Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-13

The Constitution was the creature Of all, its des-
huction Of abandonment cannot be rightfully &C.
complished except by q movement which shall
bind all.
Sir, said Mr.. D., cannot find in the Consti-
tuition, expressly or implicitly. a warrant for the
course Of South Carolina, and can therefore en-
terrain no doubt Of our constitutional power to
enact this Bill into law. What are its tendeu-
cies aud objects7 81
1t is painful to see the true character Of leg
islative measure 50 strangely perverted or mis-
conceived a. this has been, in the course OF the
present debate. We have it in print before US:
It has laid upon our desks for many days, liable
to the strictest examination-it hangs, inaccessi-
BILE to vision, upon no lofty plar-it has already
travelled through the press, and has been can.
vassed by the people, In yarietyof ways: it can
not now be deformed by mere rhetoric, nor burr.
ed under mound of obloquy. Like the Constl-
tuition on which have been commenting, its
words are plain and Ineligible, aud it is meant
for the home bred, unsophis,icated understand
ngs Of our fellow-citizens. Who cannot per-
celye that in every one of its provisions in all its
possible action, it purely and simply defensive?
II is Illuminated with the declaration t0which AS
orator adverted, .let US alone and we will let you
alone" 1t is called into being By the ordinances,
laws, and military demonstrations Of S. c., and
it cannot work except as counteraciive OF avo".
ed schemes to evade, resist, and nulify our laws.
These schemes, il as agreed on all hands, must
succeed il we supiney fold our arms. Ii they
are legitimate and just, let them succeed: if they
are wrong aud subversive Of our peace, our con-
| stitulon, and our statutes we must act, or give
up the government as incapable or unfit to be adj
ministered. The Bill proposes to exhaust the
civil and judicial means Of carrying the laws in
to execution, before single movement OF DIFF
ferent kind be countenanced.
When our legal custody of imported goods, un-
der the duty act, Is avowedly to be defeated BY
the ex traordinary replsyin law, can we do less
than double the number and strength Of our Gus.
tom-house bolts and barsl When the avenues
to justice are poisoned or polluted by test oaths,
| can we do less than devise modes Of reaching and
entering her eternal Temple, through purer and
safer channels! And when the sublime terrors
Of The Blue Cockade and the Palmetto Button
are paraded before our eyes, may we not be ex-
rused, il, in mere effort to keep courage from
| oozing out at at our fingers ends, we permit the
Eagle 70 soar litle-only Iitte-and the stars
and stripes to fan but gently our fainting spirits!
sir, (said Mr.. ID. law is alike odlous and dan
ger0us to those who wish to disobey it. Restraint
is always arbitrary, dictatorial, despotc, in the
| vocabulary uf those who desire to do as they
| pie Of this country strongly impressed with the
con g'cton, that without law there can be no H.
berty; and that they who preach disobedience to
to the on", the most apt to disregard the 9th
er. There is something very oppressive about
the course If control which this bill sanctions -
Obedience to the revenue laws is to be enforced
hrst, through collectors, surveyors, and tide-wai
| ters. Is not this, sir. quite unprec edented:-
Them the interference 0f marshais, baIlIffs, and
tipstaves. is authorized. Who can imagine a
greater extension OF arbitrary power! Anon,
impartia! AYE. there's the ruby judges and jurors
are provided Is no. this assuming most bel
ligerent and offensive attitude? But il gets
worse and worse: # our laws are threaten.
ed with prOsiraton, our officers with violence.
and the community with riot. conflagra,ion, and
bood,hed. why then tie bill. in pure, unmlxed,
unmtigaied dcspo,ism. arms the President with
the overwhelming and exterminating power Of Is
suing death warrants? No! his Proclama-
ton to dispense! SIR. thc Boston Port Bill, the
Jersey Prison Ship, the Imperial Ukase of desc
lafion against Poland. was nothing TO this; all
their virtues concentrated could not equal Pre-
sidentiaI Proclamation to enforce the payment
of duties on hosshead Of sugar! But enormi.
ty accumuiates upon enormty; and this dread.
full bill, denounced as declaration of war, actu.
UiuCCTS W tic CustOUuSs WHcu
the property under their charge shall be endan.
gered by unruly combinations and force-to back
out Of the scrape, run away. and not to stop un-
til they have river between themselves and their
assalants! 1t IS too much; the principles of '9S,
the holy cause Of human freedom, the blood Of
our ancestors. the blue cockade aud palmetto
button, cannot sanction or endure it.
Sir, tsaid Mr.. d. this is, in plain reality, the
outline OF the bill, until we reach point at which,
Tor the purpose Of protecting the lives. liberties
and properties, Of our fellow citizens in South
Carolina, it may become necessary 10 queil re-
fractory and reasonable disobed,ence with the
vigor and promptDess Of military or naval force.
Ii the emergency be brought on by those Who are
bent upon throwing off their allegiance to the
Constitution and Laws OF the land, we may de-
plore, but we cannot avoid it; we must meet it
with every possible forbearance, but with firm
ness. Ours will not be the responsibility for
consequences. unless We fail IN preparing ade.
quately and effectively to prevent or ameiorate
them. Nor have the dread which is entertain.
ed by others, Of using, on special occasions, and