Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-04-10
POLITICAL.
From the P.tsrsaurg iutrl.igcnc.t.l
MIR uROiNM

|
MIR BROWN
The Editor of the Constellation. who has protested
so strong desire TO make the ensuing election
,nrn upon the point that MIR Brown diSoJeyed truc-
"c"S has nevertheless been ransaclng the chronicles
OF The past !c suo different ground Of attack and has
stumbled Il notable discovery which he uarades be-
lore Tie public with air OF much triumph. lie has
ascertaned that SIX years ago, when Ar Brown repre-
sented tc county o, Harrison and shortly after lac
INTO pnliucal Me he voted IN the negative certain
resolutions introduced into the General Assembly,
speeding the sovereignty of the States and the c0ist-
tulohaiity and rNpcdiency OF the Tariff laws. The
Editor at once advances TO the conclusion, that Mr.
BROWNE IN voting against the resolutions intended to dis
arow The principles embraced in them, and
tclpac the most miraculous effects from The disclosure
lie seizes the occasion Also suggest that if this sin
can be forgiven in MIR Brown. surely his friend Mr..
IAN 5urcn. may be parduncd the Tariff law of 1898.
Most lame and mpocnt his conclusions in both in
stances
Whenever resolution of any character, upon any
subject Is brought before alcgsative body every
Der Is bound to vote upon IT. ie votes qym0ftre9 IL
must n, cessary be in consequence OF his approval
principle involved in IT, for which he thereby makes him
sell responsible But, If he votes i'll the negatirc, it
MAY be fro variety Of reasons Independent the prin.
ciple lie may acknowledge the truth ofihe principle
and yet vote against resolution asserting it, because he
deems 1T unnecessary mcxpcdien To act at all on The
suhJector because il may moi be o. ia the form
or with the qualifications hc requresOr because his con-
sutuents may bc opposed O IT, and he prefers do
ng IN The case, rather than do that which is unpalata-
bic To them.
Now authorized TO say that in voting against
those resolutions at the session lc2S ~ Mr. Brown did
not affirm that the States were not SOVEREIGN
or that the Tariff either constitutional cxpcdicnt
ne represented people who were known tO entertain
opinions adverse TO those expressed resolutions
/ ana who, recent amongst them had shown
were opposed to the adoption of legislative resolutions
declaratory of opinions upon abstract subjects Ills in
dVidua opinion was, that if The resolutions were adopt
ed' there ought to be some qualifying clauses cngraed
upon them; but he did desire any action on the
subject he felt himself under no obligations 10 no..
amendments Two year, preyious " tlr 7esl,.
iio's on similar gru lad Hccn adopted, and The Ia
llt vol les had already been in force tor nearly IL
months lie considered himself entirely at liberty to
consult the wishes of his constituents and did rn sup
pose, that IN voting against any resolutions thereby de-
teaihg the expression OF amy opinion, he max %
himself responsible for particular cf opiuiuns
AS he was prevented, accidentally, from making n
speech ON the occasOn Lee mentioned reasons before
hand, to the author ct The resolutions who may probably
recoilect the circumstance He declared 10 hn at t.
te, 'iid he admitted the sovereignty OF the STATES, and
"'dt le laws, JOT P0fcc0H were not among the objects
contemplated by the Constitutions but that some re-
ference ought to be- made IN the resolutions 90 The duty
OF state, To the coStaes certain prciminar
measures for redress before she i'm the las, re-
SORT To the extreme step, oudnrnt and redress i'm her
own behalf lie thought that whilst the otcct 81 proicc.
uoh TO manufactures unconstitutional thai tin.
'H0do and measures that is TO say the hgIiag pOccy
were within the letter o the Constitution and more
over, that IN particular cases the Tariff laws had not
oech oppressive. These Impressions which he avCwcd
IN the conversation alluded to, would have been si-
cient prctcxt had lac needed any for voting coli0i.
