Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-07-14

tcsisr section ofthe Union in which he was born,
or from which no has derived, or expects to de-
rive, future support in his ambitious aspirations
AMI thinking, that the interests OF that section OF
tho Union would be promoted by direct taxation, !
instead Of imposts, and should therefore veto the
bill OF the Representatives OF the People levying
imposts. what would be the consequence You
must either adopt the mode of taxation which he
indirectly orders you to adopt, or you must refuse
20 raise the revenue necessary to carry on the
Government, and suffer it to tumble into twenty
six independent sovereign,ies. And is this an
improbable case Suppose we were to have "A
President imbued with the notions Of free trade,
and the partiality for direct taxation which has
been repeatedly avowed from high quarters in this
House, ask is it unreasonable tosuppose that the
veto power might DO exercised for the very pur-
pose which l have indicated Sir, there arc
principles of the gravest character involved in this
message Of the Observation-Disclosures in compar-
ison with which the bill, which has been returned
70 as by the President, important as that is, sinks
into utter insgnifcanco.
The power and the dignity and the most inn
Portant functions of this House are involved The
rights and the interests and the liberties of those
who sent us here are involved. The question now
submitted to us is, Will we maintain our position
rs becomes the representatives OF frecmen-or
vii! we kneel at the footstoo of the Executive
and betray the trust which has been confded to
us! Sir, If we yield wo had better dispense at
once. III we stand here merely to register Exc
cutive edicts, where is the necessity of going
through the forms OF consultation and delibera,on!
Why not suffer the laws to be promulged at once
from the Executive mansion without the inter
vention Of a cumbrous Legislative Assembly or
why shall we not, when assemble here in o.
.bedence to the letter of the Constitution, at once
make an address 10 his majesty the President
and beg that he will condescend at his earliest
svenence to inform what laws are in his opin-
lion necessary and proper 20 promote the interests
and happiness of the People, and in what form
they Will be most ikriy to receive his majcsty's
gracious APPRECIATION Sir, is this the spirit
which animated our Saxon ancestry in the early
struggles for freedom in England Is this the
feeling which burned in the hearts of our fathers
when they proclaimed amongst the grievous
wrongs which had impol!ed them to throw of their
allegiance to the crown of George the Third that he
had "reiused his assent TO laws the most whole
some and necessary Tor the public good - No,
sir! Nor is it the spirit which anulates their des-
pendants Sir, have enough of this Con-
gress TO know that 1t will do its duty have seen
sufficient manifestations in its proceedings OF
moral courage, OF frmness ofpurpose, of devotion
TO the public veal, of lofty heroism of character,
TO know, that come what may, they at least will
be true to their country, and spare effort TO pre-
serve sacred and inviolate the rights and liberties
of that People whose Constitution they are sworn
to protect and defend.