Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-04-23

within The sphere oi legislation delsgateS
10 the general government, within whici
ihey are supreme: and such a law nigh
with as much Justice and propri..y be de
clared constitutional, as 10 s1y tie bani
OF the United States is = necessary an,
proper" means for executing any sin...
delegated power.
To me, Dir. Editor, This opiniDni is mos
alarming and as have before remark.
ed, the principles advanced in the opinion
are the leading principles of the fedora
party. 1t was for maintaining these oDin.
ions and sentiments they were properly
turned out OF power; II Was justly thought
that they were streng tAening TOO rapidly
The arm o! the general government they
were encroaching. by too sure aud Ger
tam, and eiieciual acts, on the state au-
tlioriiies, and were ias, approAinlating u
| consolidation :tleir'meaSures were open
~, avowedly, manfully, and hope non
esiiy and IN GOOD FAITH, opposed by
'ae republican party.
Bal, sir, .>e hasc only changed men
and not principles, If the doctrine OF The
supreme court is correct /; ih name our
| ruer> are different in effect, and in prac-
! lice they are the same.-For one, pro.
test against such course of action; for
one, say i! is deceiving The people; il is
| worse-ii is abandoning every principle
| OF honesty, every dictate of candor.
shall make for myself 10 professions of
| patriotism or exclusive attachment TO the
| constitution OF our country, or The IL
berty of the people. l know were TO
make them, they would be attributed 10
improper motives !; nor shall l become
the censor of certain unsteady politicians,
whose course is as changing as the color
M al, D.. \ IA 4.
the names oftllose who voted for the u. s.
bank bill. and as to Virginia compare this
vote with some given Isl 1911, in both
our state legislature ant in congress. II
II Is believed the constitution has been
violated, if it is shewn that this violation
has been sanctioned by the supreme court
OF Tie union, and In giving that sanction
they have advanced doctrines highly
dangerous TO state rights, and leading 10
consOlida ion, which Is the step stone
to change i'll our form of government,
II Is high time check should he given 10
these omnous measures, and that the
STATES should interpose their authority,
The example is before them. The legs-
'atnre OF Virginia IN 1898 resisted firmly
and inielligeutly, the mad acts of the adj
ministration OF Mr.. Adams.-She sue
ceeded /: for 30 years the clear and lucid
views of The constitution taken by James
Madison and John Taylor have triumph
ed the period has again arrived for ano-
ther effort TO shake off The aspiring efforts
OF The general government, which have
become more serious as sanctioned by
The decision of the supreme court. -.
This decision has gone SO far as 10 de-
clare limitation imposed OH the powers
OF Congress TO have been dictated by
81. L.. IL
| they declare that il would have been be-
yond the foresight of human wisdom
| TO i,ave provided for every contingency,
| and therefore infer when tue contingency
shall arise Congress may apply the cor.
receive, although not clothed with The
authority TO do so. This is indeed bend
ing and moulding and adding TO The con
stltution TO answer any the worst or
best oil purposes, as virtue or vice may for
The time prevail III the Legislative coun-
ellis, or in the judicial tribunals. Instead
OF yoar constitution being a rule of con-
duct TO the legislator, who is subordinate
| TO II, and mere creature delegated to-
act under it, lie becomes paramount TO
lis authority, and where il gives him no
authority 10 act, heimplies that authority
from what he conceives tc be expedieni,
and enlarges and extends his powers
where the constitution in his judgment,
ough! 10 have given the authority 10 le~
gisaiive. Such doctrine may do We
ry well In those governments where the
tegttimates" rule, but il neither suits the
political Institutions of this country, nor
those ideas ofriglit government wliichthe
American people have been accustomed
10 entertain. If the foresight Of The
trainers of the constitution has mol pro-
Is.I f,N-. IL q
the general government has moi been
clothed with sufficient authority 10 attain
the great objects and benefits for which
II was Instituted, resort to the consiiiu-
| tiOnal mode OF amendment, but in the
| name OF the dear and hope lasting in
ieresis and liberty Of this people, do not
usurp powers not granted, do not exer-
else an authority not Delegated il Con-
| gress do this, and their acts are sanction
! ed by the solemn and even unanimous
| opinion OF the supreme court, il is still
no better than usurpatiOn a usurpation
which destroys the whole political ia
brio. reared by the wisdom and cemented
by the be- ST blood of this country.
TO The next legislature is confided the
important and solemn duty of acting on
this subject /; that they will do their duty
| most deyOutly wish /: that they will take
all proper and temperate means TO bring
us back TO the principles of 1908, also
hope. IN the interim, thepeople would do
well 10 consider maturelSilIe subject, let
then, evengice ani'npuise to tie actions cftheir
representatives, let them meet and consult
III their counties, not 10 resist The arm otthe
general government, not TO excite iu-
mults, but 10 consider the subject, 10 de-
liberaie on it, and 10 exercise that right
OF instruction TO their representatives
in the state legislatures reserved 10 them
by the charter OF their liberties. The mo-
raj force of public opinion is mol yet 10
| be IPsislPd in lllis Country {. LEI II on lllis