Page:Examiner, Journal of Political Economy, v2n14.djvu/2

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210
THE EXAMINER,


Georgia has also fully recognized the principle, and emphatically asserted the right of Nullification in her Resolutions and Protest of December, 1828, against the "Protecting System."

The Protest of Georgia is in the following words:

"In her Sovereign capacity, the State of Georgia protests against the Act of the last session of Congress, entitled "An Act in alteration of the several Acts imposing duties on Imports," as deceptive in its title, fraudulent in its pretexts, oppressive in its exactions, partial and unjust in its operation, unconstitutional in its well known objects, ruinous to commerce and agriculture, to secure a hateful monopoly to a combination of importunate manufacturers. "Demanding the repeal of an act which has already disturbed the Union, and endangered the public tranquility, weakened the confidence of whole States in the Federal Government, and diminished the affection of large masses of the people to the Union itself, and the abandonment of the degrading system which considers the people to be incapable of wisely directing their own enterprize—which sets up the servants of the people in Congress as the exclusive judges of what pursuits are most advantageous and suitable for those by whom they were elected; the State of Georgia expects that, in perpetual testimony thereof, this deliberate and solemn expression of her opinion will be carefully preserved among the archives of the Senate, and in justification of her character to the present generation, and to posterity, if unfortunately Congress, disregarding this protest, and continuing to pervert powers, granted for clearly defined and well understood purposes, to effectuate objects never intended by the great parties by whom the Constitution was framed to be entrusted to the controlling guardianship of the Federal Government, should render necessary measures of a decisive character, for the protection of the people of this State, and the vindication of the Constitution.