Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-19
For TIE F.VQtIHER

TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA No IL
The Spring elections are now over. ne toreht OF
angry passions, let loose III animated canvass, has
subsidized. The integrity. honor and sacred ia',h OF
Virginia are triumphant! But upon what Issue was
the contest decided We have been drawn from the
solid haiements of the Constitution, and baified, out
not defeated We have suffered our enemies to lure
us to their own battle ground, 10 choose the weapons
of offence and the mcGe Of attack. And this great
contest upon which hung undecided and IN jeopardy,
the pghted faith OF beloved Stale, has turned upon
questions of trivial importance, not even of secondary
interest These Issues settled; The voice al
the people has phanty proclaimed that the Tax
Bill! SHALL Br SUSTAINED, and the thirty thou
sand dollars shall not be received Let these matters
now rest in peace They have served their purpose
Of decep:ion false clamor and fraud. II IS lime
to press upon the consideration OF the people whilst
their minds are calm and quicScant-in the interval
that will elapsr between the recent and The st more
citing struggle for the XXI Presidency grent ques-
lions OF fadeatai difference 6st,oeen the t,co parties
the alarming nsurpalons OF power by the Cougress OF
The United States-ihe fearful innovations upon the
written Constitution, that magma charta OF lber
ties prescribing 10 the majority the extent Of their
powers and mode OF execution-ts dangerous procvi-
" to Consoca,ion-the growing tendency to remove
all wholesome restraints and checks on the mere will
of the majority, and 70 make this Conederacy of Ii
n.ited and specific powers, splendid Government,
un,ramme He'd by the written Constitution, swayed and
controlled by the despo'ic viii Of bare majority
The written Constitution is in danger Ii Is boldly
lars Of The Temple, shall be struck down New and
monstous powers have been usurped and exercised by
Congress, and still more dangerous powers 10 The
South, claimed and threatened. All respect for lis
sacred character, and all Tie solemn obligations 10
support it in its fair purposes and plan intent,
sneered at and cerded by q large portion of the poll
tcians, and termed, in dersion and contempt, 'Nir
GINA abstracons In the partiZan discussions Of the
day, the Constitution itself is lost sight Of and
long list Of violations, or of ustrlous who
n tod IN staIp Tho
garb of time the list of presidents names of emf
nent statesmen, could sanction paliia!e IN
justice. 1t is time, that the People OF Virginia,
and, indeed, of the whole South, were arouses!
10 Of their danger, and called 10
resi- these innovations and correct The usurpa.ions.
is time, that the South should present undivided
'front.' unbToken phaanx of resistance to further
aygressIons-that they should return 10 their long
cherished principles OF strict construction of The
Consiiiu,ionrisidy scrutinlze the full impor, Of The
measures Of Congress-their dangerous tendencies
their pernicous effects, and the gross injustice in their
operation. 1t is time that the South should look TO
the strong combinations Of selfish and pecunary inter-
ests already swayng the deliberations of Congress,
peryertng and enlarging its powers for their pecu
mary profit; and the still more stupendous combina-
tons contemplated, but not carried effect The
full extent OF these combinations of moneyed interests
has been but recently developed and d,iny Swallowed
forth. The attention oil the people has been purposey
diverted 10 other questions; elections have been deer
ded upon frivolous and insignificant issues selected By
opponents, and urged with apparent zeal and dec
ded camo, whilst these pecuniary interests have gone
on, gaining adheren,s, consolidating their strength
forming leagues, and preparing for the great srug
gle IN The next Presidential election The design Of
these Numbers will be 10 discuss the questions of i'm
poriant interest TO the people To point out The depar
Of Congress from its prescribed powers urge
the pressing Importance OF q strict adherence 10 the
inten. and plain meaning Of the Constitution of
the |. S to show wherein the people of Virginia
have suffered from these nsurpatoDs Of power; and
that every attraction must result, IN their delriment.
