Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-28
Virginia Legislature.
FEDERAL RELATIoNS-(Contimu

Speech OF Mr., BRowN. of Petersburg, delivered in
Committee ofhe Uhoie, on the state Of The Relations
6ettceeH The United States and South Carolina. on
Saturday, the 9Th January.
MIR. Brown OF Petersburg, said, that in the course OF
me remarks which he begged leave 10 submit TO the com
miitee, upon the important subject under consideration,
ne should take many things for granted, which had siiord-
ed TO other gentlemen "A theme of eloquent and impress.
sive discourse. He should take it for granted. that all
were sensible oil the value of the Union, and of the dis
asuous consequences which must result from its dissolu-
uon, lie should take it for granted that all were actuated
by The same patriotic desire to preserve at every hazard,
'he peace aud happiness Of our common country; and that
purity and disinterestedness of purpose, which lie ac-
corded TO others, he claimed Tor hinself-and he claimed
no more IL would not, perhaps, be going too far, TO pre-
sumo that all were convinced, that il was indispensably
necessary that Virginia should come forward and inter.
pose, IN some shape or other, in the unhappy controver-
sy TO which all eyes were now turned with such painful
anxiety. When il was admitted on every hand that the
Union was in d~angcr-when the ties which had so long
bound the States Of this Contcderacy together in close
ana glorious Fellowship, We're about TO be broken-when
that beautiful fabric OF republicanism, for the establish
ment OF which, she had so freely poured forth her blood
anu treasure ~ by-gone days, was lettering TO is fall,
Virginia could not fold her arms in cold neutrality, and
calmly await, without seeking TO avert, a catastrophe
which, come wheni IL might, would bury deep in one indis-
crlmina,e rum, the Liberties and happiness of this hemis-
phere' u not oil the whole human family. But in what
mode should she interpose to calm the troubled Gle.
mentst All exclaimed, that she must assume the office Of
mediation. He admitted that there was something so
lnttinsicaly lovely in the labours of the peace maker,
that we were impeied to this course by the finest
impulses oil the human heart; and a few days ago, when
NN"'RNA W A"C HGud1G Va dppfOdCHlnB
violence, in the arlour of the moment, he might have
lent a willing ear to the mildest words of cancellation, and
turned win aversion from the stern language of remon-
s'rahce' But, u that weakness ever affected him, il had
passed away. He was in favor of mediation, but a eau
uous and guarded lncdiadon-a mediation Of mediation ii
could be called,) founded in reason and Justice, and not in
the suggestions of a visionary sympathy. He would have
virginia declare her opinions freely and fully upon all the
principles involved in the controversy OF
co'irse-but yet with a decision and ~frankness that would
leave no doubt OF the course she would pursue under eve
ry event which could as yet be ioreseen. Let her sister
states one and all, listen ii they pleased and follow her
acVlce, II they approved II. She would have done her
duty, and should her admonitions fall UNDECIDED TO the
ground, be the consequences on those who condemned
her friendly voice. Some gentlemen feared that if
we censured the conduct of s Carolina, we should give
offence, and not only defeat the object OF our intercession,
but drive that proud aud sensitive people, already chaled
anu ireted with their wrongs, into still greater excuses.
feeble indeed, he said, must be the bond which holds us
together, II this or any other State, could not freely ex.
press lis views upon matters equally interesting TO all,
without being challenged for insult or arrogance. IfIhis
Union, the citadel of our liberties, was so weak and ruin
Gus that the warder on the watch. tower could not proclaim
the approach OF danger, lest his voice should shake the
crumbling ediiice to the earth, let it fall al once, for il
was no longer a means OF security or defence. The gem
ueman from F~auquier, however, sought TO obviate this diff.
ncultty by The adoption OF a single resolution requesting S.
