Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-26
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.

You are assembled for tho purpose of onaciing laws 10
project the persons and property to advance the interests
ana promote the prosperity of your fellow citizens This
authority delegated TO yOu is attended with honor and
It's exercise accompanied with responsibility As guar
dams OF the public welfare, you will doubt not ma
,urey investigate the subjects before you, and pass such
laws as shall be deemed conducive the glory and hap
Pness OF your Countrywide subject of Internal Improve
ment and The propositions likely to be introduced in con-
sequence OF the late Instruction, will command much of
your attention. and they obviously deserve the most
Gus az these subjects are there
are others OF profound interest to the People of Virginia
At no time during the last fifteen twenty years have our
relations with the Federal Government been more cacu-
iaed 10 arrest attcnonThe subject of the Tariff
and the renewal of the Charter of the United States Bank
arc before Congress- ond scarcely need say that they arc
SUBJECTS oil absorbing interest to the American People.
In relation TO the Tariff the opinion very prevalent
that will he greatly modified That there will be re-
duction OF duties TO some extent, doubt not-but will
That reduction be made those articles which into
competition with the American manufacturer If not,
there will be modification OF that obnoxious principle
against which the Southern States have so long protested
Judging from the past have not good believe
that efforts will be made in Congress to continue the sys-
tenn OF protection and continue it, too in such manner
still TO parayze the industry and rctard the prosperity
the entire South! And those who decy the Tariff on
the ground of unconstuionay and impoicy those who
ee the burdens and expressions Of the restrictive sstcm
wiling 10 iod their arms and excaD, that remonstrance
Is OF no ayail-that they prepared TO submit with
passive obedience, TO the exacons of Northern aysrice
and cupidityl | cannot-I will not believe IT, The Peo-
pie OF the Southern States have asserted and right in
asserting, that Congress possesses the power to impose
dues lot revenue purposes and that the incidental and
'o""'p'H mNhcHtm WtfeDy aINned, IS the only en-
enlargement which consutuGonally be extended to
the manufacturers Of the United States The right to
pass law avowcdy and proessedy to encourage dones-
tic manufactures had been repeatedly denied by Virginia
and other States OF the Union In its practical effects
makes no difference whether power granted Tor spe-
chic purpose be perverted and abused for another
or power assumed which has been retained.
Under the operation Of the Tariff laws the Southern
States have suffered and will continue to suffer unless the
American Congress abandon system which conflicts with
the equal rights Of the peOpea system condemned by
The most eminent political economists Of the day. and
which is the stigma and the opprobum Of this enlightened
age. The policy adopted by The Government OF the w.
States tends inevitably 10 control and direct the pursuits
the different elsssesof the community create snrnosies