Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-01-31
IExTRAcYs.l

In my annual Message nj the commence
ment OF your present session, adterted 10
the opposition To the revenue laws in a partic-
MAR quarter Of these United States, which
threatened. not merely to thwart their execu-
ton, but to endanger the integrity the TN
ION. And, although then Iexprpssed mysre-
lance that It might be overcome by the pru-
dence of the officers Of the United States, and
the patriotism OF the people, stated that
should the emergency arise, rendering the
execution OF the existing laws impracticable.
from any cause whatever, prompt notice
should he given to Congress, with the s6gges-
ton of such views and measures rs might be
| necessary to meet it. - -
Up to this period, neither the recommend
alton Of the Executive, in regard to our inan4
clal policy and impost system. nor the dispo-
sli"n manifested by Congress promptly to
act upon that subject, nor the MDequivocal ex-
preston Of the public win in all parts Of the
Union, appears 10 have produced any reiaxa.
ton IN the measures of oppositiun adopted by
the state Of South Carolina. nor is there amy
reason to hope. that the, ordinance and laws
will be- abandoned. / hare no knowledge
that an attempt has been made, or that it is
in contemplation to re-assemble either the
Convention or the Legislature and it will he
perceived, that the interval before the 1st Of
February is too short to admit of the prelim-,
mary steps necessary for that purpose. Ii APP
pears, moreover, that the state authorities
! are actively organizing their military resour-
ces. and providing the means, and giving the
most solemn assurances of protection and
support TO all who shall enlist in opposition to
| tie revenue laws. A recent Proclamation of
! the present Governor of South Carolina has
openly defied the authority Of the Executive
Of the Union, and general orders from the
head quarters Of the state have announced his
determination to accept Of the services Of vol-
unteers, and his belief, that should their toMn-
try need their services. they will be found at
the post of honor and duty, ready TO lay down
| their lives 10 her defence. Under these or
ders, the forces referred to are directed 10
hold themselves in readiness to take the
| field Mt a moments warning" and in the city
of CharlestOn--wiibin collection district,
and a port Of entry, rendezvous has been
opened for the purpose of enlisting men for
the magazine and municipal guard. Thus S.
Carolina presents herself in the attitude Of
hostile preparation. and ready even for mill
tary violence, If need be, to enforce her laws
for preventing the collection of the duties
within her limits. 74t gr
Proceedings thus announced and n,atnred
must be distinguished from menaces Of nm
lawful resistance by irregular bodies Of peo-
4
| may be restrained by reflection and the influ-
ence ofpublic opinion from the commission
of actual outrage. 10 the present instance ag-
erosion may be regarded as committed when
it is officially authorised, and the means of
enforcing it fully provided.
i Under these circumstances, there can be
NO doubt that it is the determination of the
authorities Of South CarOlina, fully to carry
into effect their Ordinance and Laws, ate
the first Of February. It therefore becomes
. my duty 10 bring the subject to the seriou
y consideration of Congress. in order that snci
81 measures as they. In their wisdom may deem
fit, shall be seasonably provided. and that il
may be thereby understood that while the
i Government is. disposed to remove all Just
4 cause Of complaint. as far as may be practi-
cable, consistently with proper regard to the
] interests Of the community at large, il ~ new
ertheless determined that the supremacy of
! the laws shall be maintained.
Here the President quotes largely from The
GoUernor's messages. lars. &c. Of s. CGroiind. ]
/ Ifthese measures cannot be defeated and
overcome by the powers conferred by the
| Constitution Of the Federal Government, the
! Constitution must be considered as incompe-
tent TO ito own defence. the supremacy Ofthe
laws is at an end. and the rights and liberties
Of the citizens can no longer receive protec-
ton from the Government OF the Union.--.
They not only abrogate the acts Of Congress
commonly called the tariff acts OF 1898 and
1882, but they PROSTATE and sweep away at
once. and without exception. every act and
levery part Of every act imposing any amount
whatever Of duty on any foreign merchandise.
and. virtually every EXISTING act which has ev-
er been passed authorizing this collection OF
! the revenue, including the act Of 1915. and
also ihe collection law Of 1899, the constitu.
fiOnality ofwhich has never been questioned.
1t is not only those duties which are charged
90 have been imposed for the protection Of
manufactures that arc thereby repealed, but
all others, though laid for, the purpose Of rev.
enue merely. and upon articles in no degree
suspected ofbeing objects Of protection. The
whole revenue system ofthe United States N
South Carolina Is obsirncted and oyerihrown |;
! and the government ID absolutely prohibited
from collecting any part of the public resen-
ue within the limits Of that state. Hence.
i forth not only the citizens Of South Carolina
! and of the United States, but the subjects OF
/ foreign States may import amy description or
! quantity Of merchandise into the ports Of
South Carolina, without the payment OF any
i duty whatsoever. That State 10 thus retlev-
led from the payment Of any part OF the pub-
| lie burthens and duties and imposts are not
only rendered NOT uniform throughout the VI
/ nited States, but direct and ruiDous prefer
! ence is given to the ports Of that state over
4hnae of n n the other States of the Union. In