Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-04-13
lTS, NC,
JNO. RR ANcIJ
COMMUNICATIONS.
To Thy EDIToRs or THE WING.

ABINGDON, April3, 1889.
1T is with such unfcigncd pleasure, that | (whilc
Pcrusng the columns of your excellent pnper) wit
ness the candor with which YOU cxprcss your scnti
mcnts in regard to this truly prosecuted American
system, and its advocates, that cannot deny nv
sell the qualification of giving you few true fact re-
marks, relative to the great anti Tariff Mcefing
held in this place on the Doth of March.
Our little Republican (Which, though small
- spcaketh great swelling words') has, / see,
strained every nerve and, fear, ovcr-straned them
TO make the good people in other sections of the
country believe, that the most perfect unanin,ify
walls here, respecting this important question This
deny; and will presently show that it is not the
case 1t is also there stated, that sthe manufactu
rcrs are opposed to the protective system" Now,
am sorry for the credt-sakc of the only paper edit
ed in Abingdon, and which, (of coursc) / cannot
but wish to encourage, to such erorc9us state
ments madc nevertheless | feel it to be NV duty to
correct them, ifI can. There are, l believe, bnf
three manufacturing establishments within one hun
drcd miles of this placc-with one of these / am
closely connected, with the proprietor of another
am intimately acquainted, and have heard him en-
Prcssfy declare his sentiments to be in favor of the
American System. SO far, then, from wishing n
repeal OF the Tariff laws, all the manufacturers with
whom am acquantcd-ycs every ,oork hand en-
gagged In that business and who is capable of under
standing the meaning of the word Tariff, are unan
NOUS IN their appreciation of the present SYSTEM
nut' inc manufacturers are not the only persons
who view with admiration system of Government
so oisety adapted to the nourshnent and gro,cth of
our Federal Union Notwithstanding that gr,ot
body of AniTaritfers (on the 26tID declared it as
theT OPINION, that Southwestern Virginia is al
most unanimously opposed to the American Svs
tcm," L do assure you, (and it can be attcsed by
scores of witnesscs) that the number of its advocates
is not so small, as they thc Ant-Tariffers) would
wish to make others believe, and if not majority at
least so rery large minority of the enlightened and
influential citizens of this county this subject
ITS true light, that we have right, and will make
our voices to be heard. But let us now see who
! composed this great Anti-Tariff Meeting, in which
"not one dissenting voice raised" / was nv
sefan eye witness to some of their PROCEEDINGS
and feel no hesitation in saying, that the whole bu
slncss was conducted by some half dozen indiyidu
ais, the major part of whom, though they may not
actually be Sucking in the Treasury pap" are vet
tuggng most Justify at the tcats of the Common
wealth, such as Clerks Attorneys, expectant Lecis
latorS, &C True, there were present perhaps TWEEN
ty or thirty others, Common farmers who know
and care as little about the Tariff they do about
inc "rand sultan OF Turkey, and who would be
contcntcd and happy in their pcrescnt situation.
were 1t not Tor these same intriguing Individuals
who, to maintain and increase their popularity
would fam make them (the common people) believe
that they are bending under heavy burdens and
grleuous to he borne, while they are making every
effort to release them. Our petty politicians are
straining most prodgiosly at gnats and truly fear
that, ere long, they (,oW s,calo,r) but be swal
lowed by, or choakcd on CAMPDELI
Great boasts also made respecting n laros
|
OF Russell County. Now have been informed
though do not vouch for the truth of it) that fire
solitary indiciduals composed that respectable bo-
dy polite, and they, doubt, of the before men
TONED class-a large and respectable Meeting truly.
You will see from these hasty sketched remarks,
that the South Western Virginians are not all led
about biindfod by a few intriguing and overbear-
ing individuals, in direct opposition to their own
interest but that some at least have dared tempt
the anathemas denounced upon Henry Clay and all
his Systematzcrs and still firmly believe (rom the
signs OF the times) that that gentemans prediction
Will be fully verified, for since the late proceedings
OF the Senate have come before the people, several
ITO my own knowledge who were before opposed to
the tariff have, (by the able & convincing arguments
OF some OF that respectable body,) been converted,
ana are now the warm advocates of the Protective
system; others who before waverng, have
been confirmed, and the hearts of those who before
were ITS friends and advocates, have been
warmed and refreshed.
who then can say, that in another seven years
the people of Virginia will not be freed from the
yoke OF bondage which now sorely, though secret
ly, gals their nccks7
Citizen Of Washington County,