Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-02-21

| a.
nendment limiting the judicial jurisdiction
was obtained, though it has proved yet inef-
fectual against judicial subtlety but vet more
fragrant instances ofmisrule and of IA diregari
OF the sacred instrument of our union, called
forth, at later day, the exercise of the right
OF remonstrancc, and of appeal to the peo-
| pie, on the part OF the legislature of this
commonwealth. The repeal of the obnoxious
sedition law, and the overthrow of the reyer
to be forgotten administration which passed il
wiilremain perpetual memorial not only of
the drmDess and moderation of Virginia bat of
the value and Importance fthe state sove-
rcisntlcs, in maintaining the political balance
between the federal and the state governments
But while we are willing To avow our
promptness 10 give the alarm when our rights
have been assaiIed, we repe with the feeling
which II merits, the imputation of factions mo
tlves, which are 81 literally attributed to us
by" One Of The People" We learn from him
that the cry 0falarm of danger to state rights
IS To be " ascrbed TO two causes iarge sttfes.
and men whose ambition exceed their talents -
and he proceeds tn attribute to the comm m
wealth of Virginia the motive of weakening
the national government for her own aggran-
dZement. Strange indeed that this same
commonwealth when member of feeble
contederacy, should voluntarily have ceded
her immense western territory Ia demonstrate
to her sister states that her ambition WAS di-
rected by nobler views than self aggrandize-
ment Strange that this base and ignobe mo-
tive did not prevail to defeat the constitution
~ her refusal TO adoptit Strange that she
should SO soon afterwards have consented To
il ACKNOWLEDGMENT of her sovereignty by the
erection of a new and independent state
Strange that when the constitution was set al
| nouSht by our rulers-when they denounced
its defenders in Virginia as a party that should
" be humbled in dust and ashes" and when
the federal Judiciary, in the person of its
most arbitrary member, came to enforce a
mong this mresisting people the hateful
edicts of ii proiligate administration Strange
that this iactous" and ambitious state
should have appealed alone To the peaceful
weapons OF argument and renonstrance.--
StranSe that she should not then have sought
the overthrow of Il constitution which impe-
ded her seq aggrdRdizement!- la truth we
love the constitution, as il becomes us to love
1t we love 1T as the protector of our liberties
ana we defend 1t because we love it. We Of
len dllier even among ourselves about its
provisions; but we unite in despsing the sla-
| WISH spirit, which would ncuc ite unresistiug
submission IL lis grossest violations.
The declaration that the :: dlscordant clam
or about state rights" has its origin in the dis
|
despair of being distinguished in the national
councils, is, 80 far rs it respects this common
wealth, as unfounded and unjust us the iinpu-
tatlon OF spirit of domination To the state
li5eii. The supporters OF state rights in Viz
| gina nave been among the first and paost dis
tlnSuIshed of our citizens. There have been
among them, those who at the adoption of the
constitution had the sagacity To foresee and the
holiness to forete to what bad uses bad men
would pervcrt it. And when the government
had gone into operation, there were anl0ng the
asserlors of the rights Of the states the
founders of the republican party not men
who dabbled in political fruds. becsuse they
could not attain the object of their ambition
in the federal government, but those who were
destined to fill in succession the chief offices
IN the gift of the people under the rise of par
ties IN 1894. Who were the strenuous advo-
cases OF the limited powers ofthe general gov
ernment Jefferson in the cabinet, and Mad
Ison on the floor of Congress. Who were in
1895 and 1899 the consistent supporters of
state rights Who the assertors of constitu-
tIonal power of the state legislatures to scru
tinze and pronounce upon the consttutiunaI-
ty OF the acts Ola Congress Oft the u States ?
The same men WHO afterwards were rails
ed to the chief magistracy and having finished
their course, have retired IN the fitness of graf
those who were their compeers who con-
tended in the same cause and vet persevere
uniO the end men VINO in the eve of their
days have nothing more to hope but to deliver
To the rising generation the lessons of poIit-
cal wisdom which they imbibed in common
with those champions of the constitutional
rights of the states Ofsuch men il is worse
than presumptuous to speak as " zone of the
people" has done. He deceiyes himself if
he believes that the productions which he
deprecates, whether of the press or the le-
gisature, are entirely those of pert striplings
pressing on prematurely to the goal of anibi-
ton. Like other people we have such men
among us, but we have hitherto had sacacity
enough to distinguish the note of "the bah
ler," and to refuse to follow his cry.
Perhaps indeed in the estimates of this high
toned southern politician, the examples of
Jefferson and Madison cannot redeem us from
the charge be has imputed to the politicians
of our state. The part which they performed
Ia the overthrow Of a federal administr ttiop
in 1899 is not likely to sigc weight to
these opinions in the estimation of fcderallsf
of 1921 Whatever may be- the banner under
which nc is enrOlled-whethcr ii be- tbc red
cross or the crescent" one of the people"
must be considered as hcrctical by every mem
Der c. the real republican party.
! DAT tnOusn ne should set lien down also as
actious men, who raised the cry Of state rights
for The worst ofpurposes, when in the pursuit
of the brilliant prize which now gliiers i'm so
mlny eyes, what will he say to their steady
perseverance, in the same doctrines, when
they had gained the " upmost round" Of po-
litical preferment and looked forward only Ia
speedy retirement IoreUer from the theatre OF
public ahars2 Neither young enough no,
rdent enough to be- tempted 20 break down
The established aud saIutary limit which te
example ofthe great Washington had impos-