could not row be eAer.
cised by the Government to which has been
transferred as fully as il could have been by the
| State from which 1t was derived
! The President has declared, thar, " while
the chief object Of duties should be revenue. they
may b. so djusted as to encourage manuitc-
lures II seems to the committee that this
| remark Is III plain collision with the senit-
menIs which he has previously maintained. tie
! has observed that the authority to impose du-
the right TO exercise II foe tie purpose of
protection, does not exist in Mem.' II it is
| 1" not possessed by tue General Government, j.
must be extinct" " Our political system
would thus present the anomaly OF n people
stripped of right 10 foster tlclr own industry,
and TO CO Interact The most selfish and de-
struciiye policy which could be adopted b, for
| eign natious.' If revenue alone IS wanted,
duties for that object shonld be imposed. IT,
protection to domestic industry is required, LEI
duties be imposed 10 " foster H." Why
should the chief object be revenue--~hy pro
| lection seCondaTy-when the treasury may he
full I? Many now apprchend that our reye.
nue. is. and will be, too abundant. But protec
ton against the most selfish and destructive
policy OF foreign nations" can be secured by
dn les and imports. BY them a'oue. Then
they should he adjusted to secure protection
This should be the PrtmdTg object. Inc pro-
ieciing power having once belonged 10 the
States, now transferred 10 the General Gov
crnInent, il may be used as the good oil the ma
ton demands, for "A primary. not secondary,
object. IT ought not 10 be loosely attached 10
the skirts ofrrvenue. Domestic industry is a
single, great, even pre-emnent, interest of The
nation. II has been entrusted TO the guardian
care of the Constitution. II now demands the
exercise of that power which the States |
have surrendered, for its promotion and pre- |
servaiou.
! The President in his message, further o. |
serves, that, in the adjustment of protecting du-
ties, the Government should be guided by the
general good.' As an abstract proposition,
this may tie admitted " The general interest
is the interest of each y and il is only neces-
sary that that interest should DO uuderstno
TO ensure the cordial support OF some who
| think il encourages abuses which ought to
be corrected, and promotes injustice whth
ought to be obviaied." lie also advises Con
| gress that objects of national Importance ought
alone 10 be protected. OF these, the produc-
! lions Of our soil, our mines, and our workshops,
L" essential 10 national defence, occupy the first
| rank. Whatever other species OF domestic in-
| dsstry, having the importance to which 1 have
referred, may he expected, after temporary
protection to compete with foreign labor on
! equal terms merit the same attention in IA sub,
/ ordinate degree" Suppose the opinion 10 be
| correct, " thnt objects OF 1laiiOnat Importance
! ought alone to be protected" what then' The
! President has not, by this general expression,
afforded the Least aid in adjusting the details Of
a projecting tariff. II the action of government
cuu ii tie confined TO abstract rules aud prlnci-
| pies. little difference OF opinion would proJa-
! bly, exist in the nation The great embarass-
mrnl is found in making an application of e&
/ Celleni theory to practical and use!u plposes'
! lhe protecting system, the tarth, 10 composed
! Of humble items. These, united, make up the
great maSs of national industry. Had the
/ President been pleased 10 designate few items
ony, which he supposed to possess national
| ImpoItancr,' or bad he poin'ed outwhat com
/ forts Of Lille are taxed unnecessarily high
what are the interests too local aud minute TO
/ justly general exaclion, which il undertakes
10 protect, and what kinds of mtnnidctu es for
which the country rs aDt ripe, attempts to
! force" we should then have the lI5ht and
/ benefit of Illustration.
General theory may be adopted with perfeci
uuaniIuity. lis application To real use, ats com
ing down 10 the every day rxettion our far
mers and mechanics, is different affair. I'm
der general theory, any one can make "A retreat
J and maintain that II has been done with consis-
iency and honor. Theory IS best explained
by ITS application TO the axe, the plough, the
! hammer, aud the spindle. The chlei magistrate
presides over prople who are engaged IN I'M
ceasing and untuing industry. Congress has
for wears and on repeated occasions, exercised
its wisdom on the Tariff It's best efforts have
been made. II errors exist, II woul seen rea-
sonabIe to expect, that the Chiet Mag islra te,
looking abrosd hom bis high station over all
the interests OF the country, aud observing
/ their mutnai relations aud dependencies, should
| intimate to the representatives OF the peopt,
what particular business OF lie has been too
warmly chrrished--what too CO Oily neglected.
In adjusting the details ofthe Tariff Congress
has done what il deemed best for the general
good, 10 reach the employ ments Of life. il
must go down to particulars. 1.-THE President
is still dissatisfied it might have been hoped
that he would have DIES gnatel the precise error.
IL will aIwa,sbe borne IN mind, ny practical
men, and they compose tue mas. OF The nation
that abstract theory, however splendid, does
but little good, unless II comes to the AID OF eV-
e,v muscle of abour. In what consists the
defects of the existing Tariff s! individuals may
discover imperfectlons, but the colleced wis
dom Of the nation has repeatedly declared that
material change is not demanded. Nothing
better under existing circumstances eau be
done. Then lie, doubt and uncertainty be a
wooded. They ara evils neat 10 the surrender
oil the whole system.
Tho ,ua.sana nnviseS CONGRESS mat OhlCCIS