Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-28

HtfTiof-tnere were lew settle
ments, and but few settlers, beyond the Ale.
gliany Mountain. The whole interim has
grown up since the Constitution was adopted
and though this gives no new power, yet
II may and ought To call forth every dormant
power conveyed by that instrument, the ex-
ertiOn Oi winch may tend To the public pros
petty. IL presents new case--uew rrla-
ti"ns-new interests and certainly il is the
duty ofCongress To look To the whole--to
remember we have internal as we'll as AN
external commerce and to seek 10 enable
this country To say, what has heen so often
proudly said in England e England is Eng
be said, America is Americas best customer
Sir, "A new world has come into being since the
Constitution WAS adopted. Are the narrow
limited necessities of the old thirteen States
OF indeed parts only of the old thirteen states,
rs they xisied at the formation oil the present
Constitution, forever tn remain a rule of its
interpretation Are we fu forget the wants
al our country ? Are we To- neglect and tn re-
t.isr the red-nnptiUU of that vast wilderness
winch once stretched unbroken beyond the AL
ieshany! trust not, sir. hope for better and
nober things. The gentleman intiinates that
The General, Government may have powers in
time OF war which il does not possess in time
Ut peace; but ask, has il any powers but
what u holdsby grant Of the Constitution. ex
pressed ar fairly implied And IL not, does Il
not possess The sanl.ipowers al All times p
True It is, thar in peace many ofthese pow
ers are mot called forth into action and exercise
hut they exist nevertheless, ur the Consti-
tuition IS IA nuiliiy. Sir, is war source of
power! is necessity source of power /?
Surely not. The government holds its now
ers not by peace, or war, but by the Constiru
tion. ask whether, while peace yet contin-
ues the government has no powers which are
preparatory, but which nave direct relation
10 war! May It not cast cannon? May il
not provide muskefs, to put into the hands of
hardy and gailali; yeomanry? May il not
make forts? and lift may do all these, do ad-
vance single step, when | ask, may il not
make roads also Yes, sir. do say that
roads are IN place Of forts, and in a great nIea-
sure dispense with the necessity of building
Them roads collect the movable fnrce of
the country, and condense it on whatever
point may be attacked or threatened by AN
enemy. What was told us when, the other
DAY, we voted for road i'm Arkansas That
the great body Of population in that territory
was separated by wilderness, from that in
other states, impractica BILE and impossible
and we voted for that road as a measure oil
deience--and IL is ii measure of defence-far
more eHectual than Notifications would have
been.
Another gentleman from Virginia tMr. Ar
cher) employed species of Argument, the
proprety OF which again submit TO his Gao
dor. He takesup all the various constitution
al sources, whence the friends of the bill
draw the Pdwer, and examines them separate
ly and in detail. And, contending that no one
OF them would induce Congress TO, pass In.
Dhi, BUSINESSES the whole IN succession. Now.
SIT, Is not this treating the subject upon
grounds OF expediency and no; of power p
III null L.. Q -
proVements Tor the purpose merely of trans
porting the mail !? Or for that Of facilitating
the distribution of the public force Or for that
oi promoting internal commerce among the
several STATES. And, emphaticay pronounce
lug the negative, In reference to each of those
several objects, the gentleman seemed to
think that the committee ought To come TO
the same conclusion To which he brought him
SELL that this power does not exist. Is il fair.
mus 10 pass IN review the various objects, and
TO pronounce, that, since no one of them. con-
sidered 10y ITSELF would lead to the adoption
of the proposed policy, the bill ought not 10
pass The motive for the exercise of power
IS one, and a totally different thing, from the
power itself. 1t might be conceded, that no
one OF the objects suggested, considered apart,
would present sufficient motive to enact
tne oIii; and yet, that the aggregate effect of
the whole of them united, would present AN
adequate motive. In truth, almost the whole
argument against the bill is virtually an aIgu
Inept on expedlency, rather than power
Inc gentlemen argue from extreme cases :;
ou'' u 'ner argument amounts tn any thing, il
Is good against the exercise of any power
whatever, and applies as much TO anv and
every ether power of the government, even
10 those literally and expressly granted, as II
uoes 10 the Incidental power now in dispute
lie power OF taxation is power expressly
granted and taxation may be carried SO FAR
as 10 take away the last dollar from every
man IN the community. But is this good ar
gument against the existence of the power p
30 gentlemen ask us if we are going TO make
$4,000 miles of post roads No, sir but this
does not operate as reason why we NAV not
such as are called for by the wants and the
safety of the country.
The gentleman from Virginia has reminded
me vi the many Obligations conferred by this
Government upon the West-aud. anour
them, has spoken of the grants Of land for
education. ask the gentleman, Were NOT
these paid for Have not these school lots
raised the value Of the whole body of II
States land, by which they were surrounded
Or, the Western States have never vet receiy-
ed aoy thing from this Government, for which
they nave not given an equivalent. They
have paid guild for every quo Was the
West allowed to- buy IFS land Of fine Indiana >
or, did not the whole awaits go into your own
exchequer You yourselves desired il. And
as to the Indian wars, were they moi necessa,
ry for the safety Of the whole Union Here
Mr.. Randolph interposfd, and denied having
adVerted tO the Indian wars. IL he did nor
SAID Mr.. G. then must say he has made our
wretched list of benefits. SIR, | regret the in
PRODUCTION nfsucb tUTic. Its one on vs. hicb
IL IL