The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-05-01


necessarily grows Of the fiscal action of the Gov
ernment."
Sir, ] utterly deny that there is the least fonnda
ton in fact, for this distinction. II is an odous dis
7 tincton, calculated TO inspire envy and haired
and being as think, wholly groundless, its sugges
ton, aud the endeavor 10 MAINTAIN II, onght W D'
resisted, and repelled We are all taxpayers u
the United States, who use articles on whhih "Po','
laid and who Is there that is excused rom u II
tax, does not pay his proper part OF II, ACCORDING
| to his consumption ? Certainly no one
On the other hand, who are the Tax consumers
CLEARLY, the army the navy, me aoo'o'S v" ~
lie works, and other persons IN Go'ernmeh' empty
ment. But even these not idle consumers H'ey
are dgents of the Government and of the people.
| Pensioners may be considered as persons VINO en-
Joy benefit from the public taxes OF inc county ,
without rendering present service IN return o" %
legal provision for them stands on me gronhI Vi
previois merit which none deny. 1--we mao
vast national debt, the annual interest," Vi WHY"
vas a charge upon the country, me ho'oeis Vi '.
debt might be considered as tax consumers pu'
we have no such debt. If the distinction, therefore,
which tho pentlemap states exists anywhere, most
certainly It does not exist here. And cannon put
exceedingly regret that sentiments ana oP'n,ohS
should be expressed here having SO little fonndauoh
and yet so well calculated 10 spread preJndice ana
dislike, far and wide, against the H'Vefhmeh' anu
| institutions of the country.
But Sir, / have extended these remarks aircaoy
to n length for which find no justification but III
my profound conviction oil Inc importance Vi .no
to me about TO rush mady from our proper spheres
We are TO relenquish the performance OF our own
incumbent duties TO abandon the exercise oi essen
la powers, confded by the constitution 10 our nanos
for the good OF the country. This was my OPINION
in September--it is my opinion now What we
propose to do, and what we omit to DO, are, ~ my
judgment, likely TO make fearful, perhaps ia'ai'
noad upon tine unity OF commerce between 'neoo
States, well as to embarrass and harrass me e''
poymens of the people, and TO prolong existing
evils
Sir, whatever we may think of il now, the con-
stilulion had its immediate organ in the conviction
of necessity for this uniformity, or Identity, IN com
mercal regulations
The whole history of the country, of every year
aud every month from the close OF the war OF the
Revolution TO 1889, proves this. Over whatever
other blessings it now does, or hereafter mays con-
fer on the millions ofiree citizens who do or snail
live under its protection; though in time to
come, it should raise pyramid OF power ana
grandeur, whose apex should look down, on tue
loltest political structures of Other nations and 9TH
ages, it will yet be true, that it was ltset The
child of pressing commercial necessity. Unity and
identity Of commerce among all the States was It's
semiaal principles 1t had been found absolutely
impossible excite or foster enterprise IN trade
under the influence of dscordant and jarrlng State
regulations The Revolution itself was beginning
to be regarded doubtful blessing. Inc ocean
before was barren waters NO American
canvass whtened its bosom-nO Reels OF ours
ploughed it's waste. The journals Of the Congress
ofthe Confederation showthe most constant ,unceas
ing, unwearied, but always unsuccessful appeals to
the States and the people to renovate the syste
nuse into that Confederation at once spirit OF I'M
ion and spirit of activity, by comforting on Con
gress the power trade BY nothing but the
perception of its Indispensable necessity-by moth
ing but their consciousness, OF suffering from It's
want, were the States and the people brought,
and brought by slow degrees, to invest this power,
IN permanent and competent Government
Sir, hearken to the feryont language OF the old
Cong ess in July, 1855, in letter addressed TO
the States, prepared by Mr.. Munroe, Mr. king, and
| other great names, now transferred ICON the isis
Of living men, to the records which carry down the
fame of tho distinguished dead. The proposition
before thenl the great obj ecs to winch they so So
lcitously endeavored to draw the attention o! the
States was this, viz: that " the United states, IN
Congress assembled, should have the sole and eX
elusive right of regulating the trade of The States
as well with foreign nations rs with each other
This, they say is urged upon the States by every
consideration of local as we'll as OF federal policy
and they beseech them to agree to II, II they Wish
10 promote the strength of the Union, and to con
meet it by the strongest ties of interest and affection
This in July, l7S5.
In the same spirit and for the same end, was that
most i'm portant resolution which was adopted IN the
House of Delegates of Virginia. on the 2ist day of
the following January. Sir, l read the resolution
entire
| tResplved, That Edmund Randolph and others,
| be appointed commissioners, who, or any five OF
whom, shall meet such commissioners as may be
appointed by the other States i'll the Union, Mt Il
time and place to be agreed on, to take into consid'
Grafton the trade of the United States; TO examine
the relative situations and trade of the said States
to consider how far uniform system in their COM
mercal regulation may be necessary to their com
mon interest and their permanent harmony, and to
report the several States such an act relative to
this great object, when unanimously ra!ihed by
them, will enable the United States, in Congress
assembled etfectually to provide for the same; that
the said Commissioners shall Immediately transmit
to the several States, copies of the preceding reso
luton, with circular letter requesting their con-
currence therein, and proposing time and place
for the meeting aforesaid:
Here, sir, let us pause Let us linger at the wa
tiers of this original fountain. Let us contemplate
this, lhe first step, in that series of proceedings so
full of great events to and to the world. Not
wlthstanding the embarrassment and distress of the
country, the recommendation Of the old Congress
had not been complied with. Every attempt to
bring the State Legislatures into any harmony oac-
ton, or any pursuit ola common object, had sgnally
and disastrously failed. The exigency of tho case
called for new movement-tor more direct and
powerful attempt to bring the good sense and pari-
osm ofthe country into action upon the crisis.
solemn assembly was therefore proposed-a general