Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-06-23

"a sun fills Us editorial columns with eli1ees on
| Mr.. Clay. We do not object 10 bis compliments
but protest against his logic. For the amusement
Of our readers we transfer his leading article &c
our columns. lie justly calls all who give io
the federal constitution a latiiudinaran consiruc'
ton, Unauthorized BY lis letter." FedsraHsis.-
d" Henry Cay," he says, ais a democratic re-
publican Of the old JeiIersonian school" And
yet THIS same Mr. Clay is the father Ofthe Tariff
Of the doctrine of Internal Improvement and Of a
National Bank-systems, the power to establish
which is no where s1pressiy gwen by the consti
tuition las all parties will conless) and must there
fore be derived by a Authoritarian construction y
Of that instrument BY this test therefore, Mr..
Clay is "tederahst. According TO the doc
trines commended fol by Mr.. Clay, Congress has
the right TO borrow money and create National
debt for the purpose Of making Improvements in
the country, or the right TO levy high duty on all
imported merchandise, blankets and Scotch bag
ging for instance, thus raising large surplus rev.
enue TO be distributed among the States, in une-
quail proportions or squandered to open creeks
aud build up embryo towns. Mr.. Clay contends
| for the right Of Congress, under the constitution
to cut roads through the territory of State and
erect toll gates and bridges, and exact tolls from
every citizen who passes. liza Mississippi plan
ter sees fit, now that our currency IS so deranged
and exchange 20 high, to send ten bales Of his
own cotton TO England and have ii manufactured
there into gro-cothing for his own use, Mr..
Clay insists upon it, that Congress has the right
TO lay AK Of 80 and even 80 per cent upon the
planters goods, in order to encourage Nes Eng.
hnd manufactures. This discrimination between
the Southern planter and the Northern manurac.
hrer is no where recognized on the face of the
constitutions and is therefore n construction or
= atltudnarlan power. Mr.. Clay must certain
~ be "tederaIlst " Suppose one Of our plan
tiers finding that our bank paper will not buy Su-
gar in Mobile, writes TO his brother in Havana TO
send him over hcgshead, Mr.. Clay contends
that Congress must exact heavy toll from the
importer before the sugar can pass the custom
house. Is this right derived from " "a strict con-
structIon OF the constitution" (which f" says the
Sun, "Ihe republican party chershes" Certainly
not planter in this vicinity requires linseys,
hats and blankets for his slaves in the winter he
clips his sheep and sends the wool to Europe with
orders TO have it worked up and returned to him,
yet, says Mr. Clay "you must pay a tax Of SO and
l3 per cent to the government before you can get
those articles from the customhouse and distribute
them among your hands. We must encourage
our northern brethren who have built up their fac
tories; besides, We want money 10 pay off PEN
sons and to build bridges in Vermont and clea:
out creeks III Connecticut. We have lighthouses
TO build; we must equip squadron TO send to the
South-pole to examine tho botany of those re-
gions, we want opay the expenses of mission
TO Panama &c. &c. and the constitution gives us
the power to do all this, and to raise the necessa-
ry funds by taxing you. Mississippi planters are
rich and able TO bear little bleeding. 81 grow
hemp" says Mr.. Clay, sand your cotton will 20
to market better IN my heavy Kentucky bagging
than in the light ilmsy stuff that is sent here from
Scotland. have done great deal for you; |
have been run and defeated for the Presidency
three times; am running and will be defeated
again; but in return for these patriotic sacrifices
you should do something for me. We will there
fore tax all imported bagging 80 or 40 per cent
and compel you 10 use the Kentucky anicle-thC
| constitution gives US the power to do So" Yet
says the Sun, Mr., Clay is ga democratic repub
can Of the Jetlersonian school," and Mr.. Var
Buren,. who is opposed to tariff national debt
a national bank and the doctrine of Internal I'm
Provements, is "lederast." Verify this is 10
Sic. Again, in the debate on Mr.. Calhouns res
characterization that must forever, let par,ie
change as they may. endear the Carolina Senate
to the Souh.--Mr Clay asserted that Congress
light rlghtiully entertain jurisdiction over tn,
subl,ct slavery in the Distric. OF Columbia
Does he derive This power from "a strict con
struction" Of tho constitution or does II emana
from "latitudinarian'' Interpretation, dangerous
to the peace md stability OF our Unlonl w
might so on and multiply instances, by the hun
bred, to show that if loose construction OF u
constitution makes one "fcdelalis," MI. Cla,
is one of the deepest die. lie is not the father O
this dangerous rule Of Interpretation or rather Q
Interpretation without rule, for it has no limits;
originated with Alexander Hamilton and his con
temporarles Of the federal school, and Mr.. Cha
NOV cried up as Jeiiersonian republican.9
its oldest, most ablo and most steadlast advocate
So much for this point.
But says the "Sun," Mr.. Van Bu.en is uCe,