Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-27


State OF the Confederacy, in any form, much
less 10 cocrcc II by military power. hut VIC
arc aware OF the diveSities of human opinion;
and have seen too many proofs Of the infatua-
ton of human power, not 10 have looked with
the most anxious concern, to the possibility
OF n resort TO military or naval force on the
part Of ike Federal Governmens-and in or
der 10 obviatc the possibility Of having the
history CT this contest stained by a single drop
of fraterual blood, we have solemnly and ir-
revocably resolved, that We will regard such
resort rs dissolution Of the political tics
which connect us with our confed.ratcd
States and will, forthwith, provide for the
organization OF new and separate Govern
mcnt.
We implore, you, and particularly the ma
nufacturing States. not 10 believe that We
have been actuatcd, in adopting this rcsolu-
ton, by any feeling of resentment or hostility
towards them; or by "A desire to dissolve tho
political bonds which have so hong united our
common dcstiDies. We >iill cherish that RI
tional devotion To the tnion, by which this
State has been pre-cminently distinguished,
In all times past. But that blind and idola
trous devotion, which would bow down and
worship Oppression and Tyranny, veiled un-
der that consecrated titlc-if IL ever existed
among Is,-has now vanished forever. Con-
aiuii0nai Liberty the only idol Of our political
devotion; and To preserve that, We will not
hesitate a single moment, to surrender the
Union itself, il the sacrifice be necessary. If
II had pleased God to cover our eyes with ig-
norance-if he had not bestowed upon US the
understanding to comprehend the enormity OF
oppression under which we labor-we might
submit to IL without absolute degradation
and ipfamy. But the gifts of Providence
cannot be neglected or abused with impuniiy
A people, who deliberately submit To oppres-
sion, with full knowledge that they are OPP
pressed, arc TIT only to be slaves; and all his
tory proves, that such people will soon find
master. II is the prc-cXis,ing spirit Of sla-
very in the people, that has made tyrants in
all ages OF the world. No tyrant ever made
a sIave-no community, however small, hay
ing the spirit Of freemen. ever yet had a mas
ter. The most illustrious Of those States,
which have given 10 the world examples Of
human freedom, have occupied Territories not
larger than somc of the Districts Of South
Carolina while the largest masses OF popu-
lation that were ever united under common
government, have been the abjcct, spiritless
and degraded slaves Of despotic rulers. We
sincerely hope, therefore, that no portion of
the states of this Confcderacy, will permit
themselves To he deluded into any measures
OF rashness, by the vain imagination, that s.
Carolina will vindcate her rights and liber-
ties, with less inAexib!e and unfahering re-
solution, with population Of some half a
million, than she would do with n population
Of twenty millions.
IL does not belong 70 Frcemen TO count the
costs, and calculate the hazards Of vindicating
their rights and defending their liberties and
even II we should stand alone in the worst
possible emergency of this great controversy,
VI lha
OF single State of the confederacy, we will
march forward with an unfaultcring step,
until we have accomplished the object Of this
great enterprise.
Having now presented for the consideration
oil the Federal Government and our confede-
rate States the fixed and final determn alton
OF this State In relation TO the protecting sys-
tenn, II remains for Us TO submit a plan of
taxation in which we would be willing to ac-
quiesce, in a spirit of liberal concession, pro-
vided we are met in due time and in a be-
coming spirit by the States Interested in the
protection Of manufactures
We believe that upon every just and equi-
table principle of taxation, the whole list of
protected articles should be imported free OF
all duty, and that the revenue derived from
import duties, should be raised exclusively
from the unprotected articles, or that when
I
imported, an excise duty of the same rate
should he imposed upon all similar articles
manufactured in the United States. This
would be as near an approach to perfect
equality as could possibly be made in sys-
ten OF indirect taxation. No substantial
reason can be gwen for subjecting manuiac-
lures obtained abroad, IN exchange for the
production Of South Carolina, TO the smallest
duty, even for revenue, which would not show
that similar manufactures made in the United
States should be subject TO the very same
rate Of duty. The former, not less than the
latter, are, TO every rational intent, the pro-
auctions Of domestic industry, and the mode
of acquiring the one, is as lawful and more
conducive TO the public prosperity, than that
of acquiring the other.
I But we are willing ~ make large offer
/ ing 20 preserve the Union and with dis
tInct declaration that Il y a concession on our
! part, we will consent that the same rate OF
duty may be imposed upon the protected ar
tielcs that shall be imposed upon the unpro-
tecied, provided that no more revenue be
raised than Is necessary 10 meet the dem ands
of the Government Tor Constitutional purpo-
ses, aud provided also that duty. smbstan-
tally uniform, be imposed upon all foreign
imports.
u Is obvious, that even under this arrange.
ment, the manufacturing states would have a
decided advantage over tho planting States.
FOR q y demonslrably evident that az com
munIties, the manufacturing States would
bear no part Of the burthcns Of Federal taxa
ton, 80 far a. the revenue should be- derived
from protected articles. The earncstness
with which their Representatives seek 20 in.
crease the duties on these articles, - eonelm-
siye proof tina. those duties arr bouniies. and
not burthens, ~ their constituents A. NJ
I least two-thirds % the federal revenue would
be raised from the protected articles, under
tho proposed modification of the tariff, the
manufacturing States would be entirely ex-
omPied from All participation IN that proper
ton Of tic public burthets.
/ Under these circumstance, VIC cannot per-
NIT ourselves 70 believe for a moment, that
70 crisis marked b. such porte tous aud
fearful Omens, those states can hesitate IN
I accediDg 10 this arrangement when thew 10 r.