Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-13
Fon THE CoNsrIrurroxAL WING.

approved of the course which you have hitherto
pursued with regard to the Tariff, in which have
been much gratiiicd at the manner in which YOU
have exposed the groundless opposition to the FRO
| lection of American industry, which has been con-
tinual!y manifested by short-sightcd or wilfullv
pcryersc politicians among us; | hope YOU will
permit nc to make some enquiries which arc sur-
gested by the sentiments which YOU have expressed
in your dispositions upon Mr. Clay's views of pub.
lie affairs, and his probable in the Senate
published IN your paper of November 2lst.
You therein express it as your opinion, that the
Tariff ought to be modified in such way, as that
while the principle of protection should he rccog-
nlzed and preserved, such concessions should be
made to the people of the South, as their wishes
interests, or prcjudices Cor whatever prompted
them,) required. Now, Gentlemen, there NAV be
some articles upon which reduction of the pre-
sent duties, for the relief or qualification of the
South may he made, without removing the saluta
ry and legitimate protection from our manufac-
lures, which ought to be maintained; but l IN re-
ally at loss to know what articlca thoy are. /
know it has been stated by others, from whom no
hostility to protecting Tariff was to be SUSPECTED
that there such articles. | have, therefore, n
great desire to know what they without deny
ing that there such, it would crafty me to see
them pointed out / can think of no modification
OF the Tariff to please the South, which would not
be ruiuous to some many Of our infant manrfac
lures, which rapidly rising into importance to
the Nation every day. You, Gentlemen, have con
tribued, by your publications. prove to the world
ana IL has been proved TO The world, that all the
evils attributed ENORMOUSLY to the Tariff bv its
enemies are visionary, and contrary to the truth.
This, indeed, has been proved 10 the satisfaction
of all, except such labouring under the dis
ease, which may be termed the Taritlphobja, which
has been attended with very malignant symptoms.
Concession, | think, would be a bad remedy for
this disease. 1t might be temporary paiation
but would finally aggravatc and give it more
strength. do consider this Tarfphobia entirely
disease of the mind, which cannot be cured bv
dina IN no Of inf
| will venture TO say, that any man OF influence, or
set of men, placed in situation TO command the
public ear, will Tx upon any particular measure as
odIous and dctesta6c, exercising ingenuity to dis
cuss, discoour, and misreprcsent H. and make it
the object of continual Notwithstanding TO it
existing evils which have no connection with it
that they make it so hateful at last to the whole
community, that the people may be ready 10 take
against it. When the mischieyous men of
the South found that their profits their staple
article, cotton, had fallen greatly, without looking
to the real of it in the vast increase of it's
production, it soothcd their CALLED pride to attribute
it TO the tariff because they would thus have some
persons, against whom they entertained a sectional
dislike for other causes, upon whom to pour out
their fiery gall and bitterness, in ever, macdiction
and opTrobous cpithct. That this hatred to the
Tar If is 4 infatuaton among the men Of the
South, or the Nullifrcrs al least may be seen bv
what is called Mr. Nc Duflies forty bale argument;
III which lie made the prcposterous attempt to
prove, that the whole duties articles imported
into the Unitod States, were tax on the o1porta-
ton of cotton for it is evident that no man of Mr.
McDufic's good sense, would have made the at
tempt except under some strong peTversion OF the
faculties Of his mind. Since, them every evil cofn-
planned of in the South as resulting from the Ia
riff, is wholly imaginary, as has been shown, would
1T be proper TO DO real injury to the sober citizens
OF all other parts of the SIMON, TO hurnOur this
caprice of dstenpered imaginatons in the SOUTH
Or would it be proper that the majority should
yield 10 tho minority, because that minority is
turbulent, as 20 attempt TO make up by its lawlcss
audacity, what it wants in numbors7 Il would be
bad precedent to make concessions in either case
If you yield TO redress ina ginary evils in one cage,
or 10 a minority in another, you must yield gain
and again, to repeal law upon tho demand Of ev-
cry section Of the Union, matter how small; and
thcro Is no law but may be unacceptable TO some
minority somewhere. No, Gcutiamnn, if tho
Union cannot stand without such concessions, K
cannot stand with them. II the Nullifycrs Of the
South should attempt to put their threats in cxecu-
ton, you'd be for bringing tho matter to In issue
Mt once: because thC Government viii be able
20 sustain itself without making concession which
/ yields the principle, than after Il has done So
/ Why was not the excise law repealed al the &c.
maud Of tie insurgents in Pennsylvania and why
would not the Government 10 rs able to SUPPRESS
instruction in the Soutn was i'm that case
/ ihc firm hand with which Chat seditlon was crush
ed, had the most sautsry effect afterwards; and so
/ the same kind OF proceeding would haze in the
South, where the most lwlcsa turbulence has beer
Threatening for years dissolution Of the Union. re
/ be compelled Co make this proof Of the strength o.
! the Government. Ghc SUCCESS Of which have NJ
/ fcars,) would be great evil, but it would be =
much greater evil TO let the Nulfycrs 20 on viii
IMMUNITY, yield TO their demands. govern
mcnt which can exist only by courtesy, is OF n,
value. I think it would hc necessary TO shcw thai
I ours do not thus exist / 90 for the Tariff, be
cause believe IL 10 be the main spring Of Nmeri
can prosperity Our manufactures have produce,
market for nearly hafthe agricultural production