Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-04-04
Concluded from second page.

violation of their constitutional rights. 1t was
but the last year, that South Carolina recorded
on the journals Of the Senate, her solemn protest
against it Gas utterly unconstitutional, grossly
unequal, and oppressive, and such an abuse o
power as is incompatible with the principles OF {
free government and the great ends of civil soci
etv.'' lido not know, sir, where the constitutions
objections to this system are better summed up
than in the very address of the Free Trade Con
vention of Philadelphia, to which the gentleman
has referred for another purpose The gentleman
is certainly mistaken, when he relies on that ex
, position as an authority In his favor. Sir, as
understand the argument, it is only admitted in
c;dental protection NAV be afforded by duties i'm
posed only for revenue, but that the right is ex
pressly denied of ''imposing any additional duty
for the purpose of affordng that protection"
dismiss this sbranch of the subject, with the re
mark, that whether we be right or wrong In ou
views on this question, the opinion is consclen
tiorsly and almost universally entertained thre'
out the whole South, that the protecting system
involves a cross violation of the solemn compact
which is the bond of our Union.
/ come now, sir, to the question OF the policy
which ought to be adopted at this important era
in the history of our government. We have ar
rived at most interesting crisis in our national
affairs-one to which the people have been look
ing up with intense anxiety for several years past
They have contemplated the extinction OF the
public debt the great day OF Juoiiee, "hen ,ney
were to be relieved from the expressions winch
thew have so long patiently endured. The peo-
pie of the South. sir, like the chiiareh Oh Isfae,
Of old, have passed through the wilderness, and
are now in sight Of the promised land. Ihey
stand on the top of Mount Pisgah, and look, with
delight, at the goodly prospect before thenl-and
II. Iatas Inn
shall perish in the wilderness, or be permitted 10
possess and enjoy their rich inheritance. Sir,
have shewn that the whole system of duties is
oppressive and unequal--that the very action of
the government is so--yet j do not wish gentle
men to suppose that we are disposed to push our
claims to an unreasonable extent. NO, we will
not ask that northern manufactures shall be taxed.
because duties, to whatever extent imposed, ope-
rate as a tax upon our industry. We are wiling
TO agree that the revenue necessary tor the ordl-
nary purposes If the government shall be levied
bv duties upon imports The facility with which
indirect taxes may be collected, affords an argu-
ment in their favor to which we are willing to
Weld. though we we'll know that they operate
most ipiuriousIv on our interests. But, in yield
inc tbis much. we have surely right TO expect
thai no more money shall be levied in this way
than shall be absolutely necessary. We think
we have RIGHT to insist, that the extinction OF
the public debt, the twelve millions of dollars
heretofore annually appropriated to that object,
should no longer be levied and, further, that no
more money shall be raised than may be neces-
sary to meet the ordinary expenditures of the
government. ANY other basis of reduction than
This mus, be founded on the idea of contempa-
ted increase of the public expenditures And
why should they be increased? We have rather
right to expect that they should be diminished.
The principle objects of expenditure, for many
wears past. have been connected with preparations
Tor war; but. with the progress of our works of
defence. and the increase of our population, the
necessity Of this expenditure will, in great meas
IRE. cease Indeed it does appear to me that it
will hardly he necessary, hereafter, to seek other
sec,r;tv AGAINST invasion than will be found in
the strong arms and stout hearts of our fellow
citizens eut the gentleman insists that our rev.
enue shall not be reduced below eighteen millions
of dollars. while we all know that twelve millions
have heretofore furnished an abundant supply for
ever nurpose. including a million year for in
ternal improvements. The gentleman admits
that we ought not to provide for a surplus, and
snvs with great force and truth, that division
of it among the States would be departure from
all sound principles of government. For, said