Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-09

AN honorable gentleman from Virginia, Mr..
hifes,l who favored witt, an argument of
great ingenuity, and to which listened with
unusual pleasure, has told us, that if we assim-
late military road to ratification, we may,
with little more license of the imae nation, say,
that ofeod' and even the hearts of our citizens,
are iortihca,ions. trust, sir, there is more of
fact than of fancy in this. And, would ask
the honorable gentleman, if he means to deny
the power OF this government 10 provide bread
lot the sustenarce of its armies, or to call into
requisltion the hearts and the blood of its citi-
zeDs, tor their common defence.
Driven from the ground of precise constitu-
| uonai investigation, gentlemen have conured
| up phantom which they denomnate console
dation and which shall now endeayor to e:,-
se And should be glad if some of tau,
's-ald favor us with precice idea of what they
mean ny consolidation. Ifthey mean by it firm
aud lndissolublc union of the states, for one,
am decidedly i'll favor oft. but, ifthey mean by
! 1t the humiliation of the state governments, or
The destruction of a single power that appropri-
| ately belongs to them, there is who dis
approves of it more, and, will add, who fears it
| less than do.
Ii gentlemen will aitentivc1y examine the or
ganization and structure of our Government,
they will perceive that consolidation, in this
sense OF the term, cannot possibly take place
| ~ What, sir: Annihilate the STATE Gover!ireItS.
when one { the branches of the National Legis-
lature is absolutely dependent upon them, and
| the other emanates from the very same people
who create these Governments Usurp the
powers of the State Governments when this
| Government could not exercise them lift would.
ana would not exercise them if it could. Cen
tlemen have deludcd themselves by the yapue
generalities in which they h:,vc INDUCED. and
have tlumphantly asked, hat may this Gov
eminent not do, If If has power to make internal
improvements Sir, L would ask, in reply,
What may this Government not do Under any
construction which they would themselves rive
to the constitution For must be permitted
to say, that, If the liberties of the Republic are
In any danger from the po,cers of this Govern
mem, IL is from those expressly granted. 1t has
IN the power OF war and peace the absolute and
unlimited command ofevery thing that can fas-
cinate human ambition, or impose upon the i'm
| aginations OF mankind. If any thing can draw
1t from the appropriate sphere of its duty. it is
the seductive charm ofmilitary glory. But this
is not all. In the power to suppress insslrrec-
tons, IT may bring the military force of the ma
| uon to operate, under mere colorado prctexts
directly upon the lives and liberties of the peo-
pie. And IL these powers are harmless, / am
at loss to perceive what there is to alarm us. in
those that remain. lfmy views ofo our system
| OF government are not entirely erroneous, our
! liberties do not depend so much uuon the ,n.oy-
g.
pective public functionaries-not upop other ,r
these, SO much as upon the efficient responsible
| fy OF those functioDarics, to the people Dos
troy this tie, and any portion of power ho,veyer
small, will soon be sufficient for all the D,,roosc
OF despotism. Subject to its control all the or
hiary powers OF Government which constitute
sovereignty, are bOth safe and salutary In
deed, l am satisfied that the proposition. that
power IS essential to liberty, will be found to bc
phliosophcally true, upon the fullest examine
non. You cannot annihilate sovereign power
with iE1Punty. If it cannot operate thru, orb
the Government, II will operate through. other
channels, and the Government will sni. u,,sler.
rs own debility. Most of The free Soye,n-
ihents, both OF ancient and modern tin,es have
iaieE sacrifice 10 the mistaiian idea. that IL
berty derives it. security, moi rom inc resrons;
Dibty OF power, but from lis limitations.
But, trust | shall not be understoo5 ,,.1o
maintaining t!le Complete sovereignty - ;s
Government, III relation TO the Great oh,c =. IF
It's Creation, to tinderrate the ir,,roriancc =. 10.
state Governments, or 10 Claim for the ,,.,cT
Government the right of interfering in any ras-
pect, with their power and jurisdiction. Tb.t
are Inc SUBJECTS Of their power and iurisdictions
The property, the life, the person, and the char.
actsr, OF The citizen, and the general im,roy,c
ment eli the state would not extend the now
81 vi tliH government so as to impair thai of the
n FL
subjects, or any other embraced il, the ;ntorra1
police OF the St.tes. What, sir, viii he th.. ae
iGct OF the very measure we are DISCUSSING. y,
inns respect! Can internal improvements e.
national KIND, by any possibility, impair tb1.
power oil the State through which they NAV ,,ss
10 make similar Improvements? Their Cor
current O., power would, on the contrary, be cara-
VI, u'e vi PRODUCING much greater results, and M,
unS cu' sPl'i' Oh reckless caprice, W hich can
lYnDutpU In tho
iiuucc tlem TO resist the incidental ceoperat;o,,
- =. ~ .o General government, IN works so essen
i',y oeuehciai 10 themselves. Sir, am ntter
'i'caPaoie OF Pcrcelving a solitary pou,er Of :,
o'd'e Government, winch would not exi,, m ,s
ample manner during the progress of a nation
q. I'm ",'hih us jurisdiction, as il sach work
had never been even projected. WIN
but, an honorable gentleman from, Uiro;r,;.
thr' SteVenson,) has informed The comrn;tt,a
uiat tne people are alarmed on tb;s s,,b;oot'
ana mas warned us of the danger of ar;enst;no'
'heir commence from this Government. It,,,st
Sir' ouiy estimate Tire high Character re 80
nfa' lot intelligence and patriotism. but tbc ~
ueindfl must excuse INC for saving -
'dniot regard Virginia as tue barometer ,fth-
national feeling on this question. And 80
We ADVERT TO the fact, that a decided rr.o... IS
Sol' leSS mas 1877 many years been persev crir,
y d.,ached 10 tins system of improye,o,,,, .
mouio seem TO be matter OF some diacub, TO-
t ~, gentleman to make out the evidence ~ tic
DISSATISFACTION and alarm of which no s,o,Ls
indeed, II may he allowed to EXPIRES, ar ,n;,io,,
Oh the subject, doubt who,rer fh, nc,,nl,
even OF virginia, have any Of those apnrobc,,
o'o's "blch some OF their representatives entor