Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-03-02

ton law, 10 repeal 4 judiciary law, to incorpo-
rate bank, or IL adept system of roads and
canals, the opposition which the states may
be disposed To make to these measures, as ,n-
constitutional, must be weakened by dividing
among the several states the power which
had been previously possessed by one. liz
hat case, the causes of dissenion NAV he as
strong as The motives TO union. Ii is Thus,
MIR. Chairman, as it seems To me- that the
power of the general government is continual
| ly increasing.
But perhaps II may he said that this effect
oi the addition ofnew states was loreseen, and
taken into account by the trainers of the con-
sti,ution. But this could not have been The
case. When the constitution was adopted
the Mississippi was our boundary, and the ac-
question oil that extensive and fertile Country
west of If, which is to have so much effect
IA altering the relative weight ofany one state
was at that time never dreamt OF. Mr. T.
here remarked, that New York presented
case directyioPposte to that OF Virginia She
had once but one-teDth Of the political power
at The Union, and she now has one-sixth.-
But the last census shews that this Increase
IN her relative strength, cannot go on. Ii has
received little accession in he last ten years
AS 20 members on this floor bear nearly thu.
same pr"poit ton TO 1876, AS her present num-
Der, So, bears to ei3 and may venture to
predict that In ten years more, or if not in zen
IN twenty. as the vast and fertile valley of The
mississippi fills up with the numbers IL is one
day destined TO support, her propor,ipnate
weight in the Union will begin TO diminish
though her actual numbers may go on increas-
ing. My colleague, said Mr.. II. who has lust
SAT down, has adyerted to the oppIJsitinn
made To the General Government during the.
late war-and this furnishes me with another
Illustration. Sir, ifthe state of Maine had been
then separated from Massachusetts. il can
scarcely be doubted that her weight, instead
oil being added IN the opposition, would have
oren thrown into the scale of the General
u rIament She would have operated as
an antagonist power To her parent state. and
rendered her efforts harmless
Nor is this all. The relative powers be-
tween the Representative and Executive
branches of the Government, are of little less
Importance than that between the General
anu ne State Governments. The appoint
memt ol so many officers, and the establish
ment oi 81 many courts, AS a general system
OF internal improvement supposes, must make
very great addition To the power and Pa
tronage of the Executive, and materially af-
iect 'hat equipoIse which the constitution in
tended. Nothing would be more likely IN
affect the independence of this House. than
me circumstance that every member had in
his district from 50 TO an 100 persons hol,linp
lucrative Offices, al the pleasure Of the Presi-
utht, VINO would be always ready 10 oppose
nun when he opposed the Executive. Sir.
SAID Mr.. II. 10 judge of this influence. L., rs
look into the history of the National I,egisl,-
tnre, and without wishing To br understood
a. ai'uuingtc the present time, ar TO any in
u'iu'ais, WIZ venture Ia say, that the mos,
co'nP'ais"nt supporters of The existing admi-
nisiraii"n, will be found to have come from
the SedDurtS. th.r., A
Underwriters and others, holding Offices al the
pleasure of the Executive. There will nj
unuot be found exceptions, but such is The
general rule; and If this has been the effect
already, what Will il be when the Presiden,
nftle u. States shall be the Chief Magistrate
oi fifty or an hundred millions Of people TIN.
iusIre of the Office of President increases moi
~ proportion to the increase of patronage.
hut IN a much higher ratio. II is with Ibis.
us with the diamond-double The quantity
may give ten times the value. When the ae.-
sessions of power and dignity 10 the exc
cutlve of the United States must necessarily
he so great, aud when they have such an i'm
posing effect on the minds of men, ought g..
NOT to be very cautious how we increase
them
| But, said Mr.. T. gentlemen seem 10 have
taken itfOr granted, that the General Govern
ment Is more able to effect internal imuroye
ments, than the several states. But / think
the proposed system as unwlse on the score
! OF national economy, as il is mischirvoiis in
us political tendency. The power OF the
GENERAL Government to improve the whole
Union, Is not greater than that of each stale
TO improve its own territory. Sir, if This sys.
tenn is adopted, the money drawn from The
community appropriated TO lis execution, will
be fairly distributed among the several states
or " WIZ rot. Ii we suppose unfairly, that
VIII De fruitful cause Of jealousy and dis
content, and furnishes Sufficient objection IA
the measure. But, if il is to he distributed
IN Just proportion, there can be no advantage
| 10 The several states, for the whole can he
but equal To all ITS parts. Thus, If YOU ex
penn hali million in the state of Virginia
when you had previously drawn from the
people of Virginia, wherein is she 4 gamer Nv
the operation Nor can the General Gov
eminent procure that minute and accurate To-
cal information which is required by the svs-
lem, as easily as the states. Put, Mr.. Chair
ulan, said Mr.. Il. consider any plan of max
luG roads and canals by the direct agency Of
the government, as unwise. 1t fakes away the
best security against rash and improbable
schemes OF Improvement. The sacarifv of
individual self interest, is essential to guard
against the waste Of the national cauifaL-
There are several monuments Of this danger
~ Hu'"Pe' IL my memory does not deceive
me, one - afforded by Spain, aud another IL
me Worm OF Europe, in which, after The res
pfctIve Governments had expended nillinns
in attempting some Improvement of Da,ipa-
| llon, tue works were found TO be- useless.-
Nor let II OF supposed that we are exrmpt
rom similar danger. We may all remem.
Der that, after two or three hundred fhn,rssnd
dollars were expended IN terrifying the bate.
ry ct New York, it was discovered that fine
work was OF no value as q national defence
and we gave It back to the state, without he