Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-06
(Published by reouest.\

/
! Dcirered On parD Jtfore The rOters Of Rockbridge
at Lexington, on he day Of the Election, .3prH 27th
1S43.
/ Published by request.)
Fellow citizens: have sometimes been told, by
KIND 'fenos, whose keen eyes penetrated the darkest
HOOKS anu MOST secret ecesses OF my character that
am emlnently, | might say pre.emlnentIy and most
consPicuousiy deficient in the manly and noble faculty
Of perseVefance-a faculty, without which the most
brilliant genus Is but dazzling meteor, sparkling for
monieh. III the evening" sky aud then expiring forever
"A faculty, without which nothing extensively and
permanently useful, or great, or glorious, can be
acevea IN ms world of ours where the path of life
is walled up by rugged mountains and steep prec-
pcef, ana oeset with hosts Of enemles-where, if
may be allowed the expression, the gates of Paradise
are stu guarded by the ever. flaming sword OF the
Che uoim. The vIctors wreath justly reserved for
hun who, unsubdued by defeat, undaunted by difficult
~ and danger, boldly draws his sword, and, with his
own intrepid arm, cuts his way through hosts OF foes,
10 The high places Of The earth do not hold on,
AN told, with bulldog grippe, even when TO carry
out the hgu'e low and vulgar, shockngly vulgar as
confess 1t rs TO "ears polite hare The right soic by
me ear Whatever apparent truth there may be IN the
remark IN some respects one present. presume, will
charge me with want Of logged obsnacy in The pur
suit oil political game desperately cold scent
Uncowed by last Springs defeat surrounded and sus
tanned by my corporals guard Of tried and faithful
friends, who, unlike too many Others did not desert
me IN The hour of trial, hold up my head and take
courage Pefadventute even fifty righteous men may
yet save The CITY from impending destruction. lHe
eaven, we are told by high authority, leayeneth The
whole lump. | am not quite pusllanmous, thank
Cod as TO be driven from the field by sing lie dscom-
future. My enemies may defeat me again and again,
Tor as the great English poet has told u.s. ut not IN
mortas TO command success; but the spirit which ami
mates this bosom, they Gun never tame or subdue If
my life is spared me, fifty battefelds are yet before Us,
and which of us will be victorious in the end is known
only to the God of battles. Encouraging examples are
before me. How often was The liustrlous Father OF
his Country defeated and driven before the mercenary
minlons OF the British Crown, like chaf before the
whrlwnd, beiore victory, glorious and decisive perch.
ed upon his banners on The ever memorable plains OF
Yorktown And, 10 draw far appropriate Illus.
raon from the political history of times, who
OF you not familiar with the fact, that Marcus Nor
ton was twelve times a candidate for Governor before
the people OF Massachusetts, before he elected by
a majority, even, oil 4 single vote: l hope, however,
citizens, that ere long shall have been the he
ro had almost SAID, the unconquered and unconquer.
able hero oil dozen defeats among the mountains oi
Rockbrdge, you will crown me win the vcors bays,
not by meagre and pary majority but with one unl-
versal spontaneous and fepressble burst OF accaa.
lion, like the uPheavIng OF the great deep, that will
startle the mountain echoes from their messy and
peel along these hills and valleys like the voice OF the
kng, when the red lghtungs blaze from peak to
peak yon "ral!ling crags among But enough OF this
badinuge.
After the very full and elaborate exposition of my
political sentiments which ! inflicted upon you last
Spring and Spring before last, entirely unneces
sary ellow.ctlzens that should bore you again upon
this trte and hackneyed subject The principles then
nvowed, still MAINTAIN Without essential modification.
am in favor Of strict construction of the Federal
Constitution, upon the principles of MIR. Madison
Report and am irreconcaby opposed 10 the usurpa-
ton of doubtful powers by The Nauona! Government.
would restrain that Government rgidly, to the few
great national Objects Clearly specified in the Constr.
