Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-11-13
VALDosrA, LAuRENs COUNTY,
Sept. 6, 1874.

Sept 6, 1874.
Gen,lemen-Nolhing has postponed an
answer 10 your late letter but the belief Of
the wor,hlessness ofmy opinions, Of which
you ask my expression-I give them TO
you now. because have, though very re-
luclantly. given them to others.
My own judgment has brought me 10
the conclusion. rot to be easily shaken
that If my opinions had been Of any, the
least value, the people Of Georgia would
never have exchanged their Republican
principles for the Old Essex-Junlo Feder-
alism las inconsistent with those principles
as with their rights, liberties, and interests
Of every kind.
1st. On The subject Of manufactures, my
reading Of Inc Constitution from its con-
text, has been this:-Congress shall have
power to regulate commerce, but Congress
shall have no power 10 interferein any
manner whatsoever, with any other in
dustfy. either agricultural or iIianufaclu-
ring. excepting in gtadfing for limited
times to authors and inventors the excIu-
sive right TO their respective writings and
discoveries. The power 10 regulate COM
merce is not all absolute power-it is linn
tied To- the commerce with foreign nations
between the States, and with The Indian
tribes-a power over the commerce he.
tween individuals is not given, and is, Of
course. prohibited. The power to en-
courage them in any manner j, pleases,
but is limilcd in the particulars of mode and
time. shy securing for limited times to
authors aud inventors the exclusive right
to their respective writings and dlscov-
cries" Having thus carefully prescribed
Limitations TO limited powers over indus
try. how it is conceivable that the Con-
veniion intended TO give absolute and un-
limited power over all industry, or that lift
intended TO give absolute power over man
ufacturing industry, or that i, intended that
such powers, being merely Incidental To-
some other powers, would be fairly dedu.
chile by construction or implication
Now, gentlemen, l contend for this
reading Of the Constitution. because J. in
sist that no convention ever held, or which
ever can be holden. would give to a limit
ed government an absolute power over the
industry ofthe country-a power the Yery
largest Of any that can be granted, and
which, on that account, would be regarded
with the greatest Jealousy, aud distrus,.
Would you restrain the power over speech
lover conscience-over the press-and
YET give an unlimited power over The hands
Compose convention as you will, un.
less il be made up of knaves and fools,
that convention would never agree that a
majority OF Congress should have The
power to tax the whole forever for the
benefit of part. 1t would never agree
that agriculture and commerce being sub
ordinate in interest TO manufactures, the
two FIRST should be taxedfor the support of
the. last, .Itaeouldi never agree tbatihe
interest gof ali for although ,iis would bo
right as regards the power oflaxation for
sbe support Of government, IL would be
exactly wrong asiregards the power oftax.
alton for the support of industry. 2 For IL
vii. !. be; seen ,hatao tax any branch ofin.
dustry for the support Of every other