Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-13

harmless paragraph from the National Intelligent
Ger. and makes it the tcxs of hi, atrabilious ofu
sion.
''Fhc votes of thu Senate, Yesterday upon tho
reference of Nr. Benton's blanket BILL with cor
responding votes of the same body, seem to ndi-
cate a settled determination, in thet BODY not to
sacrifice the principle of protection to manufac-
lures, and in that view highly interesting"
This paragraph he says, swell becomes its
place, in this prime organ of II. Clay's wild and
unPrnciPled ambition" at is the first move in
grand attack upon the Constitution designed by
H. Clay and his purtiznns." But the whole article
of Civis is SO curious, and well calculated to
benefit Mr. Clay, by exhibiting tho reckless hatred
OF his enemies, and the means they keep
up the preiudiees and delusions against him. which
they havo heretofore contrived nfusc into tho
minds of the people of Virginia, that we beg
leave to quote it at length.
"Such is the first editorial paragraph in the
Washington National Intelligenccr of last Friday.
1t well becomes its place in this prime organ of III.
Clay's wild and unprincped ambition Notwth-
standing its ambiguous and Sphynx- like phraseolo-
gy, its object is too distinctly to be mistaken.
1t is the first move in grand attack upon the Con
slitutIon, dcsgnedby III. Clay and his partzans.-
They first take hold of matters apparently of little
import; and treat them not to excite alarm
Inc foregoing extract, for instance, regards, what
might De called question ofmere order, and is
oNPi'SSSus 10 IL receive construction
the opposite of what was intended, and to convey
the idea of settled detcrm nation in the Senate
NOT to sacrifice to manufactures, about which
the Constitution is silent, and for which it makes
no provision, the principle of protection against
force or fraud from Without rithin, due to the
whole people of the several States in their po-
litical capacity members of the onion,
and guaranteed to them by the Constitution
Not so, but quite the reverse, the aim of the
paragraph. 1t is a consistent part of the scheme
By which III. Clay and his partizans would first
under 'iinc and then ovcrturn the Constitution, 10
make Sry FOR that arbitrary and despotic rule of
mere maJorities IN Congress, hich they are labor
ing tie Introduce, untrammced by the limit ions
OF the Consultation. Hy sly and gradual insnu-
atoms, they would familiarize the minds of the
people with the action of Congress, direct or in
direct On sub jec ts wholly without the Constitutions
In exclusion, to the destruction, of subjects and
interests, the safety, preservation and regulation
OF which have been expressly confdcd to Congress
by the Constitution They would thus, by de-
grces, subycrt the whole fabric of our happy Gov
eminent, and pave the way for enslavng, under
color of law, tho free citizens of these United
States.
Mr.. Benton's bill intended purely for the ben
eit of our Indians, by dispensing with the duties
the blankets for their use, is ironically and with
sinister design called his 'blanket bill" BY the
votes IN question 1t was referrcd-not to the com
mittec on RcreRuc-not to the commtte on Indian
ADdTs-both express objects of the Constitution
but to the committee on Manufactures. Yea, on
Manufactures as to which the Constitution is ST.
lent, and Tor which, proceeding as they do, from
the private and domciiary labor of the citizen in
his private capacity no principle of public law
could any provision with propriety be introduced
INTO to the Constitution. The corresponding votes
were on the bill TO abolish the duties Alum
GAIT, which, involving the question, whether
the revenue derived from this article should
continue or cease, rcferred-not TO the
Revenue or Finance Committee, but TO that
OF Manufactures. Why so? Was it because
revenue is ono of the subjects or objects of the
ut I'm
shcw That the Constitution, when it would oppose,
restrain limit or restrict mere legislative MAORI
", must yield, give way, and be nullifed by those
sworn to aintain it, especially when such major
ity, assuming 10 itself absolute and despotic now
er, and the functions of an unlimited lerisla-
ture, in utter disregard of the contract esta-
blished by the fundamental law-that law which
gave Them existence, and of the solcmnity
of sacred oaths, wills, or seeks to sacrifice
justice, equity and right, to avarice and cupid
ity,-te the love of money and the lust of power;
ano to subject the great mass ofthe people, and
their property to the unjust cxtortion and exaction
OF few nianufac lures in and out of Conpress7
CtVIS.
We said this article was calculated TO benefit
Mr.. Clay; for with liberal men, unfounded aspsr-
sion olevatcs the object of attack and accusations
made without proof, rather illustrate the innocence
of the accused. Civis talks of Mr.. Cay's "wild
and unprinciPled ambition" Where is his war
rant7 Is it that Mr.. Clay is candidate for the
Presidency The evidence convicts Mr..
Jefferson, Mr.. Madison, and the "Greatest and
Best" himself IF Mr.. Clay does aspire to the first
Office, where is tho man 10 whom Heaven and his
own crcrtions, have given better right to indulge
the aspirations of high and legitimate am5ition7
Can the doughty Hero, be a c. Bdidatc for the first
dignity among mankind, not only without being
denounced for ''wiId and unprinciped ambition"
but with appreciation and applause, and is the
same act uupardonahlc in IPenry Clay7 Faugh!
The affair which has inspired Civis with so much
indignation, is simply, tho reference Of Benton's
Salt and Blankets TO the Committee of Manufac-
lures, instead Of to that of Finance. This is in
tcrPreted to mean that the majority Of the Senate
are indIsposcd to mart with the principle of protcc
ton, however well disposed to reduce the Tariff TO
one for Revenue. This inference derived from
this fact is the occasion Of the outpourinr of TIE
wrath of Civis upon Fir. Clay. Among the Sena-
tors who voted with Mr.. Clay, for the reference TO
the Committee Of Manufactures, ara Dallas and