" To Tie VIII OF his constituents against the adoption CT
resolutions which did not exactly embrace his views
The Editor Of the Constellation in Isis eaneruess TO
iasten objectionable charge on Mir Brown and ia
had newer u tiiis ,,y agowr1 ~ ~ ~ , ~;
either on constitutional other grounds and as he
acted In leS may presume he Will do gain But
II Mr. Brown were wrong, he is now right and has
been for years steady aud Jealous advocate of State
Rights and an opponent Of the Tariff, the following
extracts wiilshow
Extract IF Mr.. BIS Speech in Me House Of D.egates IN
1893, "PO@ Mc 5. C0r0iisa (gadSt.n.
lie had, however. always thought that the crslatio
on tins subject CHE Tariti pervcrsipn of In, sp
and intention of tie Constitution rather than violation
OF Its literal provisions. The power to lay and collect
1 urQfa uF.4 tf. IL
the natOn and iur other specified objects vested I'm Con.
gross the discretion to judge what amount of revenue
was necessary Tor the purpose. More might be-
raised than was required for tie objects plated by
the Constitution, and this might be done dcsgncdly in
which case 1T was wiful abuse of discretionary
power, but II was abuse perpctratcd within the forms
| oil the Constitution, which had provided 40 check
or corrective, as to the amount of revenue TO bc
raised The Constitution had enumerated the oh
| Jccls Tor which revenue should BE- raised and ma
unnttcr how raised, TO what extent, it could no,
be appropriated to any other objects than those spc.
cihcd. In all cases where appropriation was tc
be made IT was perfectly easy decide whether wa.
constitutional or otherwise. When money was raised
by TIE Federal Government aud expended in the con
structl0n OF road or canal, able decide a
once, that the object of appropriation was not c0ntm
plated by the Constitution and that the violation WINS il
thcsccondary stage of the operation; so if revenue ne
beng raiscd were bcBtow cd ON TIE urcrs ia the
form of bountips for cF encouragement we could y
our hnger on The nacon. Bat it happened in REGARD
to This protective system, that the purpose was effected
III INC process OF raising the revenue, without the
cessity of an appropriation. The protection 10 manu-
ihctucrS YVES incidental and whether il the prnia
~ or secondary motive the secret the avowcd obicc
OF laying mPosts, !c violation pl.shrd udr
cover al the exercise of discretionary power l wal
measure OF policy moi ofcscen by The parties the Con
stituton and was productive Of decided benefit to h,
manufacturers and injury 10 other classes OF the comu
nity, as 1t premiums conferred directly ON them
but still IL could only be characterized an unconst
| uonal ciilcct Effected by constitutional means"
On Tic same occasion, MIR. Brown offered a series o.
resolutions, declaring among other things, That as h,
states are parties 10 The compact in their sovereign ca
aciy, there is abi.cr superior 10 the antho
rty oil the party Themselves; and further ~ hat this &c
neral Assembly has witnessed, with deep regret the
sumption and continued exercise Of power tie par
OF ihe Federal Government to pass laws arowedy fer a.,
protection OF domestic manufactures, which in their opc
ration and effects are unequal unjust, oppressive anc
contrary to thc spirit of the Constitution; and il due
the occasion. sormny repeat the adfnoni,ion that In,
measure ta PERSISTED n has Lee productive 81 genera
discomfort among the people iniuriously affected by il
and If net abandoned nnst inevitably weaken and il
/ The end destroy ihcr affection for the Union"
As the above explanations are made under The auho
rity and sanction cf Mr. g. viii tic Editor Of the Con
sication do that gentleman tic justice TO publish thcu
/
From tle Fetorauf. Co..triaion.1
Nh. Brow N-' lic reader w find i'm another column
the authorized reply Of Mr. Brown 10 uos IN biz
votes, IN opposition 10 The Statc-Kght and Anti-rurif
Resolutions OF MIR Goodc. II is ciccrnly r.. pnblshc,
from The Intelligence and hc is welcome 10 all the hcnc
fits Of such drtncc lie AYERS and we arc sure truly
that accident prevented bis making Speech ON tha
occasion Had le delivered It, are led pre- sumo h
would have advocated thc principles of those Rcsolu
lions, WhlC c voted anainsf thcW exhibiting the fof