Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-12-27
Ylll3 GAA!GTu'lao
bIRATINsBURG. DEcrmHER ~, 1854.

one who has the love of country and the per-
manence of this Union solely at heart.
10 The Editor Of the .uHtiasbgrg Gazette,
SIR:-In the Richmond Wing of the 2ist
December, viii he found the report Of the
committee Of twenty one on Federal Rela-
tons, which. as II Is supposed, enormously
as trusD to present the principles and views
Of Virginia, relative 10 the controversy be-
tween the State Of South Carolina aud The
General Government, demands tf7e> most
attentive and careful consideration Of every
citizen whova the honor and interest, the
union and peace of his country. As the re-
solutions presented 10 the repor, have not vet
received the sanction Of the Virginia egis.
lature, so far as have heard, deeming the
doctrines and views they contain unsound
and false in principle, and dangerous in
practice, shall examine them freely, and
endeayour 10 show their pernicious tenden-
cies.
The fourth resolution is as follows:
"Resolred, as our deliberate CONNECTION, That
the acts of Congress. usually denominated
the tariff, laws, &c. SC. Sc"
To deny to the General Gogcynisent. as
this resolution does, the power to impose du
ties, on articles manufactured abroad, with
the view Of protecting the manufacturing and
mechanic arts and of our own country, a
ga,nst the hostile rivalry and competition of
foreigners, is, practically and in effect, to
deny the power and remedy altogether. IL
the power be not in the General Government,
il exists no where. In the first place, the
Constitution of the United States expressly
says: "No State shall, without the consent
OF Congress, lay any imposts or duties on
imports or exports, except what may De alb
solutely necessary for executing its ihspec
ton laws"
Secondly: it is impossible for any indwidu-
al State, without concert and co operation
with the rest, to protect her own rnanuiac-
tureTs AMI mechanics agalnstthe hostile com
petition OF foreigners. The foreign article
would be introduced into the adjoining State
or States, and thence in spite oil any posi-
bic precaution, il would pass into the mar
kets of the State in question without paying
the protective duty The protecting DUTY
would thus be nuiilied and imperative. For
instance, Virginia, with view TO the lnte
rest Of the State wishes 10 rear up a particu
lar manufacture her next neighbors,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky,
North Carolina and Tennessee, either DO
not care to promote domestic manufactures
at all, or are aiming, each at some article
has at heart. Virginia imposes her tariff
which is operative only in her own ports,
where the fair trader pays the duty. and 10
ruined; because he is uadersold 10y The Illicit
dealer, who introduces il from the adj Jiuipg
States in which it pays no duty. u Is clear
" demonstrate that the States, individually
and separately, are incapable of maintaining
an effective system OF protection OF thei- own
arts and manufactures. II the protective
power cannot be exercised by the Gcnerai
Government, it cannot be exercised etiec
lively al al--and, the manufacturing and
mechanic interests OF the United States are
exposed without the possibility of protection
to the ruin that may result from the compe
tiion of foregu manufacturers, who work
sixteen hours day for such wages as 'ss
Just enable them to keep life and soul together
The fifth resolution says,
"That we can never acquiesce, &c"
The meaning of which presume IS, that
the two States Of Virginia and South Caro-
lima, claim from the rest Of the Union, a sa
crltice Of those interests which are protected
by the tariff, "as due to mutual spirit OF
Cancellation and harmony, to a proper res
pect for the opinions and interests OF large
portions of the community, and essentially
necessary to the preservation of the Union "
The alternative is, refly and plainly, this:
You must give up the Union, or surrender
the tariff for TO the latter we will not sub
nit This is the language Of Virginia, who
assumes unsolicited, the office OF mediator,
to the majority of this nation, which passed
The laws in question, and to the chiei magts-
trate who is charged with their execution
Virginia says that "her sympathies are cor
daily excited by wrongs and sutierInSs," that
are common" TO her and South Carolina;
and that she is "altached to her by ties as
strong as ever bound communities together"
Her principles are the same. Under these
circumstances. she profiers her mediation IN
referring dispute between individuals or
nations to arbitration, it is usual, believe,
10 select a third party that is wholly d'sinte-
rested Suppose then, what IS by no means
improbable, that the proffered umpirage al
Virginia is deciined--that her unsolicited me-
diaIion is rejected what has she ieit, bat to
submit tamely to the indignity, or to JOIN
Carolina and fight it out?
8. "Resolyed, That we have observed 10
the recent proclamation, &c"
In my apprehension, there is scarcely
principle ayowed in the Presidents proclama-
ton that is not just aud true; nor any pow
ers assumed for the Federal Government,
that are not entirely indispensable TO its exs-
tence- indispensable indeed 10 any thing that
deserves the name Of government. The pro
clamation contains an able, lucid, and con
elusive refutation OF the pes;ilent doctrine OF
notification. 1t is true, that doctrine had