The North-Carolinian., 1851-02-15
From the North Carolina Standard
10 the Legislature of ~. Carolina. No.

Me Ie1tStutUre Of ". carolina. - No. 8
GENTLEMEN: In our last we ventured.
with proper difference we trust, to question
the constItutionaIity of the ad yulore,n tax
or i'npost duty. which you propose-par-
ticuiar!y discriminating as 1t does, and
with the qualifications, or contingent con-
dltions annexed.
We owe it. however, to ourselves to
say, that since we have commenced wrl-
| ting upon this subject; our views have ma
terially changed, both as to its constitution
aiIty. as we'll as to Its expediencv. But
as we belong to that school of politicians
whose judgments are ever the result of their
understanding. we never fear to proclaim
the apprehensions of the one. as we'll as to
follow implicitly. the sober dictates of the
other, though we should even cross the path
OF those in whose wake we have so often
followed.
It would be perfectly useless for US,
were we writing over our own signature,
to make any profession of Estate rishts:'
neither shall we now attempt any ''dis-
claimer,7 when we venture to speak of
State obligations.
The language of all ought to be-that
the States have ri shts which shall be res
pected-the States have duties which should
be performed. In adopting this language,
for the purpose of conveying the sentiment,
we do not wish to be understood even as
Intimatins that the duty of obedience was
less obligatory than the duty to enforce
obedience; by no means; on the contrary,
known duty cannot be postponed, but the
exercise of perfect right, for sufficient
reasons may be.
But let us proceed to the task before US
ktN a. IT.
Congress-. lay any imposts, or duties on
imports. except what may be absolutely
necessary for executing its inspection laws;
posts laid, by any State on imports or ex-
ports. shall be for the use OF the Treasury
of the United States; and all such laws
shall be subject to the revision and control
Of Congress.
These are the very words Of the FEEDER
al Constitution. and they have both deep
as we'll as hidden meaning. aud would be
entirely inexplicable without a recurrence
20 the other parts of that Instrument, as
we'll as TO the concurrent history of the dav.
Here too, aud without wishing to tread
on forbidden ground, (for if we know our
selves, we hold all party beneath us on this
nonentous questlon.) are we forced to
make an alluson to a ''protective Tariff. :"
which is done, as you will see, not with
my ulterior object, but merely to remove
he rubbish from our path, and to defend
he position which we now take.
The Convention which formed the Fed
.ral Constitution. having refused to confide
o the Congress of the United States the
,ower to protect the .'domestic industry
Il the country, by any other than '.rev-
nue Tariff" it became obvious 10 the
states that unless this power resided some
where. that cases would arise actually
equiring it, aud If it was to be found
ielther in the government rim the States,
hat their condition, SO far from being im-
'royed BY the Union, would, as to this, be
rejudiced and seriously injured; for we
II know, that before the adoption of the
federal CONSTITUTIONS. some Of them did ex-
rcise il. ii
Ihs Convention, on the other hand knew