Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-05

gseoaj Of psoteetioa To manufactures The haia-
eu OF the Constitution supposed that they had
gwen TO G sngtess ample power over this whole
subject. The people. IN adopting that instrument
believed that the power was there. Warrington,
who presided owe. the Convention; Madison. who
drafted the instrument; Hamilton, one OF its most
powerful advocates; Jefferson, the great founder OF
Democracy; and Monroe, the last OF the Virginia
Presidents, all concur IN the opinion that sesm-
mating. protective tarf Is constitutional. The first
Congress. and every successive one from the aiop-
ton Of the Constitution to the present time, have
recognised this doctrine. In fact, there has never
been moment, since the first session OF the Con-
etess when the doctrine OF protective duties has not
been living law upon the statute book.
Now, can any msn, at this late day, have the
hardihood, the etirontery, to como forward and
pronounce the doctrine OF protection uneonsiitG-
uonal3 IL cotemporaneous construction, given un-
der the most plausible circumstances, by the very
authors and 6nishers OF the Constitution, have any
woight-l this construction, recognised by every
Congress, and aequieseed IN 10y the people for more
than half century, be entitled TO any consideration
we can say, that the doctrine OF a protective ta-
rid must DC regarded as settled doctrine, 50 FAR
as its constitutonality IS concerned.
II Virginia has any respect tor the opir ions OF
the statesmen, OF which she is Justly proud-h the
names OF Washington, OF Madison, OF Jefferson. oil
Monroe. have any weight with the iTeemen OF that
ancient CommonwealIh-thoy must yield TO the
doctrine which VIC have maintained. And will the
freemen of that State foTsake such eounsellers and
follow .he lesser lights, which now appear IN her
htmamentsl viii they spurn the broad. liberal.
and statcsmanlike views OF the Fathers Of the Re
public, and adopt the narrow policy OF the puny
leaders OF the self>s;yed Democratic party at this
day1 Will the Old Dominion suffer herself TO be
hoodwinked by few modern abstractonis.s, whose
policy seems TO I've circumscribed by their plania-
tons, and whose universe exist only in their own
/ imasinltions.
We trus, not. Nature has bccn lavish in the
hesto~ment Of her gifts upon Virginia, and
II she will bc true to herself, and carry on,
is o,:in 4" the OF Dom.aion, and which has beer
supported ly her iavorlte sons, she will yet rise
and cam her ancient standing among her sister
States. But II she suffers herself TO uc lost ab
srScIiIns, and IS content to brood her former
/ glory, she viii find not only New York and Penn
/ sylvania, hut ONO and Kentucky, and Indiana anC
Illinois, and many other States becoming not only
her rivals, hut her supcriors. Let wisdom reign ~
her Councils and her interest will I've promoted
1 Let practical sense gam the ascendency mere
/ spccuauOns. ami the Old Dominion will find heI
agriculture flourish, her manufactures increase and
the treasures al her mountain districts will spTeat
prosperity though The State.
| have nov, MIR Editor, finished what had to
say upon this subject, aud II 10 now submitted Il
the reader with other request than this: that II,
I eNiminc the subject and Judge for himself hay,
confined mycrlf TO the question oi constitutonaiity
The eNpcdicncy oi the doctrine will speak Tor It.
self. No man, rs 4 seems to me, who a iien t.
th. labotcr, hesitate Tor moment TO pro. ct hn
against The pauper labor of the old world. Ill.