Carolina TO repeal her Ordinance, without assigning any
other reason than that il may endanger The Uuion. Could
mat gentleman, in his most sanguine moments, fatter
nl"'Se'I WIN IN nope, that our request, prepared un-
der such circumstances, would be complied with
Did he not remember the fearful deliberation with
Whlch Sonlh Carolina had advanced TO her present
Posiuon-her resoluuons-her protests-her mantle tos
her spirit stirring addresses-her final declaration. in
which she had proclaimed to the world, that her prievan-
ces were no longer tolerable, and she would redress them
-peaceably, il she could-torcibly, il she must. Stand.
ing committed as she did before her sister States, would
she at the bare bidding of Virginia, abandon her measures
ana rstrace her steps ! Had we any reason 10 believe thai
the influence of the 9 Old Dominion was SO commanJino
so especially potent over South Carolina, that her mere
suggestion would produce this almost miraculous effect
Or dd we persuade ourselves, that Carolina was merely
playing the braggadocio in the face of nations. and a(te,
startling us with apparitions of disunion and blood. vailed
ODIN IOf "A DrGtH \ a tn shrink m tho A,eo5 al&I III -
voked ! Her Convention was adiourncd-her Legislature
gone to their homes-the first OF February was rapidly
approaching-eveTy state-paper that she issucd-everI
measure she adopted Indicated a deter mination TO pres.
forward IN her purpose, and even TO close the door TO re.
treat. And yet the gentleman from Fauquier believed
That when Virginia invoked her TO desist, from a regar,
Tor that Union, whose value she had already calculated
like a charmed spirit under the wand Of the magician. she
would oOey, without even questioning the cause, or de.
manding an equivalent. He said wc could not expect
we could not wish even Tor the sake of the benefits which
might result from ii, that a people confe ssedly brave and
chivalrous even to a FAULT, should act so puerile a part
exhibit so laincutable a spectacle of imbecility. There
was one event, and only one, in which our Ovcrtures il
the shape proposed by the gentleman from Fauuuier
could prove eiiectual. If South Carolina shouli lac.
lieve that a compliance with our request, and a re
peal OF the Ordinance would impose on Virginia ar
obligation to find other aud Sufficient means of redress
TO accomplish the object at every hazard, she would, II,
DOUBT, accede to our proposition. She would then hav,
gained an ally, and might, without loss of dignity or no
nor, change her attitude and renew the contest under diff
lerent auspices. Was Virginia now prepared TO pledp,
herself that tic protective system should be overthrown
even though the Union should fall with il? There wa
but little difference OF opinion in his commonwealth as Il
the unequal and oppressive operation OF this system. II,
claimed no more consistency for himself, OH This or an,
other subject, than he allowed TO others; but il was a re
miniscence of some value TO him, and perhaps he mich
be pardoned Tor abiding TO il, that his earliest essay il
poltIcs, was IN reprobailon OF a protective Tariff. WheI
he trst stood at the threshold Of public lie, aud put lortf
a step to enter, the greatest, aud he might almost say
che only obstacle in his way, was the zeal with which. I,
the extent oil his humble abilities, he opposed this odiou
policy OF forcing manufactures preHiaturely into existence
lie had, however, always thought that the legislation q,
this subject was a perversion olibe spirit and intent of In,
Constitution, rather than a violation Of its liberal provi
sioDs. The power "to 10y and collect taxes, duties. I'm
posts and excuses, to pay the debts Of the nation. an,
for other specified objects, vested in Congress the discre
ton TO Judge what amount Of revenue was necessary Co
the purpose. More revenue might be raised Than was re
CURED Tor the objects contemplated by the Constitution
and this might be done designedly, in which case j
was a wiliul abuse OF a discretionary power bui il wa
an abuse perpetrated Within the forms OF the Constitution
which had provided no check or correction as 10 IN,
amount OF revenue TO be raised. The Cons6tuiior
had enumerated the objects for which revenue shoul,
be raised, and no matter how raised or 10 wha
extent could not be appropriated 10 any otbel
objects than those specified. In al cases where ar
appropriation was 10 be made, IL was perfectly easy 10 de.
eide whether II was constitutional or Otherwise. Whe,
money was raised by The Federal Government and ex.
pended IA The construction Of a road or canal. we were
able 10 decide alonce, that The object Of appropriation wa.
not contemplated by The Constitution, and thai the viol,.
ton was 10 the secondary stage Of the operation; 20. II
revenue alter being raised, were bestowed on the manu-
lecturers in the form Of b0unties for their announcement
VIC could lay our finger on The infrsction. But III sppen.
ed IN regard to this protective system. that the purpose
was effected IN the process OF raising the revenue, With
out the necessity OF an appropriation. The protection "a
manufactures was incidental, and whether il were the
| primary or secondary mOiive-the secret or the avoyged
object OF laying imposts--the violation was accomplish.