Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-13

Constitution &c, &c. (See fuckers Life OF Jei
ferson, vol. IL, page los
Strange discoGd between the father and his children
Perhaps the family will be found more harmonious OF
the subject OF Protective Tariff.
The Wings fierce champions of a Protective
Tariff. What Mr. Jefierson's last and best ma
tured opinion OF that system of policy
Before this question (the Tariff quessIonl han been
aga,ed (says Professor Tucker il his Life Of Jefferson
vol H. page 367) The diversity oil interests hao peer
developed 10 the public mind, Mt Jefferson received
letter from Mr.. Benjamin Ausi'n OF Massachusetts,, N
which, amoug other things he tells Mr. Jefferson ina
he "was quoted BY those who wished 10 continue ou
dependence on England for Manufactures" abiding
the passage in his notes hat It was better for on
work shops 10 remain IN Europe) in which he discoun
tenances the policy Of establishing manufactures IL
Virginia. To this letter he gave reply that has been
trumphan,ly quoted by the supporters OF the Tariff
They have, however, gwen 10 II force and etec
which it will not justly bear. For, while he seemed L
have lost much Of his former prejudice against mana
features and manufacturers one was more opposed
to the pursued by their friends for their en-
courarement or was more sensible both of their
Justice and mpoicy.
Such is the conclusive testimony OF Mr.. Jefferson
intimate friend and bogTapher, Professor Tucker o
the University Bat have something still more EN-
phatic, from Mr.. Jefferson himself In u letter 10 Mr.
Madison, dated February IL, 1926 few months before
his death, while the tariff Of 81 in full blast II
explaining his pecuniary enharrassnents he uses Tie
following language.
prices the general prosraon OF the farming business
under levies for the support OF manufacturers, &c.
have kept agriculture IN state oil AFFECT depression
Such Mr.. Jefferson 5 deliberate and well maturcd
opinion Of the operation o. protective tariffs The az
ricuural prosperity of country. OF course, he
was the deadly enemy Of that policy The discord be
tween the father aud his children TO increase
Perhaps they will agree better upon the subject of Dis
tribu,lon, of which you kuow the children warm
champions. What were the fathers sentiments upon
hate, al, IusDd Inn
10, 1917, Mr. Jefferson says:
.tOur tenet ever was and indeed is almost the only
land mark which divides the Fedrratsts from the
Republicans, that Congress had not unlimited powers
provide for the general welfare but restrained
10 those specifically enumerated: and that, 1t was
never meant they should provide for that welfare, but
by the exercise ofhe enumerated powers could no;
have been meant they should raise money for purposes
which the enumeration did not place under their ton;
consequently, that the specification of powers is mi.
taton Of the purposes for which they may RAISE mo
ney.'
Now, II you will only recollcct, fellow citizens that
Distribution is not of the enumerated powers, and
tina, not Of those local purposes TO which the States
must of necessity apply the Distribution money, ls
placed BY the Constitution under the action OF Con-
gress, you cannot doubt that Mr. Jefferson, il living,
would have been %; The most deadly enemies of
Distribution The father and The children then al
issue upon all points; and Mr. Jefferson now
living, SO far from recognizing them as his legitimate
descendants, he would drive them from his presence
and denounce them the most ultra tcderasts this
country ever saw Yes, fellow citizens, if the great
Apostle Of Liberty now upon earth, he would be
the greatest Locofoco in America
Such being my clear and deliberate conviction of the
principles and sp, OF the two parties which our
country is divided have fallen into the ranks oi the
Loco Focos, whose leading principles and po!icy |
heartily approve, though do not concur with them
upon all points What else could do Remain with
the Wings Why, my old Wing friends, with whom
had Tough, shoulder shoulder in the hottest OF the
fight, through many long campaigns, formally excom-
municated me from the party two years ago. for my
heretical opinions upon The subject OF Tariff Disrl
button and National Bank What business have !
