Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-13
PENNSYLVANIA.

The Legislature assembled at Harrisburg On
the seventh when the II. of Representatives, chose
for Speaker, Mr.. Laporte, Jackson and Wolf,
alias Anti-Van Buren, Speaker.
Gov. VOLTS Message confined chiefly to State
topics, possesses little interest for any but the
Pennsylvania reader, farther than that the con-
temptation of the high prosperity Of the Common
wealth which he presidcs, must be pleasing TO
every friend of human happiness. He touchesbut
lightly national affairs limiting himself Prin-
cpally to the following views of the Tariff
'sThe policy ola protecting tariff and the
enlargement given 10 works of internal i'm
provement, of u national character, by the gem
eral government, are favOrlte measures with the
people of Pennsylvania, aud the former Is eS-
teemed by them as being ident feG with their
best Interests. The consltu'io Iali'y of these
measures is not questioned here, nor is Their e
any doubt entertained of their entire expedi-
.ency; and much we may regret that COM
plants, with regard to the supposed oppressive
character and bearing one of those measures,
should obtain elscwhert; vet from the universal
prosperity that is admitted 10 abound in every
part of our happy country, there Is on to
doubt whether the prevailing discontents are
well founded; and we are admonished to restrain
our sympathles in behalf Of our complaining
brethren, lest in lending ourselves to aid in re-
.lIevng them from an imaginary oppression, we
pressed Upon these all engrossing questions OF
national policy. the voice of Pennsylvania has
been repeatedly expressed through her State
Legislature, as well as by her representatives IN
congress, and so Icing as she shall continue to
place proper estimate uponher own prOsperlt y
and the success Of her infant man ufactu:ng es-
adjustments, she will not cease 10 cherish The
Eame sentiments in favor ofmcagqres indspen-
Fable to the successful sering and encourage
ment of her domestic industry and enter
prise"
Speaking as it does the almost unanimous senti
ment of Pennsylvania, this extract is full Of in
struction. Is Pennsylvania democratic7 Is SHE
republican? She has always been so; more EN-
Phatically and unanimously so, than any State il
the Union. How therefore, does il come to pas
that our State Right politicians who in this quarter
identify support of the Tariff with federalism
continue TO fratcrnizc with PcnnsylyaBia-vau
themselves upon their mutual support of Jackson
and recognize her upon all occasions the arcl
Of tie Democratic cause? How is it that oppu
Bition to protection is federalism in Pennsylvania
support of it., federalism in Virginia and S
Cardinal is there no such thing as principle ii
politics. or is interest the sole exPoundcr Of truth
Does principle depend upon latitude, or does tn
Potomac flowing between, convert the Fedorais
of Pennsylvania, into the State Right Democra
of Virginia. The deduction is, that party name
are the mere instruments Of duping The multiiud
that men soon begin to esteem that principle
which they know believe to be their interest
and that the friends Of the Tariff are tho oxclu
sive Democrats in Pennsylvania, and its csemie
the exclusive Democrats in Virginia, merely be
cause they respectively constitute the majority il
the two States. Fedoralist is an opprobious nam
in each, and for that reason alone, it is applie
70 tho mnoritH in both. -" - -.