Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-08
FREE TRADE CONVENTION.

Ell
In the Convention on the 9Th instant, MIR. Der
rep read the Report of the General Committee
The Report was addressed to the People OF the
limited States of America;-an outline OF which
is thus gyer in the Philadelphia U. S. Gazette OF
the 9th instant.
The Report stated that portion of their fell
low-citizens, resident in different States, hrmiy
attached to the principles by which our Tree
Governments are upheld, who chi! asked
participatun of the benefits arising from
the excellent constitution under "hlch !hey 'ived,
and were willing to bear their share OF the our
teos, had deouted them (the conventichl to re-
mort on question of national policy in which all
were deeply interested: AMI called Oh Them TO
unite their efforts TOR The removal of the grevanc-
es under which they iabored. In performance "
a duty like this, it had been deemed proper 'ocon-
yene the present assembly, THAI, ~ comWInica-
ton with feow-citizcns OF tne States ~ iarge.
the complaints Of the various interests might De
stated, and tEelr opinions Ub!A'ned. II could not
be- that any portion Of their fellow citizens could
wish to withhold from them the equal dement's
the constitution had provided tor all; and 1t vas
oply necessary to submit their case. and make
plsin to their understandings the difficulties an.
der which they labored to insure their jealous CO.
operation in the endeavor to remove them
The present Convention consisted of represen-
tatiyes of portion Of their fellow citizens, from
fifteen states of the oonfederacy, and they were
now assembled to consider the grievances under
which they labor, and to devise some constitutions
al mode Of relief. The parties Of whom the Con
vention consisted were. generally speaking, stran-
gers to each other, but coming together, as they
had done, upon subject intimately connected
| ~ IF klaro tnoyh aH
found great concurrence of opinion among them
selves, and looked with confidence for similar
concurrence among their fellow citizens.
! The evils which flowed from the tariff laws
could not fail to awake the highest soicItude Of
every lover of his country. The evils were not
transient--not Of recent origin; and the discon-
tent which these evils produced was coeval with
their institution. Time and experience had on
| y tended to confirm the fact Of the lmpollcy aud
Injustice Of those laws. The bond that unitad
the citizens of these states was the freedom which
they enjOyed-that was the bulwark OF the go
vernment. Take from any portion Of the Anne
rican people the idea Of freedom, and you array
against the government force that cannot be with
stood. 1t could not be denied that the tariff law
as it now stands, was subversion Of the liberties
of part of these states. and the measure could
not be persevered in without putting to hazard
the existence Of the confederacy.
That assembly was without parallel in the his.
tory of the Union. They had come from differ
ent parts to speak of their wrongs, and to confer
together, as to the most efficient and most cOnsti
tutiona mode of having those wrongs remedied.
The tariff laws were not only unjust, but un-.
constitutional. An act Of Congress did not de-
pend upon question Of law to render 1t consti-
tutiona An act might be calculated to subvert
| III fifutInp no at cted Ia
carry upon the face Of il no such appearance.
Congress might impose duties which would he sub
vers!ve of the interests of any class Of citizens,
and vet, to court Of justice they might appear Ie-
gal and Just. If Congress had imposed taxes
which were oppressive to the manufacturers, would
they not look upon 1t as illegai5 But duties were
imposed in defence of manufacturers which we're
injurious to those who were the producers Of ex-
portable commodities. and destructive to foreign
commerce.
The tariff, in its operations, was oppressive, une-
quail and unjust Ii was system OF taxation une.
quail in its operation, which was oppressive upon
many for the benefit of the few. A respectable
iurist of Massachusetts, had declared, that it was
calculated to DESTROY many Of the great objects
which were obtained for the country BY the con-
stituton. By it the charter was violated 1t be.
came a question between the people and the 60
vernment, and it would be for them to decide it
through the medium of the ballot box. 1t was
distinguished by every thing which might be stig-
matized as characteristic of tyranny the most un
lust, and might lead to the most awful of all ca
lamities. They en,reated those who differ from
them in opinion, to take calm, dispassionate and
disinterestei view of the subject In the spirit
of men and brethren, they called their attention
to the subject, aud enteated them to endeavor TO
avert calamity which, if once brought upon the
country, it would be beyond their power to con
troll.
1t could not be denied that every one had a
right to apply his capital so as best to suit his
own interest, and he knows better how to apply
it than government can direct him. The applica-
ton Of capital should not be regulated by eglsia-
! tive enactments.
1t was untrue that the operation Of the Tariff
laws ga,e greater employment to labor Laws which
encouraged any particular species Of labor could
not be said TO encourage American labor; and
the bounty winch was given for particular de-
scription Of labo was not gwen by the govern
meat. but was drawn from one class Of citizens