Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-08

touPdUOiC win
tiou OF The subject, TO be claimed and ex.
ercised. upon the slightest, most aitenu.
ated, and iiair-drawn differences
One more remark on the subject of
the first discussion may be INDUCED here.
Lord Coke according 10 the simplicity of
the age IN which he lived, remarked that
no man should be wiser than the law.
But In these more enlightened DAYS, II is
very convenient To- be wiser than The con
stiiu'ion. When therefore AN unlucky
word has been inserted, which stands in
the way OF great project. some statesmen
Will moi be long IN doubt how 10 act. They
will read the clause as II the word were not
there but IL II be pressed upon iliem by
one who must Unanswered, they can then
give n new meaning, or which is a safer
mode sill, they can give the clause "a aetc
reading. Observe now the very great
| convenience Oi this recent discovery. The
ase before us furnishes an admirable
illustration. Congress may dispose of HE
territory, and make needfai regulations
respectmgd a.: They have this power and
no more. Ii is proposed 10 pass, by vir-
| tue of this authority, a law, hich will in
terdlct slavery in territory. Tlhe word
| needful is left out, or considered as Iav-
ing The same meaning with the word pro
per, or convenient, or any other word
which leaves the case open for the diScre
ton OF Congress: and If the law Is so
"orded as 10 Shew that II may affect the
territory, and Is thereto a law respecting
The territory, the purpose is accomplish.
ed. II Is true, that II affects great por-
lion of the people Of the y. States grea,
portion of the property OF the u. States:
but this fact shews The advantage Of the
construction. These people and this pro-
periy are otherwise entirelyioui OF the reach,
os Congress: buI in making Il rule respect.
nag territory, their present interests and
lulureprOspecis are compl iely accessible
We now return TO MIR. King, and ac
| company him in his view of The eApedi.
ence of the proposed measure. la the
periormance OF this part of my task,
shall be obliged 10 clucidaie some prin
ciples It which II would seem Mr.. KING
never thought, and 10 explain some trans
actions, at which his statements enable
us TO form no distinct opinion.
II has been most truly remarked that
man when Ieii Ia himself is imid aud
cautious, but acquires strength aud con
hdrnce IN proportion To The Numbers
WIN whom he Is associated. When Mr..
King surveyed the great metropolis Of
uiS adopted stale, and the various classes
OF lis numerous inhabitants, il is proba-
bic that he did not see one human being,
who was not ready TO join in any cry or
III any cause, supposed 10 be connected
with humanity, provided il cost nothing:
aud certain That he did moi see one, who
WOULD venture ON such subj.ct-to up
pose HIM addressing people moi only
'i!ling 20 he convinced, but already re
solved, lac became confident and bold, and
urged any sort of argument, because none
was necessary. Upon this ~uppOsi,iom
alone can We account Tor the evidenc,
which MIR. Is. hims, II givesin the very first
remark he makes, Of the iallacy of the 20
siilom Tor which lie contends.
But before point out this evidence, let
me- indulge my fancy and nv feelings in
Tic Illusion of a mOmepl III the supposI
ton that MIR. King, instead of promoting,
as he has done by the publication of his
speeches, the error and excitement which
prevailed, had come out Ia calm the pas
slons. 10 soOthe the feelings OF his fellow
citizens, and 10 bring back those lraternal
| sentiments without which our Union can
moi be sustained. Let us suppose that
dlsdaining the temptation and even The
honors OF popularity, thinking only Of his
country, its Union, and its constitution,
he had eXerted the v hoi. force Of has grea,
abilities, IN proving 10 The people, the
| positions for which contend. Suppose
that MS talents, and ks eloquence, reused
| 10 their highest energies by the enihusi-
asm, which the love OF country never fails
10 inspire, had been exeried in the cause
of the constitution, the plighied faith and
honor ef the nation, and equal justice To
all Ills country men; what would have been
his feelings, what must have been his
destiny ! How exquisite, how glorious
+" The applause of listening Senaies 10
command" would have been an object,
bereaih the dignity Of his an bIiioK He
might have read his history in nations
eyes He would have been revyred and
hunOred, even by those whom he con
demDed,f while he would have received,
from all others, the willing, the cheerful
tribute OF heir confidence e, their gratitude,
and affection. Bu'nOw !
The examination of this branch ofthe
" subject, says Mr.. King, " for'obvious
reasons, is attended with peculiar diff
. Guilty, and cannot be made without
passing over arguments, VIII h 10 some
" oi us might appear to be decisiUe. but The
" use OF which III this place, would call
up feelings, the intlueHce of which
would disturb, if moi de5fat the impartial
consideration OF the subject"
| What these decisive arguments are
| What are Tue feelings thdt would be
thus allied up, or by whom those feelings
would be indulged, Mr.. King does no,
! think proper to reveal. II Mr.. X. reirains
from good arguments, from tenderness
10 the southern people. am bound 10
thank him--noi for his forbearancc, but
for the motive which led 20 il. The peo-
pie here are not afraid of any argument,
and are wiling TO abide by any truth
But let this pass
Mr.. King contends that Congress ought
In eXAr.-isn illn nnANnr a.lli1II la. nn..r IL