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

mo lhc country, nuiWit.!sta ndrg The burGenSOmc
imposis and are Sill sold as c!ieaply as our own
Ly the fact TIA, those things
the manufacturers use and buy they ask 10 have
admitted free Of dulics; and by the fact, that Mr.
Clay's Compromise bill itself provided against
s"dosa reduction of dGlies lest Ike manufacturers
should be ruined BY a Mddcn rcltciioa OF prices
Instead then OF high taxes milking low prices, IL
IS nc t0r priecs of foreign gG0GS rdicd cause III
hteh dattes al homc. And if il has ever happened
that goods designed TO be pl0itctcd, have fslen
upon the imposition of the duty. This is resul,
which was neither inlcnded nor desired 1t was
an awkward and vcyalious misc alcuiaion which,
failing TO secure the cr7ncted profit, is sought 10
he made profitable as an argument.
And yet these lovers OF facts, who Crust their
own senses. and hold as realities the slcighls of
scoilcrs al theories who woud
maintain The revolution ofthe sun around the
earth, because their eyes behold lis progress can
in the wonderful inventions and improve
menls TIE arts-,hc application ofnew agents 10
machinerv-thc reduction in The cost Of Tic mate
rials Of laaor--ihc Ion" continuance of peace, and
an increased manufacturing skill, no sufficient
cause for result, which they cumplaccnlly attii-
butte 10 high rate oftayation.
FellowcitiZcns we have perhaps Too long de-
tanned you in exposing The wrctchcd lalaccs that
are used as The apologies OF system, which in
seeking 10 overcome the peculiarilics of soil, eli
mate and social condition, seems even 10 war with
Providence. These GivcIsiiies of production.
which the earth exhibits, indicate design that
man should know his iellow-man through that
enlarged intercourse, which mutual wants COM
pei, and that in bearing 10 one aaoiLcr the pro-
ducts otvarious climcs civilization and christian
ity should be extended - the ulermost parts OF
the globe He cvinccs but liulc acquaintance
with the order and arrangements OF the ailwisc
Creator who attempts or desire 10 secure 10 onc
people an independence of al! others Let il "a
trer be our aim 10 cooperate with the system 81
Nature, dcyeiorc The faculties that are appro-
prialcy ours, and be content 10 receive from other
nations whatsocvcrthcv can most advanta"cuuslv
supply.
II was long since iorcscen, that system so
FICTITIOUS and unnatural, so unjust in liz pTinci-
pie aniSo oppressive in It's operation could never
be sustained upon its own merits. Ii became ne
ccssary therefore, Ia connect il with other iaill-
entail Interests. The support of tic West w.
.nvi'cJ hy lavish appropriations Of Tie revenues
Welded by the high inposs. for various ohlcc;s
oflNrERNAL IMPROVEMENT The power
was assumed 10 construct roads and make canals
within the limits oi The States and though, as We
have seen, il was confidently declared in our own
Convention, that 70 more Of oar money coEld lc
taken by the Constitution ;han was necessary 10
pay our share Of The public debt and provide for
the genera! welfare (arcorJiHg modes spec3Frd
in the Constitution itsclf) large SHES we're wasted
ninprol ing the cond tion Of favored sections We
will not diiaie upon The enormities OF system,
which, equally Unconstitutional and unjust, cali
cd forth tie indignant circumstances Of ra5ltsl
statesmen and pure>t patriots. The prevalence
u Republican couase.s al length arrested lis pro-
grcss and We trust that lis cuTup,ing influences
l.. \. IL,
moe be iell.
But, a new scheme was soon devised for effect
ing the objects originally proposed, and securing
those auxiliary Interests 50 essential Ia the SelIl>
purposes OF the manufacturers. The revenues
derived from The sales of the public lands had
been applied, rs they should he, 10 the p:ymcnt o
the current expenses of he Government. Many
Of these lands had been purchased with the mo-
ney OF the people, and il was their right 10 re.
quirc the proceeds OF the sales 10 he 81 applied
as Ia relieve them in pat from the burton q; tax
alton. But the friends Of the Protective Policy
fearing that tie revenues derived from this source
together with the large sums yielded by their higf
Tariff, will produce such an accumulation in III,
Treasury, as will compel reduction oi the i'm
posts, seriously propose 10 diArtb"tc GeM rercnnc:
an,oae Tic Si0teS.
