Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-01-27

driven by the Wild, TEMPEST of faction ane
las he'd By the ,eesy breath of fanaticism
pause for an instant before the paper bul
| wark of written Constitution. But, con
.cede that I am mistaken in this opinion
conaede that all history is ga stale device,
| and universal experience "worn out trick
grant that the party which, in .Masaachu
sets, in Connecticut, and in Ohio, has, by
express legislation violated the Federal com
pact and nnllifed the Federal Stat1te. which
has fought its way over every inch Of ground
from absolute insigni6cance up to its pres
ent commanding position, when within reach
of the glttering prize which has cheered
the WEAKNESS of the march and animated
the srdor of the confict-woald, eithez
smitten by the pangs Of remorse or touched
by sentiment of patriotism, refuse, by
perEerting the terms or amending the pro-
visions of the Constitution, to accomplish ali
object which it processes to regard as the
essence of ALL political virtue. Concede all
this, if you please-is it not still evident that
Reppblicanism stands bound, by every .eb-
legation of consistency, to strain every pro-
vision of the Constitution, in order, by in
direct means, to accomplish the same Or
ject2 ;, ~.
j. Let Us consider for moment the effect
of such policy. 1t is obvious that the
mere fact that the Federal government was
in the possession of a party hostile to their
institutions, would impose upon the South
eID States the necessity Of maintaining at
oil times position Of complete military de-
fence. However onerous the burden
however oppressive the cost common pru-
dence would require that they should stand
prepared to meet any emergency that might
arise Although paying an annual tribute
Of fifty millions Of dollars to the federal treas
ury, for safety not guaranteed, and protec-
ton not secured, you would be required, by
direct taxation alone, to raise thousands Of
dollars to meet the expenses Of your system.
Sir, it is a subject which may we'll engage
the attention of the profoundest intellects
upon this floor, whether any free people will
consent for any protracted period to main
tain such system by direct taxation alone
1t is idle to say that the amount of revenue
expended by the Government must ulti-
mately be paid by the people, whether it be
derived from customs or raised by direct
i'm bos;tioh. The difference between the
two systems consists in the fact, that while
the one, by proper discrimination, is tax
upon .luxuries, the ether exacts an indis-
ctiminate tribute of the necessary articles
Of human consumption, To the fashionable
belle, for example. who delights to array
her person in foreign silks, or to the osten-
tatious dandy who pridcs himself upon his
costly apparel, it is a matter ofindifference.
whether the extravagant price their love of
display inclines them to pay consists of the
actual cost of production, or the rate Of tag
alton while, to the humble mechanic, who
learns his lessons ofeconomy ID the rigo-
rous school of necessity, any system is OPP
pressive which :yh'l3ly increases the cost of
the articles he may be compelled to consume.
A revenue from customs leaves the consum-
er free to pay or to avoid the tax. according
to, his pocuniary condition. A revenue
raised by direct levy is inevitable in it's ne
eesslty and undiscriminating in its opera
ton. ~
The one is in fact a. graduated tax upon
profits, collecting the largest amount of rev.
enue from the most prosperous, and the
smallest amount Of revenue from the least
profitable departments of industry, while
the other is an iindiscriminate tax upon cap
ltal, Operating most heavily upon the poor
er and most lightly upon the Weather class
es Of the community Sir it requires no
sagacity to predict the negotiable effect of
such system in disturbing that harmony
of feeling and Of interest which now ami
mates an entire people. Jealousies must
arise, clas9 will be arrayed against class and
ihe very preservation of your institutions
will drive you to the solution of the prob
lem as to whether the profits OF indepen.
aence are net necessary to meet the expen-
ses of war. But it will BE- at once suggest
ed, if such be the cost Of protecting the
institution of slavery within the limits of |
The Union, what must be the result in the
even5 Of dissolution 2, silencing for a mo- I
nent the voice Of that pride Of State which
'eels a stain upon the honor of the Common
wealth, like wound upon the person the
citizen, let us consider this question purely |
Ip its economical relations. In the first
place it is evident tht the cardinal error of
Republicanism originates in the fallacy by
which it supposes itself, under the Consti-
tuition, in some, degree responsible for the
alleged crime of slavery. It is this idea and
this idea alone which justifes the organisa-
ton Of a national party upon this subject. 81
The moment, therefore, anything cccurs to I
strike this powerful lever from the bonds of !
Of the demagogue, the vital principle of this +
citation is, gone, aud slavery in the South
ern States becomes matter fno more prac-
tical Importance to the Northern phianthro-
pist than serfdom in India or in Russia;
than slavery in Cuba or in Brazil. Not |
only is this the case, but in the evil times
upon which we have, fallen, while the Fed
'ra[ Constitution is utterly impotent to pro-
,ect you from aggression, it furnishes your
enemies with perpetual passport to your
lomes and fresides. Under that clause
which guarantees to the. citizens Of ..'one
State the rights, privileges and mmunities'
IF the citizens Of all the States, the emissa-
y las the right to come into your midst to
conceive his hellish plot, to lay the train
Intended to destroy your whole social fab
'ic; and until his treason develops itself III
ome overt act there is no power under heav-
IN which has the legal right to forbid his
approach. You are sworn to cherish as
friends those whom you suspect as enemies,
Ind until you annul the compact, good faith
'ompels you to add hypocrisy to folly
But, sir, there is yet another aspect in
which this, subject presents itself, demand