Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-04-11

Bile. 10 facilitate commerce and undoubtedly
>, whole law on the subject OF Inland bills OF
eSchange, is intimately connected with COM
| merce the buying and Selln. OF slaves in one
state, 10 DC transported into another; portion
OF the commerce between states. Laws then
| may be made by Congress 10 control iltheSe
SUBJECTS. II may deserve much consideration,
whether such Il broad construction is NOT in
the face OF the constitution, and especially of
| The 10th article of amendments, which il in
these words" The powers not delegated to
NE United States by the constitution. nor p, o.
hDited by II 10 the states. are reserved to the
states respectively, or 10 the people"
Ii is said, however, that appropriations have
been made, and roads laid out by Congress-
AID the Cumberland road and others arc men
toned. Congress nay undoubtedly make
roads through the lands of the United States.
| not within the ur sdiction of any state, aud
the Cumberland road was established preba-
bly, as "a post road. BE that as it may, prece-
deuts of such doubtful character. and of such
modern date, will not weigh much. The con-
stitution is MOTTO be expouuded by Il single de-
cision OF the Legislature. 1t would scarcely
he admitted BY majority OF the senate, that
the sedition law, as il is termed, was authorized
BY the constitution, though il received the
sanction of the judicial tribunals, as we'll as
the Legislature: nor isit clear that the act TO
repeal hejudicary law in 1903, would now be
viewed Us il was when passed.
IT farther asserted, that these roads and
canals are 10 be constructed, and the eXpendi-
ture made, ,citk ire assent Of the states, and
thus the power OF congress, il doubtful, is con-
hrmed. and the bin m question is drawn with
this aspect. MIR ID. said, on this point lie
would ask one question; can money be appro-
priated by congress for an object over which il
Is not authorized to legsidte, teGcuSs the states
assent Or, ino;her words can Law he ma'le,
with The CONSENT Of the stairs, which Is not war
rante by the constitution BY the constitu-
ton, the judicial power extends 10 ali cases
arising under the constitution, &C. Can con-
gress, rith The assent Of ths suites, extend the
Il
offences committed in the stateSi Where
would be found nudge rash enough TO exc
cute srch alawi 1t is believed that the true
doctrine is, that the constitution is the shield
OF every individual in the ration, and that its
powers can neither I've enlarged or diminished
b. the states. except by amendments made in
pursuance Of its provisions.
1t may BE- added, that neither of the Presi-
dents Washington or Adams, ever proposed a
measure of this character. The present Chief
Magistrate has suggested it in one or more of
his messages, hit ALWAYS with doubts as TO the
proprlety OF an interference, without amend.
ments to the constitution. President Jeifer-
son, in his communication to Congress in 1896,
after exhibiting the condition of the treasury
and thereby Showing the large SurpluSses Of
revenue, proceeds to inquire whether the i'm
port duties should be continued, and thereby
the overplusscs be Northumberland ii So
how they should be disposed Of; and oil this
subject makes the following observations:
" On "A few articles of more general and ne
ccssary use, the snpposition, in due season, will
doubtless be right; but the great mass of the
articles on which import is paid are foreign
Injuries, purchased Ivy those only who are rich
enough TO afford themselves the use of them2
Their patriotism would certainly prefer Us
Continuance and application to the great pur-
poses of the public education, roads. rivers.
canals, and such other objects Of public i'm
proycment, as il may be thought proper 10 add
TO the constitutional enumeration OF federal
powers. BY these operations new channels of
communication hpt fbo
states; the lines OF separation will disappear
their interests will be identified and their union
cemented by new and indissoluble ties Edu-
cation rs here placed among the articles ofpub-
lick care not that IL is proposed 10 take its
ordinary branches out ofthe hands of private
enterprise. which manages so much better ali
the concerns 10 which II is equal but pubiic
institution can alone supply those sciences
which, tho rarely called fol, are vet unnece
TO complete the circle; all the parts Of which
contribrte 10 the Improvement of the country
and some or them to - preservation. The
subject is now proposed Tor the consideration
OF Congress, because, II approved BY the time
the state legislatures shall have Reiterated on
this extension of the federal trusts and the
',.-v, e:en be passed., a.-I e.l,er -rr,nrei,sents
made Tor their execution, the niece sary funds
will be on hand. and without employment I
suppose an r'Hendr.e:t TO the constitutions bv con-
sent ethe states, necessary, because The objects nov
recomnended, are not among those engwcratei in
The constitution, and to ph;ch il psrwits The pub
lie moneys to be applied"
Ii, however, there were no objection arising
from a want of constitutional authority. MIR
ID. sac that, in his Judgment, the project was
ineypedient.
No details are proridsd What is TO be the
amount ofinteIeSt in these various projects?
Are co-partnershps with states or with indivi
dcals to be formed, and the proftsdtvided? or
arc boards of works to be established in ali the
states, with all the nlachipery of management
incident 20 them to be S. lernteuded Nv Con
gresss On all these potsrle and MANY other
which might be suggested, the bill is silent
and the only answer we hear from the friends
or the bill, TO our inquiries, no details can
be agreed en-; should details be attemnted
the bull would not be carried. Is this a st,ffci
ent answer? Before we proceed to grant away
more than twelve millions of dollars it is rea
ssonable thai the manner Of expenditure shonid
be pointed ont.
The time d,so IS not proper. a war has inst
terminated ,iraving upon MS a debt (,oith thar
which existed befure) of one hu1tired and
twenty millions of dollars. Our uavirafins-
aud manufacturing interest are languishIne ~
no small portion of distress paryades many
parts OF our country. tits moi then The prospe-
rous moment to enter upon the gigantic ur0-
Jects-it IS nat tie time 10 cxpend millions Oil |
underlined objects.
II would be unwse. AT any time, 10 pledge |
TINS great amOult, and pledge il beyond tI,,. |
control nf government in any eNigency of aft. |
idTs. we are now At pcacc-wc may soon be |
at war. Yesterday Il proposition to reduce |
the army was rejected; and a strong reason |
urged was, that our relations with a Aiat.on |
bordering on our territory were in Il Disturbed |
condition. W. all have painful rccoI.ec;;on
OF the state OF our pocunidfy resources tIuri.y /
the years 1913, II and 10. We have nov = |
irll treasury, aud we speak OF it as ipeN hausti |