The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-08-19

Deni 10 the Constitution cau remove. We
hnow u TO b an historic al fact, that tho couven-
q, ton refused TO- confer that power on Congress.
and am opposed to as assumption by IL uroa
any Pretcaee Whatever fits possession shall
: al any time become necessary, the only just way
70 obtain is 10 ask 1t At the haods OF the peo-
PIE, IN the form prescribed by tue Constitution.
Holding this opinion. aud sworn to support that
Instrument as il is, could no, find in the cir
enmstances 10 which you rcfer, either warrant
or excuse Tor the exercise of the authority in
qaestioo; and am not only willing but desir-
ous that the people Of the Unit sd States should
bs fully informed OF tho precise ground / oc-
cupy on this subject. desire moro especially
that they should know il now, when an oppor-
tnnity, rhs best our form of Government af-
lords, will soon be presented, TO express their
opinion Of its propriety. Ifthey are 10 favor Of
National Bank, as = permanent branch OF
their institutions, or if they desire Chief Mag
'strate who will consider 1t his duty to waite h
the course OF events, and give or withhold his
assent to such an institution according 10 the
degree Of necessity Tor il that msy in his opin-
,on arise from the considerations to which your
question refers, they will see that my CO. opera
lion in the promotion Of either Of these views
cannot be expected. II, on the other hand,
with this seasenahie, explicit, and published A.
vowal before them, a majority Of the people Of
on mo their suffrages for the Office OF President,
sccpticism itself must cease to doubt, and nd
nit their will 10 be that there shall not be any
Sank Of the United States, until the people, 10
the exercise of their sovereign authority, see fl
10 give to Congress the right to establish one.
"It is because l Cannot doubt that the ex-
preston of the popular will, made under such
circumstances, must have tendency 10 arrest
fnrihor agitation of this disturbing subject, tor
tour years at least, and most probably, from the
great moral influence which h the often expressed
opinion Of the majority Of the people in Re-
publican Government is entitled to, for a muc h
looger period, that am thus full and expct
upon the point TO which you have called my
attention. However much we may differ up
on the abstract question involved in this con-
froversv, no rejecting man can doubt the
heoithtnl and invgorating effects which any
thing that looks like q settlement of this ques-
ton must have OF all the business, as well rs
political relations Of the country. The public
mind has been long and painfully agitsted by
II, and needs rcposc. The fruits of this agita.
tim have been bitter and abundant. Men Of
business require 10 be put in a situation that
they m,y adapt their affairs to a stats Of things
which promises permanency. That character
- alone necessary 10 give that success to the
present system. No rational plan for the reg
nlation OF the fiscal affairs OF the country can
fail 10 succeed, il the mass of orr industrious
and en'erprising population. without regard to
local, sectional or political distinctions are only
sincerely desirous for its snccess. Only satisfy
them that things are in this respect TO remain
stable, and II is not in the nature things posi-
BILE that they can refuse their aid and support
10 that which concerns them so nearly, and up |
on which their prosperity, private, as well as
pnblic, is so essentially dependent. II our
correspondence shall have the effect TO contri- [
butte in any degree to bring about a state Of |
things in which we all have so deep an interest, !
and which should be desired by all, | will re-
loice that il has taken place
Nv conviction Of the truth and justice OF these
s'sasupon this vitality important question, nave
been confirmedby all my subsequent experience,
aD1 will, doubt NOT, from the principles upon
which they are founded codurs to the end Of
ny lie.
Ny opinions upon the Tariff, which is the
tabjcct Of your ihi,d question were asked when
j was candidac for the Vice Presidency, BY a
portion Of my fellow citizens OF North Carolina.
and freely given. Their application reached
ma but n short period before the then apprcach
IDg election, AMI to secure in every portion OF
'ths Union as general knowledge of my views
rs WIS practicable, caused them to be forth
with p,bIished at Alh,ny. They w,rereiiorat.
cl in 1885, when a candidate for The Presiden-
cy, ana contain the general principles by which
II ia NV intention TO regulate my official course.
l WIS sincerely friendly TO the passage Of the
Compromise Dill, and have always been and
siili am disposed to carry il into fall and fair
effect. The opinions Of which have spoken
were expressed 10 the following terms:
.t't,Iou.h my official acts in relation to the
protective system might well be regarded as
rendering The avowal unnecessary, | think il,
nevertheless, proper 10 saw, that believe the
estsh,ishnent Of commercial regulations, with
slew to encouragement Of domestic products
10 bo within ths constitutional power Of Con
Grcss Whilst, however, I have entertained
lhis opinion, il h,s never been my wish TO see
the power in question exercised with an oppres-
iv' inequality upon any portion Of our citizens,
Tor the advantage Of one section oi the Union
~ he expense Of another. On the contrary,
have y; times believed it to be the sacred duty
OF those who arc entrusted with the Admins
tra'ion OF the Federal Government to direct lis
operations in the manner best calculated to dis
r!5u,e, as equally as possible, its burdens and
blessings amongst the several States md the
people. My views upon this subject were sew
erAl yenrs ago spread before the people of this
SiarH and tave since been widely ditTused
through tic medium oC the public press. Ny
object NJ TINT time was TO invite the attention OF
'ny Immediate constituents to a dispassionate
consideration OF the subject in its various hear
ings, being wen assured that sueh an invesiiea
lion wnuld bring ,hemto a standard which, from
hs m m,deraior and justice, would furnish the
best guarantee for the true interests of all. II,
4, has been supposed, those vicws have contri.
bu,cj in any degree TO produce state Of feeling
80 much 10 be desired, have rensonto be graf
i6sJ with The resalt
1.-THE approaching, and, il the policy Of the
present Executive is allowed to prevail, the
ccrtai, and speedy euingushment of the ma
,ioaaI debt has presented an opportunity for
more equitable adjustment Of the tariff which
has hoeu already embraced by the adoption
Of a ccaciia,ory measure, the spirit Of which