tullon for whlch,t Instituted, and would deprive
of every power and of every influence not absolute
~ necessary to accomplish their purposes. would
prune of lis overshadowIng patronage with keen and
unsparng knife, reduce lis enormous, corrupt, and
most oppressive expenditures, watch its iunchonafes
with sleepless vigilance, and hold them 10 The most
rigid responsibility for every official act. If we would
preserve Liberties, fellow citizens, must arrest
tina, Government in lis giant strides towards CONSOLE
dation and practical monarchy. That Government,
fellow CITIZENS is fiery, headslrong, hard-mouthed,
ungovernaole s.eed and, if not held IN with strong
curb and constantly watched it will get The bit between
teeth fling up lis heels into the ar and roll US all
into the ditch
The principles just announced fellow citizens, spring
so obviously from that wise jealousy Of power, in which
free institutions have their origin, and without which
they canno! be sustained that strike my mind with
the force Of sefevident propositions. All power being
liable TO abuse OF the fundamental maxnIs OF
all free aes that the people should delegate to
any man or sci Of men, single particle OF power be-
yond what is absolutely necessary to accomplish some
obiec, OF high public Importance and the powers thus
granted should always be clearly defined, and guarded
against abuse, by every precauton winch humah WIS
dom can suggest
| am opposed TO Protective, but in favor of q Re-
venue Tariff, abundantly adequate TO the wants OF
Government, administered with the most rigid econo-
nv | am scarcely less the advocate Of commercial,
than Of political freedom. As told you last Spring
were dules unnecessary for the support of Govern
ment-l would demolish every Custom House IN The
land and throw your ports wide open to the com.
merce Of the world. | am for leaving The industry
and capal Of the country to the guardianship OF the
ever active and all powerful principle of selfInerest,
uncontrolled and unobsrucled by the arrogant imper'
,,,ent Interference Of Government. am not Tor
bor;7on,o Tariff rs is termed, that is, for equal du
ties on all imports; but in laying duties Tor The support
or Government | would discriminate between lu1ures
and necessaries levying high duties upon the former,
sncb as silks wines broadcloths, plaie &c, but i'm
nosinp light burdens upon the latter, such as iron SAT-
sugar coffee coarse clothing, mplemens OF all KINDS
Sc This discrimination, II is obvious, is periecuy
ius and right because il imposes the tax on those VINO
are most able to pay It, would also, ieVy 'he uu'es
Or taxes, for duties but taxes,) as exclusively as
nrac,cabe, such foreign articles as are not pro-
duced 10 cur country, because, IN that case the whoe
amour, subtracied from our citizens would go inlo
The Golfers of the Government; whereas II one-na
az the article on which the duty IS laid is manuiac
,ed a, home the country is taxed, say $lOO,OoO fol
The use OF Government, on the moety imported from
h,o,d and an additional 100000 on the nioety pro-
dnced at home, which latter sum goes exclusively
mo The pockets Of manufacturers and Others who al
wavs raise their prices, near as possible TO the h,gh
LTs2f mark This discrimination, as just nllmaled, II
r,rded on self evident OF taxation, lad down
hv Adam Smith in his Wealth of Nations that every
cen. taken from the citizen should, If practicable DC
aooIied 10 the of Government, IN order 70 make
,hs public burdens as light as possible. utterly repu
date the Wing Doctrine that the prosperity Of any
country TO be advanced by high taxation, whetne
n The form of duties, Of direct taxes On the con
,rsry, regard that Government which takes from The
citizen single dollar Of his hard earnings, beyond whs
i absolutely necessary defray its expenditures ad
mnis,rred with the most rigid economy, and with ar
eve single 10 the public zeal as no better than sys
lem of legalized robbery. AS Government has no
thing, know way in which II can protect and en-
courage the entire national industry, but by securing
IN every man the undsturbed enjoyment OF his homes
acorsi,lons The earnings OF labor are It's naiura
and Just and The only stimulus II REQUIRES on
which il is possible for Government to give, is the iu
and secure enjoyment Of those earnings, against the
extor,ons of Government itself, the rspaclty OF ad-
interests and the frauds and violence OF elons
To tar one man. or class OF men, for the benefit of
other to take property by law from one man. and give
a.