Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-01-11


possibly result. Every unreproved iava.
sion OF oar political constitutions Invites
The crusades of aSbiirarS power against
pies are supposed to justify the most
dangerous measures, a capacity Tor aug
gradually Increases.
II examples are required 10 Illustrate
the abstract verify OF these admouilions,
they abound IN the various proceedings
OF the general government d moniory
tlnih, that ought to quiC ken The esergies
ami animate the vigilance of those whe
believe. that the ietieiaiive system is in
dispensable 10 the prosperous government
OF The American people. IN should
grave forever on the memories Of
public men, that public life is a situation
OF confluence aud sponsibiliiy lest they
trespass on the sovereignty al the people
who sumb or the watch, AZ well as they
WHO openly desert and go over TO The
enemy.
Happily for the people of The United
States, tbe r'se, progress aud adoption OF
,her fvderative system are now matters
OF authentic history, every where ac-
keo"ledgd, aud questioned by none
The broad and ample lhe which divides
that external legislation over The Union,
which The federal constitution has dele
gated 10 Congress the rghy to exercise,
from That Internal legislation over which
lie states reserved 10 themselves exclusive
supremacy, VAS deserted by the Wisdom
OF our ancestors, established by their
vsior, and endeared by their sufferings,
when impelled by necessity and guided
BY fate, 10 beat down the principles Of
absolute sovereignty in governments, and
absolute subordlmallOn iH he people. This
broad a. ample line has constantly adurn
ed ihe political zodiac of The American
people II no" looms larger 10 The public
eye ahd is always pure and visible when
purely shone upon While the people If
Tue y ). were under the coniruul OF the
British crown, the parliament commended
thai ITS legislative power over the colonies
extended TO all means necessary ar co..
venlcn', IN IFS own opinion, fot the attain
mchi OF lis objects. The colonies wiling
~ conceded ,hR powers OF national war
anu OF peace, q Of regulating commerce :
not a matter at right, fouulcd up.p the
genuine theory and spirit Of The B,,i,l
constitution but as matter OF luyal ate
lection aud mutual convenience L. The
whole empire. They denied, however,
HAT Tins concession yielded any means
Subversive at their own internal govern
ment ; as 10 which, they claimed 10 xtr
else absolute conlroul The parliament
cnn,endcd. that the right of making war,
conceded by the colonies, implied a riphi
q, using all mcanS necessary IL convenient
Tor ,he attainment of success; ssch as
raising reverue, appointing collectors
raising troops and .quartcsing them on
The colonies and thar the rjgbi Of reeu.
lalIna commerce involved y right IF i'm
posing duties AMI establishing custom
houses for their collection arguing, that
1t would be absurd TO allow pow err. and
wHhh0li any means necessary and pro
per 10 carry them into execution The
colonies replied, that il would be more
absurd 10 limit powers, AMI vet cnncede
unlimited means for their execution nv
which, The internal supr, macy upon whicl,
their liberty aud happiness depended.
though BOminally allowed, wouId be IF
tevinaiiy destroyed. That the term su.
premacy, how ever applicable 10 The Oar.
lament, was applicable also 10 The colo
nal governments, az 10 internal powers ::
lhai Ihe necessity OF controlling absnluir
power III governments, had bern proven
by experience, particularly in England :;
where magca chara, The petition of right.
aud many declaralOiy laws had limI ed
lis means, 10 great extent and. that
however The means cOniended for by the
parliament, might be useful for carving
on war, or regulating commerce vel,
Thai a restriction Of those means ". uld
be still N ore useful, because il would be
necessary for The preservation OF their
liberties" The parliament denied This
distinction which orr iorefatl,ers regard
ed as OF vital Importance 10 their freedom
and happiness and passed arbitrary
laws declaraiive OF their right to legislate
tor the colonies IN all cases wha,sneyer
Bu', he first movement oT tue British
parliament 10 euiorce these flaws. kndlrd
n2 determined persevering resistance in
the colonies, and extinguished all hose
OF protection from the sovereign. and
allegiance from The subject and ailrr a
long and arduous conflict, the assertion
by Great Britain, ola power 20 l. eislaie
Tor The colonies in all cases isIafsoruer
end III the discovery, that she had a
right I" legislate for them in no case
whatsoever
How ably this controversy was main.
'alned; how thoroughly the doctrines
which produced il were discussed aud
understood; how long il lasted; how
gIorionsiy 1t Terminated and how dearly
The rights aud principles ii established
have been always ydlnrd, in Virginia, al
'eas', let The vaor of The dead, The me-
mory OF the living, and the candor OF his
tory, say. All these admonish us, thai
while this memorable conflict was going
on, the people of the colonies established
for themselves cnnfederacy of common
deieuce and general welfare, and declar-
ed " that each STATE should retain its so.
vereigniy, freedom and independence,
and every power, jurisdiction and right,
which was not by their confederation
expressly delegated to The u. States. in
Congress assembled" To tins icderaljye
system, they apporiioned power accor-
ding TO the principles upon which they
bad declared their WILLINGNESS To conf,