Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-09-25

constitution Must we csndcmn the nobl,
resolutions Illuminated against the alien and sc.
diticn actsa
Idle attempts have been made 60 spread AT
alarm among the people. The -IutclligenceI
has thrown out darl; hints that the Union is
in jeopardy. Virginia can hea. this language
without emotion. Ii is nOt.the first time she
1 has heard it, She has before this OCCASION
stood up for the truc principles of the const,-
tu.ion--shc has chung TO them in spite of cl,-
mour and menace. She has once already
been denounced rs cherishlng party in her
bosom who deserved TO be ground to dust
and ashes" She will hear it again with the
contempt which awaits upon the caiumniator.
She will watch over the constitution, not TO a.
vcrturn it, but To preserve il. She thinks
she again sees its bulwarks invaded ;the rights
of the states at Que moment sapped by insidi-
Gus decisions, and at another openly attacked.
She is dragged to the bar of.tlie federal court ;
aud i'll vain pleads the constitution as her shield.
Does she threaten violence : Does she draw
the sword ? does she love the Union the less
| --does she less love the constitution, when
she cngs to those principles, which can alone
endear it TO us? Sweep away your state go
vernmenls--;,nd where are you Give only
! scope TO the general government Z" by forced
constructions of the constitutional charter -
and protect each encruachment behind the
doctrine of supremacy; and you gradually
| sweep off the states into one overwhelming,
consolidated monarchy.-These were the SEN
timents of the republicans in '98--they are
those which we cherish at this time.-We
would be done with these wranglings We
would bring the constitution to- its original
principles. saWe would define the sweeping
the co-partners to an amicabe issue. We
would strip this good old constitution of the
U. States" oiiIIe false CLOSES which have been
put upon IL. We would take out its warnings,
and bring it back Ia what it was.--Whether
by Convention or by the amending power
OF the state legislatures; il is immatcrial to us.
Mr.. Jefferson has pointed out the former
mode-perhaps it is the best one. :,
The Inteligencer has been pleased TO re-
mind the Enquirer of the " all powerful aid it
lent to support the general government i'm its
authority" We thank him for the recollection.
We have never failed o'support the Just au.
thority of that government. We supported it
with all our feeble aid against the rebellious
heresies of massachusetts We still wish to
sec lis legitimate power over the militia enforc-
ed. When the IutelliSenccr gives us an equal
proof ofregard TO the rights of the States, we
| may think better of it.-In aword, ourlcadng
| maxim is that of the venerable George
Clinton, when from the chair of the Senate
of the United States he Gayo his casting vote
| against the Bank:
In the course of "a long fe have found t;,c 60
vernmen IS not 10 he strengthened by the assumption;
CT doubtful powers, but CiSc and energetic execution
of those which nrc uncomfortable the former never
fails produce suspicion and dstinSi ili the lat
ter inspires respect and confidence. H. however, on
fair experience, the powers rested in the government
a. ncD f,f
objects for which IL was instituted, the constitution
hqpy furnishes the means for rensedag ds erii BY
amendment" -.
"This maxim deserves to be written in let
ters of gold upon the walls of the capitol at
Washington"
Such are our maxims-we confess we would
not barter them for those of the Integencer.
The editors of ihatpapcr say they care proud
to avow, that they arc the friends of the ma
tional government-thc devoted friends" In
devotion 10 the Union; to that noble Copst-
| tuition which our fathers handed down to us
| III love 10 our common country, we hunbly
hope that we yield to: no man. Nav the arm
of the wretch who attacks the Union, like
that of Uzzih, when he touched the ark OF
the holy covenant, withcr.-But we cannot
show our love as the Iitelligeneer has done.
We cannot strip the states of their rights to
deck out one splendid, and magnificent ia
principles of the old republican party. We
cannot laud those men, who violate the con :
sttutlon. What has not the IntclIigcncer
sanctioned? A national bank established
principles set up in defence of il, infinitely
worse than the bank itself-a state dragged
before the supreme court in defiance of the
constitution system of'roads and canal.
spreading over the statcs--cven hints al
calling out the militia to make these roads
all these things the Integencer approves
Tue as the slave of the lamp, let it be called
and it appears. The genius of the press arts
es TO execute any behest. What Judgment o
the court-what act the administration, doe.
it not justify 1t has an 10 Pam for amos
every thing-and if it ever dares TO condemn
any measure ofthc government, why he Z" will
roar you like Nick Bottom,) as gently as an,
sucking dove--he will roar you an t'wcre any
nightingale. Its best excuse is perhaps, tina
it cannot help it. 1t is the government pa
per-and may say with old Jack FalstaT,
is my vocation, Hal"
| cOMMrNiC ATED.
MARRIEDlOn Thursday the 18Th inst. near tie swee
Springs, Nj .nTOe JOHN PEYTON Esnuire. r