Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-04-20

80 Y :.
RICHMOND, APRU. 20.
OPINION OF THE SUPREME COU1[I.
We hailed this opinion with as.onish-
ment and apprehension. We consoien
tiously declared that the doctrines il pro-
mulga,ed bofe a portenteus aspect"
Time has not soiened our feelings. The
more we fleet, The more confirmed are
our opinions.
We could scarcely have supposed flat
one republican, one of that COED old
school which resisted the usnrpatIcn Of
John Adams's administrations onld have
been found willing 10 subscribe 10 this
Shibboleih OF The Supreme Cont. We
say epubhcaa-becausc we emphatically
regard il as question OF principle and
OF party.
Trace The history Of the two parties
which have divided this country and
say. is mol this The easel
We know ofno one feature which for
merly so much distinguished the federal
party as this; desire 10 strengthen tie
hands of the general government at lie
expence OF the states, aud TO strengthen
the executive department at the eXpencc
of the legislature.
i To iniuse greater energy into The gene
sweeping clauses, which they interpreted
in manner best calculated TO transfer
power from the states 10 the federal 60
vernmeMt.
One OF the earliest questions which
gave form TO political parties, was the
Bank Bill. The Federalists, with MIR.
Hamilton at their head, asserted the right
and seized upon certain general phrases
III the constitution 10 bolster up their
opinions. -Messrs. Jefferson and Madi-
son with the republican party, maintain
ed The opposite ground-Mr. Jefferson
delivering IN The cabinet a written opini-
on, which has never yet been published
and Mr.. Madison, in Congress, deliver
ing speech, which has never yet been
answered, because il was unanswerable.
Ii was of this Epoch, that Judge Mar
shall, in his Life OF Washington, says:
This measure made deep impression on
many membess Ofthe Legislature, and coutri-
buted not incousiderabiy to the complete or
ganiZailon of those distinct and visible par
ties, which in heir long and dubious conflict
for power have since SHAKEN the u. States TO
their centre"
The same difference in the iaterpre-
talon OF the constitution pervaded the
subsequent measures OF The iwD parties.
II was seen in all The discussions OF The
Alien and Sediton laws. The iederalsis
always asserted the powers OF the gene
raj government at the expence of the
states; while the Republicans were The
friends of state rights upon strict coBsti-
tuiional principles. There has been on
ly one exception, dIsgraceiul 10 the feder-
al party: Ii was, when our country was
pressed by foreign enemy, aud requlr-
ed Tie services of her militia, that mad
conlederacy attempted TO cramp the en-
ergles Of the general government, by de-
nyIng 10 il the authority which II had
right TO exercise over the militia of the ma
ton.
When the Opinion of The Supreme
Court appeared, advocating all those
grounds which had been supported by
The Federal party, we we're somewhat GU
rious 10 ascertain the course which the
Republicans would pursue on this occa-
sion. We confess ave looked TO the re-
publican papers with some degree of So
l,cilude.
Most of them are silent. Some
thoughtlcsely cnloglze in general terms,
without any reservation. Three or four
only condemn the opinion. Two papers
have come out and deliberately approved,
not only what is said about the cOnsilm-
itOHdblN Oi iht DdphJ Dui TIE STOUHtS Oh
which Tie Supreme Court proceeds; in
other words, The broad Interpretation
0bich il gives 10 tie Constitution. One
OF these papers is Republican of South
Carolina. tie Patriot" Of Charleston
the other u The +" HeatucIg RepofteJ'."-
We confess Tie course OF these lwo pa
pers fills us with some asionisbment aud
regret
fhc Charleston Pqtytot' speaks in
Tie following terms:
ave dCnUt think tie doctrines Of the Su-
prem1Comtt preached 10 her idte opinion bear
the acknowledgment That theisDquiref sup.
IS We d. not anticipate dat tie state Gov.
,fnments viii be SWEPT away, and that we
shall have 10 Ssi lore the evils Of consolidation
tvan siould '',i.p spirit which Dcafhes in
that opinion a'll p,, ." over tbe udiciar, "
W NAT is there promuigae - ia the doctrines
IF the Supreme COurt, IN I,itiion 10 tii' pow
cis OF the gencfai aOvernmen ut What HIight
bd,c pecn trcsecn, and mast nave ices i,rni-
,iar fo ihe tlon.Lis Of our riost rcilecfiug
Statesmen; WHAT Is there ~ these dDclnHes
liiaf is not consOHHui 80 reason and the ends
i1r Nhicb government - Instructed The
most ohoos,ous pai, 81 ihis opiuior is taat. 90
scefis. Which declares thH tie gogtrDmegt o.
tire UNION has the es0ice. al means tor carrying
,ntO eascl tsose general pov as cNTttssl,
gfaated 90 30 ~ the constitution. ihif - tir