Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-08-16

esls and policy of the rest Of the world-a point
which is perfectly clear to every man who las
read the Constitution If, then, Congress does not
possess this power, left TO the singular con-
clusion that the power where exists, and hence
that industry must indeed protect ITSELF" without
laws, and without governmental aid. or no, lie
protected ut all What doctrine is more prepos
ferrous than his-wha idea so perfectly ridiculous
ms this that the American people have no where,
in their state and national governments, provided
for The security Of their own highest and most i'm.
portant interest? If we turn to the Constitution
we shall find it es;ablshed among other things,
" to promote the general welfare )" we shall find
that Congress has "powcr TO lay and collect taxes,
duties, imposs, and excuses; 10 pay the debts and
provide for tho common defence aud general well
fare tho United States y "to regulate commerce
with foreign natons;" and "to make all laws
which shall be necessary and proper for carrying
into execution The foregoing powers" Under
these specific powers it has been uniformly held,
from The adoption Of the Constitution to This time,
that Congress has ample power to impose what
restrictions 1t peascs upon foreign commerce, and
what duties il peases upon foreign products. The
only question which has ever seriously been rails
ed is, whether Congress can impose duties with
the single design ofproiecton to American Indus
try against foreign nations. The hair-splitters and
nulltiers Of South Carolina concede the abstract
power TO exist but hold that it is dependent upon
the design Of Congress if Congress designs mere
ly revenue, it is constitutional it, in 1916, it de-
signed to protect South Carolina cotton, it was per-
feclly constitutional but if it designed in 1924,
1928, and subsequently, to protect Pennsylvania
iron, Kentucky hemp, and Northern wool, it was
grossly unconstitutional and justified rebellion u
nong the couon-punters! If this doctrine pre-
walls, we are still left in the predcamen of ma.
ton without the power Of protecting itself. But
fortunately, the sound and sober sense of the wis
est statesmen of the country, aud of vast major
ny oftle American people, has been that Congress
possesses ample power to extend protection TO tho
country ngainst every aggression, rs well against
the assaults Of foreign legislation as of foreign
arms. 1t is the Nu'hfers of the South and the
locooco leaders of the North, who would dena-
tionaiize us and subject the country to any sacr-
flee, rather than not succeed in their own selfish
$ and unprRcipled projects. In This position they
3 place Themselves without the pale of common
charity the first prolessed their constitu-
onal scrupes, until they fancied that the interest
p of the cotton growers would he subserved by it
and the latter, never until it had become apparent
that their success, as party, might be promoted by
a coalition with Calhoun and his Southern clique
# 1t is worthy of remark, too, that the locofoco lie
gislature of New Hampshire from which The 10
: cofocos of This state borrowed the above resou
e tion,) not only swallow Cahoun's doctrines or
e the Tariff, but have given their whole influence
= gainst all anti-slavery movements Charity, then
i will not concedc honesty to the locofocos in TIM
= position; justice demands for them the condcm
- nation and rebuke of the people. They trii'
o with the people; nay, worse they endanger TIN
d public interests, in vital point