The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-29

tuition, held at the capitol, IN the city Of Rich
inond, the following address, reported by the
committee 10 pursuance OF solution adopted
at = former meeting, was adopted and ordered
to be published. Whereupon TIE meeting ad
journed. j. r. WALL, CAairm.n
JossrH SEcAs, Secretary.
ADDRESS.
ssl FxLLOw CITIZENS: The present aspect Of our
federal relations and the threatening attitude Of
certain Of our sister States in regard TO them,
will excuse US we trust, for presenting to your
serious contemplation some facts and some con
sidsrations which. We think. deeply concern our
safety as a nation and our happiness as u State.
Under the irresistible influences of the spirit
of liberty and the genial protection of wise in
situations, thirteen separate British colonies
along the mere Atlantic border, peoped by less
than three millions Of inhabitants, have, within
but little more than half century, risen into
thirty one United American States, stretching
broadly across to the great Pacific itself, and
numbering for their population more than TWEEN
ty-three millions OF souls
Unenthralled, independent, self-goyerned; free
I to the utmost measure Of freedom commanding
peace on our own continent and abroad; deriy-
ING from il a prosperity unexampled In the en-
ur6 0t8tOTy u txc W.T. ~ VIC upsAtnuChOu VII
ercies Of our people, physical and intellectual,
Left at large to their own boundless develop
ments, we have attained position among the
nations Of the earth which, whilst it has n ade
our country refuge for the oppressed Of every
cline, has at once excited the fear and the re-
spect, the jealousy and the hope, the envy. the
admiration, and the wonder Of the rest Of man
kind:
It is to the patriotism Of our fathers in rivet-
ting our original ties of brotherhood BY the still
closer and stronger links of government in
common, and to their skiful and wise distribu-
ton Of federal and State authorities, that we
owe, under Providence, these matchless bless
ings. These amply justify US, then, in regard
ing atbe continuation OF the Union as prima-
nv object Of patriotic DESIRE" and in claiming as
already solved the doubt whether a common
government could embrace so large sphere"
Not less dear to us than to the patriots who
achieved our independence should be "the unity
Of government which constitutes US one people,"
In the language of the fTewell address OF him
who merits to be called the ia her Of our coun-
try, we should regard that unity as "a main pillar
Of our real independence; the support Of our
tranquility at home, our peace abroad, of our
safety, of our prosperity; Of the very liberty
which we 80 highly prize" Hearkening to this
solemn and We lerabe advice, We should cherish
IA cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment
to it," and earnestly desire to see every one
Athink and speak of it as the palladium Of our
political safety and prosperity; watch for its
preservation with jealous care disconntcnance
whatever may suggest even suspicion that il,
can, in any event, beabandone1 and Indignantly
frown upon the first dawning Of every attempt
to ALLEVIATE any portion of our country from the
rest, or enfeeblc the sacred ties that link to-
gether the various parts"
To the efficiency and permanency of the
Union the federal government is Indispensable
and, as this sprang only from compromise and
mutual concession between diverse interests, 80
can it only, all know, be successfully admins
tered bv our consenting ever to act in the same
conciatory spirit which originally gave it birth.
But, besides, proper respect for its authority
and acQuiescence in its measures are duties re-
qnired by the plain st considerations of national,
Of State, and of individual welfare.
That then the Constitution nay be preserved
un;mrai ed we would resist all innovation upon
its principlcs and, describing to its grants Of
power to the several departments, the lat'uii
nous as we'll as the narrow rule of construction.
we would in all cases determine its meaning, &C.
cording to the beat judgments, fairly; condemn
ing without reserve all powers that are withheld.
and uphodng with firmness such as are granted,
ever mindful that in cxpounding the great
charter we should not overlook the d-fect-,
the determines, aud the omnons pros ecis" for
which its trainers were to provide a remedy.
Without designing to convert this address
into general declaration of political faith, or TO
trespass far into the field of current politics. we
think the Importance of the tariff and internal
Improvement questions such as demands of us
a brief notice, subject to a few obvious limita-
tions it belongs exclusively to the several States
to regulate, at pleasure, their domestic nstitu-
tons; whilst to the federal authority are equal
ly con6ded those larger and more national pow
ers which concern the mutual relations of the
States themselves, and were deemed necessary
to be exercised by that authority, in order to the
common safety and prosperity. In country
no widespread AS ours, embr cling so many d.
versiied interests, there must be contrareiy OF
opinion upon measures, which, designed to es.
t0blish a policy calculated to affect the indus
trial pursuits and domestic economy of commu-
mites az we'll as of individuals. operate of ne
cessity, for that very reason, unequally. A sys.
TEN Of legislation for such purpose, in order to
be perfectly equal and just in its effects, would
require wisdom Of design and a power Of com.
bination far exceeding what is granted to mortal
man. Discarjing, therefore, as Utopan and vi
nionary, any expectation OF such impossible per.
lection in our laws, and aiming only at what is
attninnble, we should remain satisfied with
measures fit, in their general result, to accom-
plish Che end in view, and to promote, upon the
whole, high social and individual benefits, ever
though, in particular instances, they may operate
injuriously.
Under the influence Of these considerations
however much we might oppose. as to a tariff,
return to an excessive rate Of Duties or rs to in
ternal improvements, lavish system Of appro
priations, we may be well content, by judiciou
arrangement of duties upon foreign merchandise
such NJ are necessary for nm economical admiuis
tration of the government, TO encourage or
domestic manufactures, md to provide, in tim,
of peace, such improvements of our bnrbors, sci
and lake, and our principal rivers, ns may b,
necessary to consolidate orr strength Within
and to secure our safety without. With tn,
protection Of such tariff and the construction
of such works, there can be little resson to up