The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-18


himself in the eontemptuous fenark, by
appearing to "the independent spirit of
the people" But if, according to his own
argument. the people have once delegated
their mhote poicer TO their government, IN
what way, ! ask, is their /" iadepeaden
spirit to exercise itself for the overthrow
of abuses? Evidently by 30 other means
than evolution, supported BY physical
force, which weaid amount In civil war.
Thus we behold Mr.. Adams, carried away
by his unqualified admiration of the Br-
tsh constitution, which, vesibg all power
ia the government, Of course recognizes IN
the people no civil right whatever 10 arrest
the march of governmental abuse, by
recurrence to first principles openly aud
distinctly calling N question, the mild,
eilicacaus, constitutional correction Of "a
buses, provided by our wise fathers, for the
preservation of eur excellent institutions in
their prineyal purity throughout all time.
! Mr.. Adams in farther support Of his opin-
! ion Of the wortllessness Of a written con
sdtnilon, IN a subsequent passage of No. 7,
proceeds as follows: But although Il
constitution proltssedly unaIterable by the
common legislative authority, is of weight
sufficient 10 prevent the enactment Of many
good laws, yet II will not always operate
asa check upon your legislature Such IS
the poverty of all human labonrs, that
even a whole nation cannot express them
selves upon paper, With so much precision
and accuracy as not to admit of much lati
tude of explanation and construction
! The legislature must diteogs be alleWed TO
Judge Of Ire intentions ioih phich the in
Strament iods formed, and 10 construe end 10
Explain accordingly The expressions tchich II
contains. They sometimes think proper
to violate the letter Of The constitution, by
adhefing to its spirit, and at other times
| they sacrifice the spltit hy adherinG strict
ly 10 the letter. But when your legisa
ture undertake to decide that the spirit of
tie constitution is directly contrary to lts
express letter, where IS the power in the
nation that shonld controul them? 7" Here
we find the secretary of state contending
| for right inherent in the legislature To
construe the provisions Of the Fundamental
law, M constitutional charter, from which
they derive nj then power, as they please;
and demrs that amy power exists 10 the
nation "ttnf should coHtroj them ~ Here
we find, IN the words of my former ad-
dress, Mr. Adams maintaining the "ahsurd
paradoxes, that the creature is superior 10
| the creator, the servants Of the people 20
the people themselves" aud "that our ex-
cellent constitution, whose inyiolablity we
have ever esteemed the best palladium of
our liberties, Is a mere ball OF wax, in the
haads Of our Official masters, subject TO be
| moulded at thar discretion - That Mr..
| Adams still adheres to this doctrine of le-
glslat've ommpot"nce in constituting the
| provisions OF the constitution, Is apparent
ttom his answer To Gen. SmYth. ia that
answer he states, TIA dur ~ the admins
| t ltion of Mr.. Jefferson, he denied the cor
stlu ional p' wrr of congress To frame go-
vernments for purchased territories, but,
thst rs congress had construed their cou-
stitntional power otherwise, lie did not
then consider himself at liberty 10 reasscrt
his constitutional scruplts on that head !
though were it "A new question, chat is,
had 1t nos been settled by congressional
coustiuetiuu,) he should not hesitate 10
maintain his first opinion. Could Mr.. \ :,
dams have we'll declared in more siSuiG-
cant language his difference for the lcgisla-
tive power, and utter contempt for the
constitution Of his country? Bat says,
" lines" NJ. Adams was induced thus TO
express himself, through compl,,sance to
the Congress OF the United States whose
decisions, he could not, without offence,
have impugned. Strange reasoning this
Is secretary of State, against whom a
solemn charge is preferred in the face of
the world, 10 shrink from he discussion Of
important constitutional points involved in
his defence, for fear that something might
escape hlm, not exactly in unison With the
sentiments oG the national Legislature p
Mr.. Adams himself, with all his reverence
for etiquette, aud seryilty to the congress,
would hardly answer the Question atiirma-
lively. Having thus, fllow citi1ens, re-
deemed my pledge, by attempting to give
a succinct ard faithful expose of some of
the political herrscs of J. o. Adams. |
Doubtless instilled into him by his auti-re.
publican sire, though subsequently con
hrmed by his Own speculuions on his be-
loved British constitution, | solemnlv re
quest, that as you value the constitution
OF Your country as you reverence the
sacred, fundamental maxims. which CON
sttnte our political Bible as you regard
the best interests of the future men Of A.
merlca; you would give what YOU have
seen brought up in judgement against Kim,
deliberate and impartial consideration
The question is not now between the north
and the south of this great confcderacy -
It's no party matter between federaiiSts
aud republicans; it is alphabetically ques-
tion between absolute governments and
limited, constitutional governments be- |
tween'n1onarchy and democracy between
the sovereignty Of the people on the one
hand, and the delegated authority of their
public servants on the other. Let not the
ch'canery 1T heterogeneous qubblers, (for
what will not quibbIers attempt y eliace