The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-12-13

Since therefore large majority Of the PEG
pie of this state, aud their Representatives
are, am fully persuaded. opposed to the
renewal OF the Charter OF ;he u. States
Bank. OF the incorpor alton o. am other AID
since our representatives in Congress, o,
some one OF them. may and probably will
differ on the subject. from wha, we have e.
very reason TO believe, is the opinion of the
President. and this difference of opinion may
at so important 1t Crisis, requiring unanimi-
ty and concert. produce coolness or discord.
ALLEVIATE friends or infiame enemies-I
conclude THAI these considerations alone
which nave produced apathy. ought TO quick
en- diligence. and give birth To those in
struc ions, which Will avert every evil and
redeem the character of the State.
But there are other and higher conside
rations urging you. the representatv of the
people of Virginia. TO this step and to take
1t immediately no not allude to the posi-
.bility, or Considering the exertinn every
where making in its tavor) TO the probability
of two thirds of both houses in Congress.
concurring in this measure, and forcing il
upon you in despite of your President. 1
refer to circumstances and principles still
better entitled to your attention. 1t must
be recollected. that the Government under
which we have the happiness to live, is pc
cuiiarly organized and cons ituted On the
one hand. there is a great Federal autho-
r'ty. having grant of specified indeed, but
most important powers On the other. are
the State Sovereignties retaining what they
have not surrendered, but having surren
dered so much, THAI in the opinion of some
they have retained little worth keeping
these two powers may be called the cen
trlpetai and centrifugal powers of the State.
The one tending TO draw every thing to IL.
self. and the other to fiv from its common
centre. The true theory of our government
consists In the fair equilibrium of these two
powers, and OF confning each to it's proper
limits. But in practice. this can hardly be
effected by The most jealous circumspection.
The larger body naturally draws to itself
the smaiier-whilst the latter is every
moment in danger of extinction.
10 drop the hgure-the general govern :.
ment has so many powers, so much reve
nue.. so many disposable resou, ces, so much
Patronage and SO much consequence from
the present peculiar state of the world. tnat
the state authorities are thrown in the back
ground. and are now but little regarded. -
Since the adoption of the Constitution. SIEVE
raj circumstances have concurred TO add to
the weight OF the general government, and
OF consequence comparatively TO lessen thar
OF each ota'e-Our foreign relations have be
come more interesting commerce been
greatly eXtended-The number of Offices
and the patronage of the government, encreas-
ed with Intentional governments have beep
established within our old limits, and otht r
territories acquired-The power of the
PRESIDENT and Congress has embraced p
WIDER range and been extended TO new tho
legitimate nbJectS--So that now all ewes are
nXed upon the high tribunal-T aIents flock
10 t-othce-seekers surround it-and in the
oia2e OF Its consequence, the little state au
thorIt'es are scarcely noticed
lhisi sign OF the times is to nov mind
a"fui and portentous. II points ultimately
10 consolidation o. all power in the &c
neral government, and 10 the extinction of
our liberties Give us an uDprincipled pre-
sident and time-serving legislature, and
where rs the power that can control them ,
The constitution is already dead letter..
its barriers may be leveiIed by the Sub
tlety OF interpretation, and the anthorify of
precedent, The doctrine of imhGcarion NAV
make IN 1t so many breaches that we have
nothing OF IT to hold by--and we are sur
priced to ind that in spite of our charters.
our checks and balances, our liberties have
vanished. There is but one remedy to the
evil, anu perhaps even that an Inadequate
one. Let the states be at all times and un
der every administra ion, vigilant in guard
ing, every the least, right or power, they
have retained to themselves.-Let them
pin down the Congress of the U. S. and the
administration. TO the letter of that charter
ed authority, winch should ever be the rule
OF their conduct, or 10 its obvious and neees :.
sary meaning--and let them not, for one
moment sleep upon their posts, lest the enc
my should GENE and find them unguarded
In an evil hour, Satan found admittance into
the garden of Edeu.---The consequence
was the fall OF man
That the Bank Bill does involve conside
rations of the most important nature, that
its principle will justify other encroach
ments on State Rights, that it opens in fact
wide door to inrhhcafiue construction, and
is as to this, test ofhrinciftie in 1911, as
well as when the struggle commenced in
1871, 1t will be my endeavor in the next
number to prove.
HARMODIUS.
VEST FLORIDA