The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-30

bers of the General Assembly of Virginia, and
Of the convention to reform the existing const
tuition, held at the capitol, in the city Of Rich
inond, the following address, reported by the
committee in pursuance OF resolution adopted
Mt former meeting, was adopted and ordered
to be published. Whereupon the meeting ad
iourned. IF. WALL, Chairman.
JOSEPH SEGAR, Secretary.
ADDRESS.
FELLow CITIZENS: The present aspect of oul
federal relations, and the threatening attitude o.
certain Of our sister States in regard to them
will excuse us, we trust, for presenting to YOU
serious contemplation some facts and some con
siderations which, we think, deeply concern oul
safety as nation and our happiness as State
Under the irresistible influences Of the spirit
of liberty and the genial protection OF wise in.
stitutions, thirteen separate British colonies
along the mere Atlantic border, peopled 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 twen-
ty-three millions Of souls.
Unenthralled, independent, self-governed; free
to the utmost measure of freedom commanding
peace on our own continent and abroad deriv-
ing from it a prosperity unexampIed in the en-.
tire history of the world the untrammelled en-
ergies Of our people, physical and intellectual,
left at large to their own boundiess develop
ments, we have attained position among the
nations Of the earth which, whilst it has Tade
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.
II is to the patriotism Of our fathers in rivet-
ting our original ties Of brotherhood by the still
closer and stronger links OF a government in
common, and to their skilful and wise distdbu-
ton Of federal and State authorities, that we
owe, under Providence, these matchless bless
ings These amply justify US, then, in regard
ing sthe continuation of the Union as prina-
nv object of patriotic DESIRE" and in claiming
already solved the doubt "whether common
government could embrace so large a 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 f,rewell address of him
who merits to be called the Fla her of our coun-
try, we should regard that unity as ga 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 so highly prize" Heafkening to this
solemn and venerable advice, we should cherish
"a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment
to it," and earnestly desire to see every one
stink and speak of it as the palladium of our
political safety and prosperity; watch for its
preservation with jealous care; disconntenance
whatever may sugges. even a suspicion that it
can, in any event, be abandone 4 /; 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 pcrmnnency of the
Union the federal government is indispensable ;
and, as this sprang only from a compromise and
mutual concession between diverse interests, so
can it only, all know, be successfully admins
tered bv our conserving ever TO act in the SINE
conciiatory spirit which originally gave it birth
But, besides, proper respect for its authority
and acquiescence in its measures are duties re-
quired by the plain st considerations of national
Of State, and of individual welfare
That then the Constitution may be preserved
unimpaired we would resist all innovation upon
its principles; and, dscarding as to its grants of
power to the several departments, the latitude
nous as well as the narrow rule of construction,
we would in all cases determine its meaning, ac-
'cording to the best judgments, fairly condemn
ing without reserve all powers that are withheld,
and upholding with firmness such as are granted,
ever mindful that in expounding the great
charter we should not overlook the defects,
the deformities and the ominons prospects" for
(which its trainers were to provide 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 ms demands Of MS
brief notice, subject TO few obvious lmita-
lions, it belongs exclusively to the several States
TO regulate, at pleasure, their domestic institu-
lions 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
80 widespread as ours, embr cling so many d.
versifed interests there must be eontrariety of
opinion upon measures, which, designed to es-
tablish a policy calculated to affect the indus
tiia pursuits and domestic economy of commu-
mites as we'll rs Of individuals, operate Of ne
cessty, for that very reason, unequally A sys-
tenn Of legislation for such purpose, in order TO
be perfectly equal and just 10 its effects would
require a wisdom Of design and n power Of CON-
bination far exceeding what is granted 10 mortal
man. Discarjing, therefore, as Utopian and vi
sionary, any expectation Of such impossible per-
lection in our laws, and aiming only at what is
nttainable, we should remain satisfied with
measures ct, 10 their general result, TO accom-
plish the end IN view, and to promote, upon the
whole, high social and individual benefits, even
though, in particular instances, they may operate
injuriously 81
Under the influence of these considerations,
however much we might oppose, as to tariff, a
return to an excessive rate Of duties, or MS to in
ternal improvements, lavish system OF appro-
priations, we may be well content, by n judicious
arrangement Of duties upon foreign merchandise
such as are necessary for an economical admins
tration Of the government, to encourage or
domestic manufactures, and to provide, in time
Of peace, such improvements OF our harbors, sea
and lake, and our principal rivers, as may be
necessary TO consolidate our strength within
and TO secure our safety without. With the
protection Of such a tariff, and the construction
Of such works, there can be little reason to ap.
lief.