Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-03-25


g:la."., seem to have been utterly at variance
"ns seems 10 be some hidden spell upon them.
lie. !, annex Texas, they defeated all eiec-
uesn" .,;,n though that action was sanctioned oy
I'VE MI. Of The Legislature In the efforts 10
",' senator in receiving the land lunu, IN
ee.. Democrat from the office OF Counciiior'
e seu", conduct on the contested elechons-m
ID w y every matter Of political concern, We
slss IA, indirect action which characteriSeS men
ma .b all the bitter feelings OF paIllzans, DO
who W. wv - make direct issue with their oppo-
nsn,s e:ho3 ,bs examination of the course
MeWh;o marty. All the facts are now be-
o. '',I nsope. Ii is Tor them to decide upon the
fore ~. al their public iunctionaries Import
coocu.. are sill before the country. The vic
AM sSa ,s,i has not destroyed the Wing party
lo'yu. =. followed up and sustained before j, ef-
Il mus snr hing which Wing energy may not de-
fee's a"I rbe annexation OF Texas is not yet COM
siros The Tariff is not vet reduced TO reve-
pelea., ndaT5. and the next Virginia Legislature
nue. > go, the two leading measures OF the De-
nla, -s,ic party, BY placing the unHeo Sta.es De-
m nv n the hands OF cur adversaries. we nave
na', ,eonle with US and II misrepresentation can
,l ' aroIded all will be well, and me l5uils OF Inc
is,s ardnous contest will be reailzea 10 'ne ha-
'o Th,, comics, was decided in favor OF The De-
,nocra,ic principles The voice OF ,ne people, IN
i n,srar;ne Mr.. Polk 10 the Chez MaslslrScy Sl
,ts 1Tnited States, condemned ffoleetHe arm,
National Bank, the Distribution o. "le lIoeeeuS
:, ,hs Sales of the Public La"us anions uhe
States and that lati,udinonS euils'.u " ~.
Constitution on which NOSE ',,easa'ts atpe"a
r,csiyed The Joint resolution lor Inc an
we ndse ,eT Twas as the fruit of that victory;
heiatio"r .ra- remains as the all-ahsorhing queS
ana 'ne ny. - he decided. That question having
10, w. comnromised, and the compromise having
49, ,;nIa,ed must continue 10 aeitate the coun-
-, mil one OF The great parties shall be utterly
'..c,n;sbed One Treaty OF Peace" having
hsrn DESTROYED, without Scruples or hesitation, we
20, ses no caaranlee that any other will be OBJ
ss,red longer than policy might require. Firmly
rss,ved therefore. 10 make hostility TO protection
!, ,es, Of political faith, the Democratic Party
,nns, look with anxiety, and yet with confidence,
- The action OF Congress on this subject. We
Ink with reason 10 Democratic President, sus-
tanned by majority not only on the floor of
congress. bu throughout the country, for ample
r,jress OF our long sustained grievances.
The people of the agricultural and exporting
STATES have suffered sufficiently long under sys-
len. which forces them 10 bear an undue share of
the burhens Of Government whilst they see their
sister States enriched, because the Government is
hur,hensome That duties on importations ope-
rate as tax on consumption, was never. TO our
knowledge denied, until necessity existed 10
make line OF policy palatabe 10 our people,
which had been forced upon them against their
earnes, circumstances. That being conceded, ii
follows. as a necessary consequence that the la
Dor invested in any unprotected employment
mus, pay whatever duties may be levied and COL
!.c,sd on the articles which il consumes, whilst
the domestic producer OF those articles not only
svoids the payment Of the impost, but is en-
abei by those duties, 10 sell portion OF his
products al higher rates than if no revenue
was needed By The Government. The ext
eencies OF The nation are thus made source Of
prof., 10 the manufacturer; tor protection not
oar shifts the burthen Of Government from
his shoulders, but makes his trade more profitable
than il would be, il there was no burthen TO be
sustained BY the people. This We hold 10 be SO
unjust and oppressive-so contrary TO the lee;i-
mate functions of good government-that no
Thing bui an express recognition in the tunda-
mental law could give such power TO our Con-
greSs. This recognition cannot be found 10 Inc
Constitution.