LIST. Tic P0,oer # TaIafi0n
''fhe Congress shall have power To lay and collect
taxes drt,es nposts and excse Ia pay The debts md
provide for the common defnce aud grasra welfare
u the but all dutles niposls and excuses shall
be uniform t!roughou the u. 5 Another clause Of
the Constitution requires that "Direct shall be
appor among several States according TO their
respective numbers" &c.-and 10 projucr uniformity
and equality in ,axalion-ibe closing part Of the sec
drrecs that tul duties, iinposs, and eIcises shall
be uniform throughout the u. S From these
TONS it is obvious that the exercise of the power of
araon designed 10 be uniform, and to approach
possible equality of burthe Throughout, the
S Yet such has been the abuse OF this power, and
utter perverson, that the Tax bill !aylag duties
not framed FOR the purpose oil collecting revenue and
supporting Governments, but tor tl:e avowec object
Of protecting manufactures from foreign competitions
and enhancing the prcjtts Of the maanfact~rcr:-
Not for The purpose of supplying the deficient Trea
sury of the Union, but to fill the pockets Of the
nuscturer Not 10 minister TO the wants and
cesses of the Government, but 10 pamper The grasp
ing avarce OF monopoly. Under the fragrant abuse oil
this power of taxation, has arisen that monsirous sys
tenn of injustice and fraud, the Protective Tariff By
the exercise OF thus pnwer, one branch OF industry IS
made prosper and flourish, by the oppression of all
others; and of thriving prosperity daily
reared quarter Of the Un:on whist progre
decay and gradual decline, too clearly witnessed in
other sections. These results are not accIdenta-hey
the nhere evils of the 81 stem, sprnging from the
innate avarice of the Northern manufacturer, flowing
from gross perverson of the powers OF Congress, and
contrary TO the undame nal primes pies of free
siitutions and the eternal Dictates OF justice Who is
there under the solemn obligations OF truth, can say,
tina, the bur,hens Of taxation equally apporlioned
among the different States OF the Union under The
practical operation Of the late protective Tariff? Who
say, that the benefits derived from that law
oyed by every section Of the Union fair proportion,
that such the design OF It's passage Who can
say, that the industry of one section IS not osered
and encouraged, whilst the industry OF another de-
pressed and checked: These unequal burdens and
these partial benefits are imposed tor private emolu
mens, not for the public ex,gences-lor The pockets Of
the manufacturer, not the Treasury OF the nation
Such is the avowed object Of the Tariff Bi The pur-
pose of our Coniederacy and the design OF our Consi
tuition, 10 equal burthens and benefits IN
the administration OF the Government-moral, social,
political and proprietary. OF what avail, that we have
escaped the vassaage Of King Lords and Conmons-an
established church, and protected landed af'socracy,
1t We recognize in own Government the odious
power 10 lay The iron hand of oppression on sectional
industry, ad dispense liberal avors and prodgal pre-
NUNS other classes? And who say, that North
ern manufacturing labor is not practically, avowedly,
and designedly reapng premiums and Dement'S under
this law, whilst Southern agricultural labor is sustaining
this protected and privileged class. and bearing I'M
equally the weight ,axaton' Interested avarce, pro-
teced monopoly and par.izan blindness may pa'ate by
sophstry; but truth and candor obliged to admit
thus gross Outrage upon The equal rights guaranteed
'sthe written Constitution"
So jealous were the people of the ample powers con-
ferred in the Constitutions for all fair and honest pur-
poses OF Government; that the first Congress, IN the
appointed mode, inserted ten amendments to The Con
them, declaring that ''pTsrate
property shall no, be taken for public without just
compensation. "Dlrect taxes shall be apportoned
among the several States according to their respective
Numbers. ''A duties, imposts, and excuses, shall be
uniform, throughout the United States. what IS the
plain meaning of these several clauses-leaving out
the spirit of equality in benefits and burshens, that lies
at the foundation, and Pervades our whole GoveFn-l