Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-22


day or Sept. 1884, to take into consideration Tho
ProPriety OF appointing delegates to attend the An
IL arm convention, proposed to be held in the ri
y OF hiiadelphia, ON the 30th inst. SAM'L TAY-
LORI Esq. was called to the Chair, and PAnKE Po1S
DEXTER appointed Secretary.
Inc chairman having explained the object of the
meeting, Ihos. q. Burfoot, Esq. offered the follow
1ng preamble and resolutions, which wore road ,nd
unanimously adoptcd
- Whereas, Convention of the opponents of the
arm olherwise denominated the American Sys
Ae". 81. Is proposed to be holden at Philadelphia on
mo Suth INST to consult of means for the rc,irose
oftheir grievances and being ourselves most deeplv
sensible of the existence of the evil and of the in
1ispensable necessity of q speedy remedy it is the
clear sense of this meeting that VIC are called upon
alike by regard to individual interests md the
Puolc tranquility, to cooperate most heartily in
She contemplated convention with our friends and
1eiow-sufferers. That our combined efforts in the
proposed meeting may not be regarded with unme-
1tea jealousy or suspicion, take occasion ex-
Phchy TO DECLARE that it is our single aim to Law
open fuiiy and clearly, to the rest of our country
men, the lntoerable burthens which they have i'm
posed upon us, and TO consider with becoming
hrmness and moderation of ssthe mode and mea
sure OF redress" We take no part in this move
mcnt, to further defeat the prospects of any
didate for the Presidency of the u States, We look
10 op]ects, IN comparison of which, the Presilen-
al election is an insignificant and patry strifc-thc
vindication of violated Constitution-tbe nreser
Vatlon OF the Union of those States, and the eman
clpation of ourselves and our posterity from con
dition OF colonial thradom and intolcrablc oppres
sion. FF
1t is not in our hearts to kindle new anirnosties
or TO cherish old ones.-It is not to plant fresh
landmarks along that line which divides orr conn
try into Northern and Southern section: But il
lsto put forth in one final concerted effort our
whole strength to obliterate all sectional distinc
uons, and to cement the union of our people in in
terest and in feeling, well as according to the
forms of the Constitution
it is impossible to doubt that the deliberations
OF tohgress, at tho next session., must deeply, if
not vitality, affect the integrity of the Union and
The tranquility of the country. The period is
so near at hand when the Government will not owe
one dollar of public debt, that the great question
presses Tor instant Observation-Disclosures there shall
be wrung annually from the labour of this free
people twenty odd millions of dollars when lust
halt that sum is requisite for the exgences of the
GoHernment-whether we shall pay for every mil
non that is wanted, another million that is not
wanted Tor any honest or Constitutional purpose
under the sun, but which is to be set up as a stake
Tor universal scramble stake, of which it is
not difficult to foretel the winner since one of the
competitors is himself to adiudge the prize
In regard to this subject; it seems clear that
one OF three things must invariably happen. LIST;
the 1arih must be suddenly reduced nearly one
n nalf' on the payment of the public debt.
I'd; gradual reduction must be Immediate
ly begun. Or 3d. there must be left in the
treasury annually surplus of ten or twelve
millions of dollars. 1t is not possible to IMAGINE
mat the Tariff majority in Congress, would, at one
blow annihilate the whole system of protection by
the sudden reduction, three years hence, of the
lnlposts to one-half of their present amount. To
this they surely never would consent, and even ,re
should not desire it. Then there must BIO n surplus
or an immediate reduction must take place. Ifthe
reduction shall not take place, we may consider
it fixed and settled that we are to be still taxed
in effect to pay debt of ten or twelve millions of
dollars per annuni, when do not owe i cent in
the world.
Is this debt of few millions to be inextnguish-
able? are It's burhens to be perpetua2 1t must fill
the bosom of every intelligent and honest man with
nd firfio to hat, ,cbo
the doctrines OF certain politicians who call them
selves Americans and patriots. Whilst it is not
tor us to anticipate their adoption and ratification
by the Government of our country, it behoyes us
TO look we'll to the drift and tendency of the pub
lie affairs at this juncture, that may espy the
danger afar off, TO shun it if can, to meet it if
must.
1t would be no small benefit to convince our op-
ponents of what their relentless perseverance in
this destructive policy would argue they have new
yet been convinced-our deep of its insult
ferable injustice and gross inequality. This at least,
the contemplated Convention may achieve 1t
may at least be made known, beyond the possibili-
ty of doubt mistake, that this is tho pervading
and sober sentiment of the great body of our peo-
pc-and not the bravado, the buster or the rant,
OF any of that little tribe of deniagogoes and noisy
politicians who hang upon the skirts ofsociety and
make their bread by making mischief. Ii may at
least be made known that we in earnest-that
we feel and know our wrongs-and that we have
coar conception of the rights and liberties that
oPPertaln to us and our posterity.
We cannot perceive that further discussion of the
Consttutionality policy of the Tariff question
IN its original shape be of any avail. Argument
has beeen exhausted, and the matter repeatedly de-
cded against us, by an inhexble and relentless ma
1ority. When questions of Constitutional law and
P6olic policy TO be decided by simple refer
ence to the map; when votes may be counted be-
.t2reheDd with inlallibe certainty by mere calcula-
tons OF latitude and longitude; when all the
votes north Of Il given line directly affirm,
what all the votes south of the line positively deny
and that time after timC--on series of questions
and with successive representatives-the human
intellect ceases to exert its performance over hu
man conduct-and the affairs Of the nation arc
governed by mere superiority Of brute force. But
ms the extinguishncnt o. The public debt will pre-
sent the whole subject in aspect, shall
not despair OF the republic unit effort shall
bave failed to produce relief.
lst RcSoLred therefore, as the sense of this
meeting, that we heartily approve of the proposition
OF an Anti Tariff Convention TO be holden al Phila-
dclphia, OF the 30th inst.
Cd. That
be and they are hereby, appointed Delegates to re-
present this meeting in said Convention
On motion it was unanimously agreed, that the
blank in The second resolution be filled with the
names of BENJAMIN w. Leigh, William r. John
son, Thomas f. Burfoot, Samnel Taylor, and John
w. Jones, Esqrs.
On motion it was Res0JseG, That the proceed
ngs Of this meeting be signed by ths Chairman
and Secretary and copies forwarded 10 the editors
OF the Richmond Enquirer and Constitutional
wing, the Petersburg IntclGgoncer and The Ma
lish the same
And then on motion made, ResoIced, That this
meeting do now adjourn