Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-09-11

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inteiScncer oil the 3lst ult.-but shall dismiss il with
as few remarks possible
Tho l. says " the denial to the general government
OF the power TO make roads, &c is involved in ineon-
sistency, because correatiye powers are exercised
every day. -'' Il 7xnsion{ist,' for example--yhc
noc selects the Revolutionary Pension List as 90 the
stumbling block" in way. We shall really like
to see the process by which this measure is reconc
ed to the constitution by those who refuse 10 Congress-
the power 10 make pos, road or to establish bank
rs the means ofcolecting ,ie-reyenue OF the U s.
10 solve this riddle viii require more ;han all the in.
genni'y which IS displayed by the Enquirer in getting
clear OF the power" to establish post-roaSs.,
But what docs the l. say in the very mex; No. otis
paper!
2" The act granting the Revolutionary Pensions was
passed IN the 1885, upon the reconne nda,ion of
the present chief magistrate, in which MIR Crawford
rs under stood to have conceded. is ,uloy ,.,,,r
ceSSy to discuss the right of Congress TO grant ona
,ons IN order ousty This revenue. 1t provided on
" Tor the payment OF Il just debi-Thc officers and
soliers had never received the pay and emolumcn,s
to which by their contract they were entitled we
90 not mean TO charge the government with inus.
uce II effected every thing in their favor that was
nj the time practicable. The want OF power TO dis
charge n debt can cancel il. The pension
granted to the officers aud soldiers of the Revolution
IS ne payment OF small part of the debt due y the
| nation TO the remnant OF its war-worn veterans"
Yet the L. first calls on us to show the rieh.. and
then itself answers, that the constitution has nothing
to do with the question that it is unnecessary to dis
cuss the right of congress that this was only inst
deDt which they were paying and were bound to nav.
Perhaps this matter, after ALL may be quite so clear
as the l. tries TO make itbut, we confess il is one
OF the last powers, which should wisl, to question
So deep is the veneration we feel for the vvar,,o
vetei ans of the revolutions that now this act is passed
| and the public honor IL r,IproaJ
moot the question of power. Our heart sanctioned
that appropration-we yielded to its impulses and
we would not wish at thistime of day coldy TO question
whether this is just debt, or an unbidden boon of
the nations gratitude.
Another inconsistency, according TO the Intelqcn.
Ger, 49, that congress may authorize the making of
roads which are not post but military roat,s-tat is.
roads, by which in the almost impossible event ola
formidable foreign invasion on our interior border
armies and munitions of war may be transported."-
ms rs begging the question Prove first that con-
sress has the power TO make military roads then
"sue from ii.--Ihsis the only road, in which To-
sician should travel. The Integencer has bere rs.
Sumed great deal IN one breath 1t takes for grant
ed that congress make military roads in all cases
as well in state of peace as OF war; as well perma-
ncnt roads as temporary paths through wilderness
through the territory of the statess as of its ownIt
argument takes for granted the power in all these ca
ses, without proving its existence in any one OF them
Another " argument" according TO the Intclli-
geucer.
The articles of Confederation rave TO
Congress the I" sole and exclusive RIGHT and
power" of establishing and regulating poSt off
ceS." Why, in the present constitution, were
the terms of the power changed, by the addi-
ton OF the terms sand poSt-roudS 2" Do these
words mean nothing are they mere surplus
| age! Or do they mean that Congress shall
have power to establish poSt-roads, as it had
before the power to establish post Offices
| that is, to make them where they were not
before ?"
This is not the only where the constitution
supplies omission in the articles of Confederation
1t SO, for instance, about coinThe confederation
gave Congress the right 10 say there should be Pos
Offices in the states ;buas tins power might be weak
ened or destroyed by the of roads to carry the
mails 1t extended this power also to the roads This
specification is thrown in To avoid all doubt wbethe,
the mail of the United States might run through III,
States-But the power in both cases. is fully satisfied
by Congress having the power to say at what towns
villages, nc. It's Post Offices shall be established and
along what roads its mails shall travel from one oIc,
to another The states have no right to forbid il.
Virginia should say, "You shall not have an ofic,
in Richmond and Petersburg or you shall not brin.
your mail from the town the other" then the
constitution would be violated in either case, and Il
was TO meet second case that this additional provision
was put into the constitution To facilitate tn
intercourse between the states, power of this sor
was gwen but the power in both cases is limite
one In neither is the right TO the soil expressly give
nor is II necessary means is proved by the expert
ence of more than 80 years. as well as the reason
the case sef-ln spite of the insnuation of the In
: ieigencer, that power, confessedIy did not ext.
under tae government the confederation and 70
powerof" establishing post Offices" equally cxiste
in that government, as in this In that government
! the power Of establishing post Offices did NOT carr
with it the rgbtto purchase and possess the soil o
which the houses TO be erected The annexa
ton of post roads in the present constitution doc
not change the principle. As to both the constitu
ton only means that Congress shall establish an
keep up by law, the post Office system, and desirnat
the Offices and roads which are to be used for the mn
: pose. The acquisition Of land, is not only NOT reou
lite for their establishment in the sense intended
the constitution, but is, also, reprobatcd by tic om
sion 10 provide for the case, in the list contained
this constitution 18th sect. lstar, touching forts e.,
t. Butthe !. plays of upon US tho following notaIl
Il argument
d Let the construction Of the Enquirer be Al
piled TO both members of the same sentcnc,
= Il see how it will stand. To establish tue Enmu
o rcr contends, is TO designate. The Congress Ina
d power to establish post Offices" l. c. acco
D. ding to this construction, to designate" whic
OF the post offices already in existence shall l.
= used by the United States. But there are n