Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-26

he sentiments az the people W no live in New
Hampshire? 1t 10 as great a mockery-a
greater mockery than II was To talk To these
colonies about their virtual representation in
the British Parliament. I have no hesitation
IN saying that the liberties of the colonies
We're safer in the custndy If the British par
lament than they will he in any portion Of
ihis country, II all the powers Of the states,
AS well as those Of the general government,
are devOived ON this House aad 10 this o.
l'ini"n am borne out, and more than borne
out. ny the opinion of Patrick Henry him
self
But the gentlemen from New York, and
some Others who have spoken on this occa-
sion, say, What shall we be startled by a
shadow Shall we recoil from taking puw
er clearly within what POUR reach p
Shall we not clutch the scep;re--tte air
drawn sc-ptre, that invites our hand, because
81 the Tears and alarms of The gentlemen from
virginia Sir, il cannnt give reason to The
committee, they shall at least have authority.
Ino mas Jefferson, then in the vigor Of his i'm
teliect, was one of the persons who denied the
existence of such powers. James Madi.un
was another. He, in that mastery and unri-
vailed report, in the Legislature of Virginia
which Is worthy 10 be the Textbook of every
american statesman, has settled thisuuestiun.
For me Ia attempt IL add any thing To the ar.
Suinsnts of that paper, would be to attempt
To giid refined gUld-to paint the lily-to
throw a perfume on the viulei-tu smuoth
the ice-or add another hue unto the rainbow
Ia every aspect OF it, wast-ful and ridicu-
iou' excess. Neither will hold up my farth.
ing rushllght Ia the blaze oe that meridian
sun. But, SIR, cantnIt hut deplore, and tn INV
dying day shall d.plDrc--my heart aches
when think ofit-tiiat the hand which e.
rectru That monument of political wisdom
sh"'''d have signed the act 10 Incorporate the
present Bank of the U. s.
Ii WAS not a matter of conjecture merely.
Mr.. X. said, but OF fact-of notoriety, that
there does exist on this subject AN honest diff
terence OF opinion among enlightened men {;
mat not one or two, but many, states in the
Union see with great concern aud alarm the
encroachments Of the General Government
on their authority. They feel that they have
given mp the power Of the purse and of the
sword, and enabled men, with the purse in
one nand and the sword in the other, to RI
ne them of al! that they hold dear. Among
The rrvrrrs of that strange and must extraor-
binary MIN, the late Huler of France, while
he was dying, inch by inch, among the rats of
81. Helena, he expressed the thought that If
instead of Elba, liz had chusen Cuisica as
the place oil his retreat, when he was driven
Dy the Allies out of France, he would have
oeen enabled, from Tie bravery and devotion
OF The people, and the mountainous passes of
the country, &c. 10 hold it against the com
omed powers of Europe--as il man who
couiu not Keep France, could keep any thing
else. And we too, SIR, now begin To perceive
what we have surrendrred-that having Civ
EN- up the power of the purse and the sword,
every thing else is at the mere mercy and for
hearance of the General Government. We
uiu behe'e there we're some parchment bar
riers-no' what ~ worth all the parchment
barriers in the world-that there was, in the
powers OF the states, same ounlerpoise to the
power Of this body: but, il this bill passes,
we can believe so no longer.
L have mentioned Bnnnra,te-and perhaps
history cannot afford an example of such a
rise, and vi such fall. We see him giving law
IN tue kremtin, In the ancient palace of the
Musco'ite Czars-in three years. we see him
IN the island of St Helena, enduring-I will
not say what. With that example Of humili-
alton before me, il Costs me nothing to endure
the triumph Of the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania, Mr.. HemphiIl,) who tells us that a
new era IS approaching the era of good
feelings, am afraid, for that has come alrea-
dy,)--in which all Presidential squeamishness
is 10 be at an eDd-when this Government
shall enter on course, and we are to
take new latitude and departure. With this
example before me, must recall the recorc-
lion OF three-and-tweniy years ago, when that
gentleman, who is the father of the present
bill, was upholdIng, or, rather, deavoriDg
tn uphold, the wreck and remnant IF that sys-
tenn of policy which It's triumphant adversa-
RES had cloyen down. / remember his exer-
lions IN regard to what has been called the
midnight judiciary. Sir, al that time I stood
IN relation 10 this House, and to that gentle
man, in station very different from that which
L now sustain, or ever expect-or, If know
myself, would ever wish, 10 OccnDy agatn-
lfthat era arrives to which the hopes and
wishes of the gentleman seem to aspire, IL is
pity we have not some Dryden 10 celebrate
Its advent. Another .4str9a redtr will be hail
rd-and we shall once more hasten to the
strain,
" Jam redit ct Virgo, redeuni saturnia Re.na.n
Sir, If this bill passes, we shall not only have
midnight, hut day light and star. light ju-
dietary bill You will have what one of I
was going to say, Il must not call him so-kut
Twill know not what else 10 call him. 18th.
most 'lOlent FrderaIists | ever heard, once
said rye ought TO have federal Justices of the
peace. For, you are told, that all the power
chat IS claimed for Congress over roads is a
conservative power that If ruhberies ex-
eeFt OF The mail, OF murders are committed,
or contracts are made on q road belonging 10
the u. States, they will fail under the cogni-
lance and jurisdiction of the State Govern
rnent. Sir, am no lawyer: but this is the
first time that ever heard that the effect of
contracts was limited to the place pf signature
L always have heard hat they were in their
nature iransiiire. Bot, SIR, suppose the pow
ef To be conservative only land suppose sumo
breach Is made IN the road, or any other inju-
ry done to ", are you not tn punish that iniu-
ry? And, Hapy thing Of n trrspass is com
mltied on this road, are you 10 haul man