Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-09-17

We s' MD demonstrate that a power Is Crane"
WAi," hccouse the power has been err
nv Congress; but we conceive. 'hat u r,
@,;s n be admitted to determine Siea' w
az. AZ, ,,c,ius the rights OF the States an" y, ~"
"" - will ,c found that the weight OF aultioi-
P1't"e' - The exercise Of the power 10 say
~ = - ,b,se Presidents and Congresses int
r@'"o ,,Yy refused their assent 10 the creation
nave 49,. bow many have there been, whose OPT
u d" ,,ar. "a we'll known 10 I've adverse tla1 no
iV ,;.,,;on was even made TO them! Is pfcce-
a! ,s,,. 70 N, sought in the acts OIL an OCCASION
- ~ nGress. which, because II mas a ma)ofny Id
!" 80 N . Bank, attempts 10 establish ones ana
fo'd's ,rse nr,cedent TO be found in the very 81
! ~ S,bosr Congresses, whose hostility 10 inc
I-".' 49,. was so notorious that no one was haiuy
hN" 10 rropose lis adoption! We DISMISS,
,. his argument from precedent, as laise IN
u'..;,r;,le and uufounded in fact
Il ~, apart from all objections 10 tne cohs'l'".
.,rs,;,y Of a Bank, the highest CONSIDERATIONS o,
"xne ljcncy would forbid is establishments; Emu,
e. ii,.s,ps Of experience be lost upon Us! Shah
mt 80 our eyes TO the pas, and TO the present
w j;nn of,he country, and when We una our
'V ,'n" ,lrcady in possession OF every advan-
>SNSs ,,.I;cb !, is said, the Bank alone can Sc
1@.1 hall we give up the solid henelils we ENJOY,
cu' .,a;n MI, every thing al hazard! Win as
N',' currency as The country ever knew, siaii
So"' I'M cry on, for Regulator, that is itself TO
,~'',,nr~,n,rollable? With rate oi exchange IN
i;a,;n.r healthy state OF trade between the va
"S"'', ~ at this Conederacy, shall this vast
,,,acbinr for the "fcgutatton ef efca0nSes, sun
nlAI n'" 'is,., Of desirel Shall the control over
onr commerce again be gwen 10 tue NosthIo ~
o '., ;ns.;,,,tions embarrassed by powerful To-
o% riyalry-our people exposcdto alternate ex,
!a,7s;,,s and conractionS OF the circulation, and
Ia.s rn;nous fluctuations of prices, as the selfish
.r,,i. of This mammoth COMPANY may prompt;
Ill :, bumor the fances Of capriciouS politl-
cans! .,. ;,sn;r. , s,ln.
.,r, ,,re.S os the yas capacity Tor mischief Oh an
'1' Which once sci in motion, may defy even
49,, ,.,n,rol of the Government which fashioned
:, Are us managers 10 be divinely inspired, or
..r. they likely 10 he mere discreetlhan other men,
,rbo are entrusted with power! Inc very con-
fuion of their employment implies an oniisa'ioh
;amake III other interests yield 10 ihose 'hey aic
APPOINTED 20 guard. With millions oil mont! d,
,ir,r 5;sposal-with an almost dcspoac con'rol
over ,heic mu!:,udinous dcpendanis-wi;h the
,,,,rer even 10 turn commerce from us accuslom-
- channels. and 10 dispense rewards for ooScqaI-
nrs,.sss in one place and deal out punishment
,.u con,nmacy in anoher-wilh subsidized lie
gisIa,ors and stipendialy presses 10 excuse lheil
3.liocucncics and advance their ci3ims-hoW
mighty would be their control over The des'lhiss
ot onr country, And how ieariully would these
dangers be augmented, il AT any time, the inlluen
ccs Of this body should be subsidiary TO the dc'
signs of bold, crafty and unprinciP!ed Admins
,ralion He mus, be possessed oi Sansiiine hopeS
indeed, who can suppose that the iioer''cS u 'is
people could survive this combination
And yet there are those VINO, "chhu"i 'iiS
these dangers, are willing 10 brave all, because
4 mi
il, MATES would be received as cRrcncn. You
have statesmen in the midst of you, who pionsiy
lenrecaie a re-chartcr of this company but could
give their voices for il, rather than consent 10 q
system by which the treasure oil the people Slai
ne entrusted 10 the peoples chosen agents. II
would not be more incongruouS or absurd 10 say
that they are opposcdto crime, but II r'rt"s IS Inc
alternative. crime should be committed. On, yes
the, have no love for folly; but, as between iohy
and r,sdom, folly should he preferred.
