Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-09-29
RICHMOND. SEPTEMBER %, 1920.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Ihe Rights Of the Ntates

rights ot the states, have attracted the
attention, and excited The apprehrnsions
OF large portion OF the community. The
measures which have been adopted, and
The doctrines which have been advanced,
IN pursuance of system, so hostile 10 The
constitutional sovereignty OF the states,
have already elected from The General
Assembly OF Virginia, The expression of
HER most decided disapprobaiiom. And
IN Tins sentiment, IL is but reasonable 10
believe, that The people Of this state, have
very generally and very cordially parii-
cipa'sd. Ii is nevertheless painful TO re-
mark, that however well founded have
been the Tears, and however laudable have
been The efforts of the advocates OF state
| rights, to arrest the friends of cunso;,ia-.
lIon III ibeig march Of usurpation, that the
latter are still advancing in then preien-
sions with renewed holiness and activity.
Among the many manifestations which
have been exhibited of the high ground
which they have assumed, the laic LEGAL
opinion which has been published upon
lhe subject OF the lotteries established in
the city or Washington, is particularly
en'i''edto our most serious considerations.
IL merits our attention mol only on ac-
| count oi the bo.dncss of the doctrines
which II avows, and The reputation OF the
individuals who have sanctioned ii by
their sigDaiurcs-bul because II has ema-
mated from members OF q profession, Who
10 The honor oil their calling be il said,}
have generally been regarded as The lea
ious ctntinels OF constitutional rights.
Let AS proceed then 10 an investigation
| OF HE subject. h will be proper IN the
ilrsi place TO observe, thai by AN aci Of
congress, The corporation OF the city of
Washington has been empowered under
al a
ing OF lotteries, Tor I. purpose of effect.
| lag such improvements IN The city as It's
ordinary revenues are Inadequate 10 ac-
comphsh, and that lotteries have been
established by The said corporation, upon
The Terms specified, and fer The purposes
| mentioned i'll the said act. According
10 The Cp,n,0n now under consideration.
The legislatures Of the Individual states
have net the power, by any law which
iney can pass, 10 prohibit The sale Of the
ilckels IN tie lotteries, thus established ia
The cily OF Washinsion."
We are told III substance, that because
| Congress have authorised the corporation
aforesaid 10 establish lottery for The
purpose OF efleciing improvements in the
National city" ii is therefore RatioaGt
lottery, established for rational purposes.
whose operation must be commensurate
With the utmost limits of The Union, and
with which no state Legislature can in any
way interfere: Although. in Gully few
short paragraphs preceding, The yery
clause Of the constitution is quoted, wlicl,
| expressly declares. thar the district over
a lhlch Congress may exercise exclusive
E/hrlsdIciiOn ~ all cases whatsoever, shall
asstffsu'fbi!dhYs C Giiri alone have,
he iShi OF selecting, and the power of
raising The means Of improving the seat
OF government. But ii may be asserted
WIN equal truth, that any state NAV cOn-
slsleh'ly both with The ietlcr aud spirit
az HE constitution, and onghi, in Justice
20 itself, TO Interfere with lie exercise OF
| any power, which ovcTleaps lis consiitu-
,ional limits that the power of Con-
gress, gHoad the District, is strictly local
and territorial and thai, ii the exer- !.
else thereof could IN any way impede The
execution OF a law. enacted by AN indiyId.
ual state, IL would iheB cease 10 be
bounded by those geographical barriers
which the Constitution has assigned To- il.
| i here is moreover Il Very material dis
| iInciipn between All act oil Congress pass
| ed for The especial benefit of the inlab.
| liants Of the District, and law which
| may be intended 10 operate more expau-
| sirely upon the nation al large. 1t ceT-
| AMY cannot be subject OF very deep
| ".
whether the streets vi The city of WASH
iug,on are well paved, or whether the
| public buildings belonging 10 the cOrpo.
| ration be very costly or very splendid
| however gratifying II might be 10 our pride
| and IN our feelings as Americans, 10 see
| the Metropolis Of our conledcraied repub-
| lie, ha|lowcd by thc'vcueratcd name OF
| Washington" rising III grandeur and in
| spleDdour The Improvement OF The CITY
is subject in which lis own ciizeus are
most deeply concerned, who alone ought
10 dciray all Inc expenses ~ hich may be
| incurred, for their own accom- modation.
But the erection OF buildings, &c for ge-
neral purposes the accommodation Of
Congress for the various depart
menis OF The government, must uecessaT.
/ ~ he betrayed out Of Tie national purse
and any constitutional laws passed rec
Iaiive 10 the same, IS strictly national i'm
lis Objcct-and must be universal ia its
obligation.
Tie Opinion asserts, that although Il
may be conceded that Tie legislative pow
er over the District, vested in Congress
by The constitution, is " local and terri
tOrlal with reference 10 the sphere IF ats di-
rect dHd iB,meiidte actiOn"--ihat The matter
Of the present enquiry is as much at
large as it was before and why ?--be-
cause the power delegated to Congress
over national district, Tor national pur-
poses, is the power of the Union :" that,
but for the l7lb clause Of The Ssh section
and lei article OF the constitution, the
District would not be subjrcito any other
legislation by Congress, than that to which
The states are liable with views OF gene
raj policy land that, as this power has
emanaied from The same source, and for
general purposes, in common with all oiI-