We admit the power "to lay and collect taxes
duties, impos,s and excuses, TO pay the debts ans
provide for the common defence and general vel
fare OF the United States" but deny il for any other
purpose whatsoever. To provide fund TO be
thus expended, being the only object recognised
by the Constitution, or consistent with justice we
hold il be evident that Tariff should not be le-
Wed for any but revenue purposes; principle
which should be made TO apply in IcrWng ererg
item of duty. Although revenue and pro
tec,ion are incidental 10 each other, within
rtor in fhei
natures. Revenue depends upon the amount
Of impor,a,ions which comes into the coun.
while protection can only be afforded
b. excluding part or the whole product Of TO
reign industry If a desire to discriminate, with
design 10 afford protection be allowed 10 FIX
AMI determine any item Of duty, it gives, 10 that
extent, protective character To any scale of du-
ties which contains such a discrimination. 1.-THE
degree OF the protection thus afforded should not
amount 10 prohibition, The mere fact that revenue
is incidentally produced, does not prevent its be-
ing fraud on the Constitution, as we'll as an act
Of oppression towards the people. A principle il
thereby Struggled into the government, and al
lowed 10 prescribe and control the course Of lesis
a,ion, though hostile in its nature 10 the power
from which ii is implied, and destructive in its
operation, to the pretext BY which it is admitted
Should This point be yielded. the whole question
is surrendered. Under the power 10 discriminate
Tor purposes Of protection, the revenue may be
destroyed b. prohibtory duties. And il the in
ete>is Of the country require that the po"er
should &c exercised in one instance, and TO GER
tain degree, we can see no reason that it should
no. be exercised in every instance and TO any de-
gree, which would not force the government 10
resort 10 direct taxation, as the only means OF de.
iIaving il. expenses.
~, IL, 1,,; h,,,
ing importations, afford the greatest amount OF
revenue. and, although protection TO most articles
OF domestic manufacture be the necessary and
unavoidable incident TO any system of duties. yet
We deny that this consequence is one of the Con-
s,i.uonal purposes for the accomplishment Of
which Tariff should be framed. II therefore
becomes the duty OF Congress to fulfil the expec-
taions OF the people by enacting revenue bill,
AMI, in framing The Tariff Of duties, TO make its
purpose unequivocal by adopting the limit ofthe
Compromise as the maximum duty The Demo-
cratic party having been once betrayed should
no. consent 10 farther concession or longer delay,
but task all its energies TO carry ont the doctrine
oliee trade, sanctioned as it is by Justice, and de-
manded by the people in the election OF our Chief
Magistrate. The convention which made him
The candidate Of the party in the late contest, by
me same authority pronounced for the party
against protective system. Having recently
pointed the nation to his past history 10 make
clear present position, and enable US to foresee
his future course, We feel assured that the Presi-
dent will obtain 10 the end that Jealous support
We have heretofore given him, by sustaining
hose views which made him the candidate Of his
party, and the Chief Magistrate Of the Union.
With this vital question before the country
with The Joint Resolution for the annexation OF
Texas not finally determined-we call upon our
friends every where 10 exert themselves in favor
otthe Democratic prnciples-principles which
have been sanctioned not only BY the State, but
by the Union. Every where 10 the North, we see
the Wing and Abolition parties conending that
II is lawful and desirable yet 10 deiea, the annex
alton of Texas to the U. Sand this unheard.o
doctrine is sanctioned by many member. OF the
Wing party oflhe South. Under these circum.,an-
css, eearneClyrccommend our friends through
out the country, TO discharge their whole duty 10
themselves and TO their cause The next Con-
gress OF the United States may be frausht with
the most momentous consequences The next
Legislature OF Virginia is very important In
dependeniy of other questions, recollect that
q Senaf0r Of tho TTpitod S,,,a. -.