Phenix Gazette

From the National Journal.

The letters signed "A Farmer," which were first published in the Richmond Whig, and of which we publish the closing number in this day's paper, have been by some persons attributed to Mr. Madison. This circumstance, added to the effect which they have produced in Virginia, and are still producing, has stung the Opposition editors to the quick. The Lynchburg Virginian seems to think it probable that these letters are the production of that eminent statesman, from the coincidence of sentiment which evidently exists between Mr. Madison and "A Farmer." As the Virginian publishes, we state as a fact within our own knowledge, that, very recently, the sage and patriot of Montpelier expressed his deep regret at the course now pursuing by some of the most eminent politicians of Virginia—that he reprobated it, as sapping the foundations of her power and influence in the confederacy, whilst by a course of moderation and prudence, she might have won over a majority of her sister States to embrace her principles—that he defended the right of the National Government, under the Constitution, to impose a tariff of duties on imports, with reference to other objects than revenue—he averred that such had been the course pursued by every Administration in the country, his own and Mr. Jefferson's included—that to call all the latent resources of the country into action, and to afford to them such protection as circumstances might suggest, was one of the principal reasons for the abolishment of the Confederation system, which was found inadequate for that purpose, and the adoption of the Federal Constitution—and that the resolution passed by the last legislature in relation to this subject, was extremely unwise and impolitic.

Here, then, is a man who is everlastingly quoted by the martyrs of the Constitution in this State, who assisted to frame this instrument, and who was one of its earliest and ablest cotemporaneous expounders, and who, in the exercise of his Executive duties, at a later day, was called on to construe its provisions, who says that he is erroneously thus quoted—and that William B. Giles, that dog in the manger, is fast hurrying his beloved Virginia to ruin and contempt—We again repeat, that what we have here stated is of our own knowledge and cannot be contradicted We hope it will be in our power, before long, if Mr. Madison can be prevailed on to conquer his insuperable aversion to mingling in the strife, to lay a fuller exposition of his views before our readers.