Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-06
ALEXANDRIA, I'd. CO.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH s 1888.
EDGAR SsowDsN, Esq. Editor Of the IAleran
dria Gazette:

EDGAR SsowDsN. Esq, Editor Of the Aieran.
dria Gazette:
WAsHINeroN, d. c., MARCH 4. 1888.
DEAR Sir: In the analysis, which lately APP
peared IN YOUR paper, Of the vote of the House
Of Representatives. on the bill modifying the Ia
riff Of July 1882, appear to be the only mem
Der from Virginia opposed to that measure: and.
as it was regarded, BY large majority Of those
who voted for 1t, as one OF paci6cation, avail
myself Of the channel of your paper, to state,
briefly. the grounds Of nv dissent to it, sustain
ell, as it was, by many Of my personal and poll
teal friends
Those grounds would have been publicly sub
mitted to the House, Of which was member,
had not regarded It as duty to for6ear to pro.
tract debate, which consumed up a very large
portion Of the late session OF Congress; and, at
one time, threatened to render an extra session
of that body necessary TO the administration Of
the Government.
1t is known to all my intimate friends, that,
although was not an original advocate of the
protective system, beyond an adequate provision,
in peace, of the means OF defence in war, con-
slider the public faith as s"lemnIy plisbted, by
the various tariff acts Of Congress, since the last
war with Great Britain, to those citizens of the
United States who have accepted the invitation
of those laws, to place their capital and labor
under the shield Of the protective policy.
The testimony Of so many men, representa-.
tives of the eastern and middle States, in both
Houses of Congress,-in whose knowledge Of the
condition Of the manufactures Of the country
had much confidence, as well on account of their
integrity and ability, as of their better opportu.
nifty of information, derived from their place of
abode, a great proportion Of whom voted against
the bill in question, accustomed in my mind no
little hesitation to give to it the sanction OF my
vote.
But an earnest desire to pacify the existing
discon,ents, to the South. if practicable, in a
manner consistent with what is due to the autho-
rity Of the laws, induced me to declare to the
friends around me. after the bill had come from
the Senate called the reinforcing act" that, If
it passed the House, | would yield my assent
to modification OF the tariff: for which. bills
were then under discussion in both Houses.
The order in which those bills should pass the
Senate, had been, in my Judgment, very pro
perly arranged; and that arrangement regard
ed as Of material consequence to the character
oi the nation.
South Carolina had nulli6ed Law of the Unit
ed States, and threatened resistance to any at
tempt to enforce its execution. To WELD to this
threat, would be, in my opinion, a virtual renun-
citation OF the sanction, not Of this particular law
only, but of the entire authority Of Congress.
While an attitude of defiance was maintained by
that State, regarded any concession from the
federal government, prior to provision of the
means and the expression of determination to
maintain, unimpaired, the authority OF the Union,
as wholly derogatory to its character. and as
eminently tending to endanger its future exist
ence. by inviting similar resistance from other
quarters, and general and fatal dislrust Of its
authority every where.
1t was BY no means certain, at the moment at
which the late tariff bill passed the House of Re-
representatives., that the reinforcing act" might
not be defeated, provided the former preceded
it, Many causes led me 10 consider the passage
OF the enforcing act" in such event, as doubt
full Among these, were the advanced period of
the session, which must terminate in few days,
and the anxiety of many members to pass ano
Their very important act, called the LAND bill"
Accordingly. after the bill of Cancellation had
passed, there were more than 70 votes to lay the
" enforcing act' on the table, with the avowed
intent not again to consider it during the session.
AS buth acts have now passed. have only to
make, in justice to myself, this explanation TO-
nv constituents.
While | congratulate you and them. on the
reasonable hope which those measures afford of
the restoration Of harmony to our Union. with
out material injury TO any class of citizens,
take tins occasion to say, that never. for one
moment, considered its existence seriously en-.
dangered bv the political movements of South
Carolina. That glorious bulwark, not of our
own freedom merely, but of the liberty of man
kind, l regard as incapable Of being subverted
by the madness or folly Of a single State.
am, Dear Sir,
Very respectfully,
Your Obedent servant,