Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-12

was the view IN which this bill had been sus
tanned, by the able and ingenious arguments q
It's friends; and IT was, MFR. S. said, his inten
non TO examine and answer these arguments
as tar as he was able. Before, however, II,
did so, he begged to be INDUCED with few
preliminary remarks upon the indispositior
winch was always manifested in this House
to constitutional discussions. II must be oh
vlous to those who had been here but for :
short time, that arguments OF this characte
were never very gracieusIy received an thi,
moor and especially where they were suppos
ed to conflict with favorite or interesting
schemes of national policy. If there wa.
hothins IN the measure proposed, and object
ed to, Offensive To the great principles of civi
liberty, or republican government, gpntiemer
were not disposed to examine very nicely the
powers between ths two governments. The
line between powers surrendered and those
retained, they ware not anxious 10 draw, pro.
vided, any good end might be obtained nv
the exercise ofthe immediate power claimed
we near It daily rung in our ears, said Mr.. S
that these discussions are idle that this will
ana must, become great and splendid GO
sernment that 1t is folly to suppose, that we
nave not, and ought not to have, the power
10 accomplish il. Virginia, too, Is ridiculed
and abused, for her scrupes and her jealousy
upon this subject. Sir, let me tell this House,
lnat the period is approaching, If it has not ar.
rived, when constitutional discussions must.
anu VIII he listened TO here. The people are
setting reused, and the subject is coming
nome To the bosom Of every man. Human
affections and attachments, Mr.. S. said, had
been APPLY compared TO solar heat, which de-
creased IN proportion as it recedes from the
sun: Ihis Was true in relation TO government.
As u extended and spread out its limits and
population, the extremities would become
weakened, and corresponding energy and
power must be gwen IL the centre
when the government was formed of the
Ola thirteen states, fears were then entertain
ed by many Of the Use men who formed il.
that its territorial limits were too large for a
single government, and that il would require
100 much power To govern well. What would
men nave been thought, IL it could have been
iorrseen, That, IN 40 years, we should have
heen pushing our limits to the waters of the
Oregon, distance from the seat of govern
nrnt OF some or 5000 miles
Sir, Is 1t not dem onstrabe that. as YOU ey
read your territorial limits, the mower in the
centre will, like the SNOWFALL, continue to
increase and that spirit of jealousy will a.
rise 10 Inc states, and among the people, un-
friendly to the government? Do we not
kho" that Inns is now the case, and that more
danger Is apprehended from tyranny in the
mead, Than anarchy in The extremifles? Is il
not what might BIZ expected? Do we sup
lpsse that the people are willing to abandon
heir state governments as useless corpora-
tpns ?-those governments which brought
'hem through an age Of revolution, and cheer
ed them amid the gloom of long and bloody
war those governments, TO wbIch the peopi,.
look for the protection of their dearest rights
and consider as the Safeguard of tSeir liber
ties 2 We may hug ourselves in III, consci-
business of possessing power which cannot be
taken from us but the eyes of the natOn will
he upon us. constitution, said Mr.. S pos
sesses the power of preserving itself; no p,rch-
ment barriers ever did or can preserve Nro
vernment; 1t is to the virtue and intelligence
Ipf the people that We are TO look. Without
This, your constitution, when opposed to III.
lust of power, would he dead letter /; a nsi-
srable, empty reed, dashing against CoIos-
SIS. There is, besides, no friendly third pow
efto decide between the states and General
goernment 10 CONFLICTS for power These
conlderatons ought to teach those who are
rules in the respective governments the ne
cessiY OF caution and forbearanct in the ex
ecHtitl of their powers-tO reced from. ra-
ther t'an to overstep, the line of eparafion :.
and tonvite, rather than 70 scDwlupon, con.
stitutoial discussions.
1t Is tnly by this course said tr. S. that
we can ptsserve the Union, and til liberties
and happiness of the people. Ash my own
course, Mr., Chairman, it has loDgnre been
settled, Cine here to exercise " duty in
good faith (; and, whilst will not an inn
proper or weak exercise of powel paraIyze
the energies ofthis government, odefeat The
great objects ofits creation, | will tl leg;sIate
into the constitution one scintiIlalf mower
or assume even that which I hv thiok
doubtful, to obtain any object, hover desi-
rabIe.
on, sa'1 nr- ., can never prget the
words of the venerable Clinton, VIII. in ,bs
Senate OF the u. States, he rejecte4 IN. hin
rechartering the Bank of the Unitedtates.
ra an tue course oi long !, have
| iOund that government is not to be trenoth
! eDed by an assumption of doubtfilt,ovoers
hut by wise and energetic execution tbose
which are incontestible the form meyer
fails TO produce suspicion and distrus vyhiIst
the latter inspires respect and cenfidee.o
Taese words ought TO be written iletter.
OF gold upon your Coliseum, and s.r The
doors Of this Hall and he would go,l fur
ther, lmuch as he was opposed tonend- ,
ments to the constitution. and despisebaths,l
ana 10 the oath which every memberif this
House takes TO support the constithn nr
The United States, he would add the Inrds
; and never exercise doubtful powe,
Mr.. ). said, that, before he came toon,-
ment upon The two parts Of the cons,,;o,
which the honorable Speaker and hisl;snd
, from Delaware (Mr. McLape) relied, 40
deriving this power, he would make a .ngIc
remark unon the discrepancy which ktsd
u"'"uSs, Tue H'enus oI 'ne DIll, as To theJur- |
~ VI we power cialnsq The Speak had |
2 ue'e"ueu 'h's uNersIiy OF OpinIon, and tight |
'nt,e was hO'h'og extraordinary 10 lille |
said that il was common Cor men tn yiehb. |
came subject under different aspects. 4, I, |