Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-18

!! uu,n, that bangs over the future. III 'dsl "
those VINO will duly ,enect on the subject, the
hone that the disease will cure Itself. must ap-
pear perfectly illusory. The question is in, re-
ality one between the exporting and nnh-export'
ING interests of the country. Here there no &c.
po5is, there ,vouid be 10 Tariff 1t would be
perfectly useless. On the contrary, so long as
there are states which raise the great agricultural
staples, with the view Of obtaining their sup
pI,es, and With must depend upon the general
market of the world for their sales, the conflict
must remain, If the system should continue, aud
the disease become more inveterate. Their IN
terest ard that Of those whc By high duties would
confine the purchase Of their supplies to the gene
raj market, must from the nature OF things III re-
ference to the Tariff, be IN conflict. I'LL then
we cease to raise the great staples cotton, rice
and tobacco, for the same markets, and TIL we
can find some other profitable Investment TOR the
immense amount Of capital and labor now employ.
ed in their production, the present unhappy and
dangerous conflict cannot terminate unless with
the prohibitory system itself.
In the meantime, while idly waiting for Its
termination through ITS own action. the progress
of events in aunther quarter, is rapidly bringing
the contest TO an immediate and decisive ISSUE
We are fast approaching period, very novel IN
the history of nations, and bearing powerfully
and directly on the point under consideration,
the final payment of a long standing funded debt;
a period that cannot De sensibly retarded, or the
natural consequences of it eIuded, without prov.
ING disastrous to those, who may attempt either,
if not to the country itself When it arrives. the
Government would find itself In possession OF
surplus revenue of 100000 600 or $4,000, 600,
il not previously disposed of, which presents the
important question what previous disposition
ought to be made; a question which must press
urgently for decision, at the very next session OF
Congress. 1t cannot be delayed longer. without
the most distrac,ing and dangerous consequences
The honest and obvious course is, to prevent
the accumulation of the surplus in the treasury,
by timely and judicious reduction Of the I'M
posts; and thereby TO leave the money in the
pockets of those who made it, and from whom. 1t
cannot be honestly nor constitutionally taken,
unless required by the fair and Legitimate wants
of the government. If, neglecting disposition
so obvious and just, the Government should at
tempt to keep up the present high duties. when
the money was no longer wanted, or to dispose
of thus immense surplus by enlargins the old, or
dc,isiny new schemes of appropriations. or find
inc that to be impossible it should adopt the
most dangerous unconstitutional and absurd pro-
iect ever devised bv any government, Of dividing
the surplus among the States "a project. which,
if carried into execution. could not lai to create
an antagonist interest between the States and
General Government on all questions of appro-
priations, which would certainly end IN reduc.
inc the latter to mere Office Of collection and
distribution) either of these modes would he con.
sidered by the section suffering under the pre-
sent high duties as fixed determination, to per.
petuate forever what it considers the present IN.
equal, UNCONSTITUTIONAL and oppressive burden;
and from that moment, II would cease to look to
the General Government for relief. This deeply
interesting period. which must prove so disas-
trous, should wrong direction be given, but so
fortunate and glorious should right one, is Just
at hand
The work must commence at the next session
as have stated. or be left undone, or at least be
badly done. The succeeding session would be
too short and too much agitated by the Presiden-
tial contest, to afford the requisite leisure and
camness, and the one succeeding, would find the
country in the midst of the crisis, when it would
be too late 10 prevent an accumulation Of the
plus; which l hazard nothing in saying, judging
from the nature Of men and government, If once
permitted to accumulate, would create an inter-
est strong enough to perpetuate itself, supported
as it would be by others, so numerous and so pow
erfuI; and thus would pass away a moment, never
to be quietly recalled, so precious, if properly
used to tighten the public burden; to equaize the
action of the government; to restore harmony and
peace: and to present to the world the illustrous
example which could not fail to prove most favor
able to the great cause of liberty every where, of
nation the freecst. and. at the same time the
best aud most cheaply governed. of the highest
earthly blessing, at the least possible sacrifice.
AS the disease will not then, heal itself we are
brought to the question, can remedy be applied,
and if so, what ought it to be?
Toanswer in the negative. would be to assert,
that our union has utterly failed; and that the opn
ION, 50 common before the adoption Of our Consii
tuition. that free government could not be practi
callv extended over large country, was correct
and that ours bad been destroyed by giving it linn
its so great. to comprehend, not only dssimiIar,
but rreconcjlable interests. am not prepared
to admit conclusion, that would cast so deep a
shade on the future, and that would falsify all the
glorious anticiputions of our ancestors, while it
would SO greatly lesson their high reputation for
wisdom. Nothing but the clearest demonstration,
founded on actual experience. will ever force me
IN a conrlusion so ahhorrent 10 all nv feelnpS