Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-27


like the consolidated monarchies of the old world
lit is a solar system, an imperium in impe,io :
and when the question is about the one or the
other, what belongs to the in,periuns and what
to the tmperio, VIC gain nothing by referring to
oattel. He treats of an integral Government,
a compact structure-totus tercs atque rotundas.
But ours is a system composed of two distinct
govervments-the one general in its nature, the
other internal. Now, sir, government NAV
be admirable for external, and vet execrable
for internal purposes. And when the question
Of power in the government arises, this is the
problem which every honest man has to work.
The powers of government are divided, in our
system, between the general and state govern
ments, except some powers, which the People
have wisely retained to themselves. With these
exceptions, all the power is divided between the
two governments. The given power will not
lie, unless, as in the case of direct taxes, the
power is specifically given-and even then, the
States have a concurrent power. The question
for every honest man to ask himself, Is, to which
Of these two divisions of government does the
power in contest belong. And, said Mr.. r.
while am on the subject of assumed power,
permit me to say, if my strength allows me,
shall be compelled to state acts of assumption
and usurpation on the part of the States, as well
as on the part of the General Government; not
that at all agree with the gentleman from n.
York, MIR. Storrs, that the danger of this 60
vernment is from the state OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
can initiate, while greatly admire the gene
rosity with which that gentleman, Represen-
tativc from the largest state in the Union, would
shear her of her strength-tod do what9 To pre-
serve this Union, No; to reduce her to a le
vel, by possibility, with the smallest State in the
Union. And this, sir, reminds me of one other
Of the 11OfHIDrS bous, font ba VI.
Country. We have, among other things, given
them, in the case of an election of President
coming into this House, nine votes out of twen-
ty-four. We have erected them, as soon as their
numbers would render it possible, under the law,
intoindependentsta states, and thus given themin the
'ther branch of the Legislature, voice to weigh
down the voice, or counterpoise it, OF N. York or
Pennsylvania. These are among the nothincs we
have done for them. This, then, is the problem
we have to settle: Does this power of Internal
Improvement belong to the General or to the
State Governments, or is it concurrent DOW
er? Gentlemen say we have power, by the
Constitution, TO establish post roads, and, hay-
ing established post roads, we should be much
obliged to you to allow us, therefore, the power
to construct the roads. If had the physical
strength, said Mr.. r. could easily demon
strate to the Committee, that, supposing the
that can be exercised by this House, there is no
power that would be more susceptible of abuse
than this very power. Figure to yourself, said
he, committee of this House determining on
some road, and giving out the contracts to the
members of both Houses of Congress, or to their
friends, &c. Sir, if had strength, could shcw
TO this Committee that the Asiatic plumber OF
Leadenhall streethas not been more corruptinp
to the British government than the exercise
of such power as this would prove to us.
The gentleman from New Y ork, mr. Storrs)
says that Congress possesses the power to coin
money, and asks if that does not involve juris-
dictlon over the whole subject of money. Ii
does sir; and yet would, by the bye, correct
one mistake into which that gentleman alone
has not fallen. Ia what does that power con-
sist? In designating the metal, determining
the rate of alloy, fixing the weight, directing
the impress, and declaring the value of the coin
not in the mechanical act of coming. And,
if all our coin were struck by Watt & Bolton,
at Birmingham, the coinage would be as much
an act of sovereignty, if it had due weight, and
the proper assay, &c. as if it were coined at the
mint in Philadelphia. But, sir, under this pow
er, what have we done? We have erected
bank, which will not redeem the notes of its
branches, and the States are deluged with spu-
rious bank paper, while, with this base curren-
cy throughout the land, debtors are bound to
pay in specie. Sir, the bank note table of New
York, in which they do not deign to name the
Banks of Kentucky, is politico-economica
curiosity; and, instead of one currency, of uni
form value, we have a thousand different kinds
of paper money, by ringing the changes upon
which, we hear the profits which brokers and
shavers and stock jobbers levy on the honest in
dustry of the nation. said, continued Mr. r.
tI,ff h - IL
no means calculated to endure--as govern
ment for the management of the internal con-
Germs of this country; is Of the worst that can
be conceived--which is determined by the fact
that it is government not having a common
feeling and common interest with the governed
know, said he, that VIC are told--and it is the
first time the doctrine has been openly ayowed
that upon the responsibility of this House to
the People, by means of the elective franchise
depends all the security of the People of the
United States against the abuse of the powers of
this government. But, Sir, how shall man
from Mackinaw or the Yellow Stone River, re-
spond to the sentiments of the People who live
in New Hampshire 1t is as great mockery
"a greater noclIery than it was to talk to these
colonies about their virtual representation in
the British Parliament. have no hesitation in
saying that the liberties of the Colonies were
safer IN the custody of the British Parliament
than they will be in any portion of this country,
if all the powers of the States, as well as those
of The General Government, are devolved on
this House, and in this opinion / am borne out,
and more than borne out, by the opinion of
Patrick Henry himself
But The gentleman from New-York, and some
others who have spoken on this occasion, say,
What! shall we be startled by shadow Shall
We recoii from taking power clearly within
what? )-our reach, Shall VIC not clutch the
sceptre-the air drawn sceptre, that invites our
hand, because of the fears and alarms of thc