IN the ranks oil party, whose essential principles !
most cordially abhor Where, then, am | Ia 20 /;
Where can 60 but into the ranks of The Loco Focos
between whom and myself there Is very general co.
incidence Of political sentiment.
You see now fellow citizens, that | s.ill maintain
the protested principles OF the Wing party of lS40 in
relation Bank Tariff and Distribution. The tide, il
true, has receded, and here am SOLITARY and alone,
perehed up high and dry, like Noahs ark, on Mount
Ararat So far from having deserted the Wing party,
the truth IS, tie Hhtg party las deserted me still
maintain, with unshrinkng fidelity, every essential
principle asserted by the Wing party of 1910, and |
challenge the entire Wing party of the county of
Rockbrldge 10 show wherein | have departed single
hairs breadth from those principles. Stgmatlzed as
have been from one end OF the county 10 the other,
as a chan Ceiling and l traitor tho fact IL, that |
principles of the Wing party long after that party had
itself abandoned them. Had listened 10 the sngges
lions Of ambition, would have pursued very differ
emit course. What motive could have had, two years
ago. when first appeared before you as candidate Tor
the House of Delegates, 10 separate myself from the
Wing party General Harrison had Just come INTO
office on the food tide Of an overwhelming majority.
The Federal Government, with all lis rich patronage,
was OF course in Wing hands Both branches OF Con
gress were Wing; the Legislature Of Virginia was
Wing; this Congressional District was Wing, thus
Senatorial District Wing; and the county OF
Rockbridge Wing, by minority Us firm and m
movable as yonder Blue Mountains. Not Il single
speck Of cloud obscured The political horizon. All my
warmest personal friends aad nearest relations we're
Wings 10 the backbone. had fought for years IN the
Wing ranks, neither qualng nor responding al the
darkest period Of its fortunes What motive, what
indictment could thus situated have to separate
himself from his political friends, and go down INTO
desperate minority among his political foes !: None
whatever, except stern sense of duty which would
listen to compromise with flesh and blood. And
what has been my reward The tnuns, and jeers,
denuncations, and rbadry Of party, the snpercI-
lious dersion of The other, and the utter ext.nguish-
ment Of every hope | might once have cherished oil
honorable political distinction among my fellow men
Be il so. OF this do not complain. The harvest
reap is OF The crop sowed And it may be, that
Than Caesar with the people at his heels
| perfectly aware, fellow citizens, that parties
have bowels of compassion for those who on what
ever grounuS go over 10 tHef poucai opponents, III
though they generally throw the broad mantle OF their
charity those OF their who come over to
them. If a Locooco joins the Wings, he is received
with open arms, and opplauded 10 The skies as an no
nest independent fellow, who loves his country better
than his party; but just let Wing go over to the
Locoocos and the anathemas and execrations of the
vatican burst upon his devoted head like storm OF
FIRE and birthstone. His principles inpugned his
motives impeached, has character traduced. He IL
denounced changeling, traitor, an nrostate, q
turncoat Office seeker, disappointed politician,
and the entire vocabulary pay vitupera!ion is sho"
cred down upon his head. Heaven have mercy upon
the unhappy man, If he has not sufficient moral nerve
to despse and laugh at The rampant hypocrisy and
arrogant vapoIings of these affected political prndes
Do they indeed abhor political opos'aes' oh no io
they hug them 10 their bosoms aud load them with
the richest honors they can bes,ow Who was II tina
supported lodge White, recent apos'a;e from The
Jackson ranks, for the Presidency, in le36! The
Wing leaders in Rockbridge, the very men who are
now denoupcing me for changing my party relations
Who was that sent Mr. Rives, another aposaie from
the Locofocos 10 Ike Senate of the u. States? The
Wing party Of Virginia, and the Wing delegates from
the county Of Rockbrdge, with the cordial approta
- n, I'm haor Vhon POI ~