Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-21

fELflOw CiTI2ENs-jn presenting TO YOU a
Bret sAetcii oftlie important subjects agitated
dutiu. tbe first session of the 18th Congress,
II aiieidS me much pleasure to be able 10 CON
graduate Sou on the repeal of the internal du-
ties. In This, the prediction contained in my
addsesS tn YOU of the last spring, u fatty verb
hef. i he hnithcus rendered Dec essarN BY tie
late war have been borne by you with IA cheer
tut .ess highly credtahle 10 yourselves, ansl
honorable To our national character and al.
though We may flatter ourselves that conSi-
derai,ie period viii eiapse before resort TO
tliein may again he necessary, yet Whenever
that period shall arrive, the government " III,
witiiuut distruSi or hesitation, appeal again 10
yomr patriotism. Every blessing OF this lie
has It's alloy, and il would therefore be unrea-
soplbie TO expect that liberty, the greatest Of
all ea}tl'ly blessings, should be enjoyed with
owtiabnr or expense.
The President recommended 10 The. early
attention. Of Congress the pioprIety ct making
some provision for tie surviving officers and
soldiers of the revolutionary army. The Sour
ishing condition of our finances afforded IA
vorable opportunity for Complying with this
recommendation. and accordingly bill WAS
originated in the House of Representatives for
this purpose. 'lhis bill extended its benefits
To al who had served IN the war ofthat period.
The Senate, however, having AN eve to the
Treasury, amended IL in such manner as 10
restrict its operation to those who had served
Tor hine months at least, either in the navy or
continental establishment. II had long been a
source of regret that the situation Of the conn
try had not enabled Ire national legislature 10
extend the hand of benefcence TO ;hosa whose
spring time of life was devoted H. the cauSe of
the country, and whose winter WIS dredry.
wild, cheered by no ray of comfort We, VINO
were then unborn, or were too young 10 share
in the tolls of the revolution, owe an endless
debt OF gratitude 10 those who achieved Tor ms
OBJ independence. They toied and suffered,
that we might enjoy-They fought and con
quered, and il is our duty 10 relieve them from
cold and hunger. Few of theHi survive the
shocks of time, but it is hoped that the munifi
cence of this law will relieve this great and
hOurishing republic from the charge OF ingra-
tiude.
The subject of Internal improvements was
again agitatediu the House of Representatives.
The decision turned entirely or the constiiu-
tional power of Congress to make roads and
canals. My opinion this subject has here
tofore been communicated to you. The friends
of the proposition attempted to derive the
power from various clauses Ill the instrument,
some placing il on the ground of specific
grant. others deriving IL as an incidental pow
er from some express graut, and some few from
VI hat is commonly called the str6eDing clause.
For myself, esteem II entirely matter of
state police. and appertainins exclusively to
the state legislatures. majority thought diff
terentiy The friends of state rights, how
ever, have no great cause to be alarmed at
the decision, even it a constitutional majority
shona be found at future day to attempt its
exercise. The theatre OF legislation is so eX-
various aud coufiict ting, that hut very few at
tenlpts 10 carry into execution the pretended
power, will sHcceed. But the doctrine which
has been strenuouSIy commended tor in the dis
cussion OF this question is not of so harmless
character. ItgOes to confer on Congress the
right TO appropriate money 10 whatever oh
Jects IT may think prOper-a doctrine not less
dangerous than unsupported by reason. The
states invested the general government with
certain specified powers. which inves,iture it
became necessary to make for purposes Of &C.
neral welfare and national defence. II was
obvious, however, that those specific powers
could not he carried into effect. without also
conferrIng the power OF RAISING mCDey-Ihe
power of raising money was intendad, there.
fore. only q mean of carrying the other pow
ers INTO effect, and lis legitimate expenditure
may be tested Sy reference TO the objects for
which the power TO raise il was given. But
money is the only instrument which "A le=isa--
ture can use 10 accomplish any Obect-It ap.
propriates, and individuals execute and if
the power OF unlimited appropriation be CON
ceded, ii would he extremely difficult TO fix
any limitation TO the powers Of the national
government.
bill of considerable length was reported
to the House of Representatives, for the pur-
pose of establishing an Uniform system of
bankruptcy. My course on this subject has al
ready been made known ~ you through the
papers. 1t was represented as measure
loudly demanded by the mercantile interest.
For myself was ignorant of any such demand,
nor did ] believe il to exist on the part of any
of my constituents. The system was in my es-
timation, abborrent to the first principles Of
our government, which countenafce no dscri-
mindtion between the different classes of the
community, and in its details obnoxious TO the
best feelings of the heart. Besides holding
ont inducements TO fraud, which the expert
ence of other countries informs us, are too
strong TO be resisted, il first resorted TO cares
troopers or informsrs to detect the fraud, simu-
lating them 10 this course by large offers of re-
u IL
a mans confihants to become his betrayers,
seized upon the person of the wife of his bo-
som, 10 force disclosure of his guilt These
things OF themselves would have decided me
against the measnre-but it went If possible
still further, and authorized persons cOmpos.
lug the commission of bankruptcy, 10 enter
into the chambers Of the unfortunate man. 10
break open his bureau, TO pTy into his most de-
ticate transactions, and subjected 10 eXamina.
ton his most intimate aud private correspOn-
dence. II then my course on this subject has
met with the disapprObatoD Of any individual
among you, IL must have arisen from an igB0-
rance OF the details of the bill. Vain wOnld
have been any attempt to amend IT, for its
friends avowed an indispOSitIOn 10 alter any
OF It's provisions.
FOR the purpose ofcOunteractng the British
colonial system, as applicable to her North A.
merieSn colonies, an act was passed AZ the last
session of the 18th Congress, regulating the
trade in Plaster Of Paris article so very
essential to a complete system Of agriculture.
1 believe. ii may be asserted, not however OIL
any official information, tliata relaxation Of tile
British rule has taken place, and ifso, the
farmer may anticipate "a supply of gypsum,
ere long, upon the most reasonable terms. An
terror to the relaxation of the rule an effect
was produced highly beneficial to the Amef.
Can tonnage, for where, only eighteen months
ago, scarcely single ton of orr shipping was
employed. We have now 10000 tons in active
use. Although we have been denied the pfivi
lege OF visiting the ports of those colonies, vet
our vessels have received their carg0es from
British vessels At sea neadlhat coast, and there
by Teaped almost all tile benefits of regular
trade.
made known to YOU, fellow citizens, dur
Ing the last spring, that Congress had passed