Andnow, Felow-citizenS letu> turn our at'cn'
lion 10 another dark page in the volume OF tede.
raj nsurpaions, and behold that system OF licensed
oonrcSsion which is shadowed forth in the IarlH
laws
Il is known to all, who have examined the pro-
cee;ings of the Virginia Convention which rati-
fed The Constitution, tina, vehement opposition
was raised TO the grant o! The power oil taxation
No one more earnestly opposed II than our own
Patrick Henry ~ am willing, SAID ne TO
give condilionaliy that *, after nee
with reousi,ons; in case Virginia shall moi make
ppnrtual payment the control OF onr custom
houses and the whole regulation OF uauy, Sn nav
be GIVEN N Congress No one dreamed that the
power was sought with any other purpose, than &c
raise money for the common expenses oil Inc
Union. Mr. Lee, in support oil the power, 'n ;'
in reply 10 the objections OF lis opponents Sam
The purse of the people OF Virginia Is no, gl'ef
M by that paper They can take no more oil oui
money than is necessary TO pay our share OF u,
Public Debt, and provide for The general welfare
Were il otherwise, no one would he louder aSaibs
!, than myself Here it is seen, that even t'e
power 10 ay imposts for the p@rFcS o. revenue
was sirenuollSlr opposed. ana was Ge,ehaeo upon
IA. eroand hhat II coad not jc a5sed ior any "t.cf
Y0pc@.
For many years after the adoption OF The Con
s.iIuljon. the impos,s rarely exceeded I. per
cent Ii came At last 10 be perceived, however.
tina, this power 10 iaV TAGS might be mace SUD
Seryient 10 other objects, by 50 increasing Inc
price Of imported merchandise, as TO give a cor
responding premium To those engaged IN the ma
n.,f,cture o! similar articles in this country
This is especially true Of the Tariff Acts OF loS4,
and lS26.
Long did the South groan under the opprcs-
sion of system, which enhanced the prlce o.
what she bought. and depressed The values OF a !
she sold Loud were the circumstances, winch
She sen. up TO Congress in the indignant memo
rial, of her people and the solemn proteslations
nj her legislatures There seemed 10 be but one
mind. one feeling, one voice. No party banker
M, kent her from seeing, or restrained her from
pyoclaiminy the injury done TO her rights ana 70
her Interests But her complaints were unheet-
ed her petitions spurnel and her calamtleS
Knocked at Year succeeded year, ana her vast
81 commerce. barren plains and dwindling popu-
lation told the extent OF her wrongs, and suggested
The resolution TO redress them
South Carolina, in the energy OF her despera-
ton, determined that the edicts OF manufacturers
registered by Congress should no longer be re-
ceiyed as lar within her borders. What follow
el is fresh in The recollection of all. You know.
with what painful suspense the public mind
awaited the expected collision between that devo-
led State and the combined forces OF the confedera-
cy. You remember, what JOY swelied the public
heart. when The din OF deadly preparation gave
place TO shouts of gladness upon the return oil
harmony and peace.
And what was il that thus, as by miracle,
s.i,ied The storml !, was that sign oil re!en'ihS
rror--,hat covenant Of returning justice, whic:,
The general voice hailed as the "CoMPRoMisE.
Who linen supposed that this sign "ouli pe &c
cenivc--ibat this covenant would be brokent
lie VINO iiIu DeeN ltJSt Suih@St - ''oS'''
Ina, injurious policy. which had thus brough, his
country to The verge OF civil war first canic for
war, 10 propose is abandonment, Mr. Clay;
whether because he shrunk from blood-stained
contamination OF his darling system, or because
he saw, that its destruction was inevitable, ard
desired to break the fail Of his allies of The iaco-
res introduced bin into the Senate which was
ienercd and received as a perpetual compromise
Of this unhappy controversy. 1t stipulated, rs me
condition of ultimate relief, That the South should
submit for only nine and half years Longer. 10
the continuance OF the protective imposts, which
during that period should lie gradually lessened,
until a, the expiration OF that term they should he
reduced 10 20 per cent, at which rate they should
thenceiorward remain. 1t provided, that after
The 3lst December, 1898, a tenth par Of the OK
ce,s of all duties above 20 per cent. should be de
iuccd; after the 3lst December, 1888, another
tenth part thereof; after the 3st December, ls3a
another tenth part; after the 3lst December 1889
another tenth part; after The 3lst December, ISL
one.haii, and after the 18th day of June, 1872,
the other half of the resiGac OF such excess.
-, hose ral,, long