Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-11

Nln. MADISON,s message.

We never gave amy paper with more sin
cere pleasure, than TIC Message OF James Ma
olson, whici, REJECTS the bill Tor Internal Inn
proyement. lie has given the sea, TO IA great
life by this last act OF ms administration. Ne
ver has the constitutional veto been more
properly exercised. Never had the friends
OF State rights more reason 10 rejoice. Never
have we witnessed more sincere cOngiaSulaii-
ons from tlelriips.
Ii was a splei.did biil the more dangerous,
because of the verN attractions ii displayed.
But had that bill been passed into = law;
where wOu,d the proud waves OF federal usUr-
patton have been staXed2 what power might
not the general government have eAersIsedt
what night they rot have done, 10 provide
tor the common dGfence, and promote the gene
raj veliare!" NIth these sweeping clauses
thus mtor,i eted, as that bail wouid nave APP
piled then, where is the institution Which
they might nOi have established by uRpilwtioB;
where is the state right which might not have
been swept away; where the Inpe-
dinent To save MS from the guipA or cSrsctt-
daii0ni The 90 assent of the states" was
mere deluslOn To conceal tile usurpauon. III
was a bonus; or rathera bride offered 10 the
states to cOnnve at breach of the constitute
on. Congress have no right to raise or 10 APP
propiate money, for any end which does not
fall within ths,r own specified powers. Con-
n,ve 1T this usurgation, and the assent of the
states would 40 longer nave been asked. Con-
greSS wSud have gone to trampc on the Con
stituiion. az their own discretion
g Thus far thou shalt go aud no fan ther'-
Here Is federal usuTpation stayed. ~ precedent
has been set by one Of the greatest men Of whom
this country can boast, and one of the iatsers
OF tie Constitution. The general gov eminent
will be confined within Its own orbit; and the
rights of the states and OF the people will be
protected Observation-Disclosures. no splendid
vision OF advantage; no seducIng pretcAt of
implied assent, snail tempt the government to
swerve from its leg innate path.
We owe our thanks to james Madison for
this decided act. re aas the thanks OF every
Republican, wllowiil calmly Sc down TO review
10 ~
These were taught m the Old School OF the
Constitution, aud we reioice TO hear themagain
i'll therpurity, from the lips ofOne O.! the great
est of It's founders.
We confess, that we were not lately pleased
| witt, the signs OF the times. We saw the Banh
Bill, Gas we have always thought, even in the
dark days of tho war, when money was So
much wanted,) ;hat bill enacted in the
teeth Of the Constitution. When we saw this
bonus bill hurried along by an oyerwhe Inning
power; when Mir. Calhoun shiveriug IN
the wind, and devoting has great talents 10 the
maintenance OF doctrines, as Objectionable
those of MIR. Hamiiton when we saw Mir. John
Randolph, (who had always stood forth tue
friend of state rights, the bank bail excepted, aud
when we say this OF him, we ought 10 add that IL
gave him still d grasp upon our feelings, even
greater than what his genius eoquence al
fordedD when we saw him too laying tue constl
tutionai question the shelf aS almost unwor
thy of his notice; when we saw some other poll
tlcIanS more consistent and tlrm III their general
Politics, than John Randolph, yet Oh this great
question fimching from the doctrines of 10
and 80, led oil by some Seducing love Of inter
nal improvement or by the selfish attractions of
some local advantage; when we saw not one
press III the Union, except the humble one
which we direct, arrayed on the side OF the
Constitutions; but seduced by the same splendid
visions of public benefit, all of themiuiied into
silence or pouring fork their praises, upon the
cil. iog Internal Improvement; we confess that
we feit some iitilc alarm for the integrity Of the
constitution. the message OF James AIadi.
son has saved that noble Instrument from viola
ton and tie rights OF the states ave yet safe
Thanks then To the man, who has been firm
enough to pat his veto apon the splendid iliu
sion.
If we express ourselves warmly upon this
subject. it is because we have telt much-more
than well express.--'ihe Speech of Mr..
Monroe shows that he too is i'll full accord on
this subject with his predecessor. lie too re-
quires us to proceed aioays with a constitn
tionai sdnctiOn, i'll the Improvement OF our
country by roads aud canals" Every republic
can, aud every sound federalist in this nation
will re-echo tile sentiment.