Z these be not the motives which have orig
mated this notable proIcct, We are at loss 10 con-
ccivc any that would IL consistent with The To-
spcct we feel for the abilities OF some OF lis DE-
Tenders. II they be sincere in the declaration
that they urge this policy because OF lis ow:: in,
,rinsic soundncse We inu>l take !ca.'e Ia say, ;2
q measure which gives 10 the people money, thai
is again immediately surrendered 10 the Govern.
mcnt in taxes, can orlv lc regarded as IN excel
lent practical jest, which must insrIc a vciy
Gathering opinion OF The Wit or hunor of its COLI
lrivcrs.
Fellow-cizcns We arc constrained 10 vindi-
cate the good sense of these politicians at The *
pcnse Of their sincerity The harmless sallies ol
Quixoti>m would handy arrest our notice; but the
early Roman History may teach Us tEat deep de-
signs may lark under 4 counericiied iuliY. In
ASSUMPTION IN he Go'.rn@cW, ot The dcdts CoH-
k0cjcd ~ tie r0tt"us .Statcs, would be a worthy
coEsummalion Of scheme, which converts the
sovereign members o! This ConcGeracy into The
recipients Of its bounlieS.
The principle, ut construction, cherished by The
Republican Party, would co:nrcl opposition 10
the measures We have caavassed even il the
highest considerations of The public good wcr@
not equally imperative. We oppose these mca-
>ures, and We oppose AL by wHoin thcv are de-
Tended. We oppose niM especially, whose e!"c-
lion To The Presidency is now urged as the cOgdi-
ton OF their establishment.
The recent nomination of Mr.. Clay, hy the
Wing Convention al Baltimore, WIS hut the
united declaration oI that purpose, which the
general consent Of his party had for years before
proclaimed. Little IS We have ever esteemed The
prcicnsicns Of This gentleman, we regard them as
having even suffered abatement since the me-
morablc trials in which he was so hnpclcSSly con-
dclnncd by the American People. What shall be
said oi his advocacy Of that ischcvous scheme,
miscalled the BANKRUPT Law, described by him
- n
intended TO embrace all interests and all paris 81
the Union" Let us besiow passing notice
upon it.
The Constitution grants to Congress the power
ITO establish IN uniform rule of naturalization,
and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies
throughout The United States" If Congress pos
scss the right 10 pcrvcIt worl from lis we'll
known meaning, hy Legislative definition who'-
~ altering its sense what FINDERS them from de-
tcrmining by law that naturalization means at0-
Mion, and establishing an uniform rul. for :he
abolition of slavery throughout The United Siacs!
Now, in what aie'ioaGry, in what authority o. he
law, in what practice usage. or gslalion any
civilized nation, ancient or modern did Congress
learn mat bonkrnWcg means Il privilege sraned
To debtors 10 relieve themselves from the payment
Of their debts at their own Will and pleasure p
The term bankruptcy is technical phrase. iie
Specification OF which is Just a. well settled rs
that oil the other legal cXpreSsiols-si'ch rs tai,
jRrm tciony- contained III the Constitution. IL is
The description q, quas, cysaor, the commission
OF which b;' debtor entities his creditors 10 in
sti:u;c certain proce cngs to have him declared
4 baihrppi, in order thai his cs;atc may be taken
from him. and their claims thus secured Eut
Congress- by tie aci IL question, conlerrc! upon
the debtor the extraordinary privilege oi ropnat-
ing his own solemn engagements al his own Sc
lectcd time.
The miserable excuse offered by the friends of
this measure was, that lhoac who were willing TO
restore 10 their creditors the unspent fragment Of
what they had received from them, ought not 10
be held to farther accountability; il he who had
enioved the fruits of anolheIs lalor, was not i'll
ins,lce and conscience bound la labor in return
ill he had made full remuneration.
This bill, though passed at the memorable Ex-
ira Session in 1911 was not Ia 90 into operation
till the LIST day OF February, 1912. In the mean
time the most uncquirocal c:denccs were It.
ceived from all parts Of the country OF tbc public
No where was this measure
more odious than in Mr.. Gays own S,cts. The
subject was brought before The Kentucky Legis-