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


that clause OF the constitution which relates 10
the regulation of commerce among the seve-
raj States, we may under the same power pro-
hibit altogether the commerce between the
States, or any portion of the States-or we
may declare that it shall be carried on only in
particular way, by particular road,
or through particular canal or we may
say to the people of a particular dis. rict,
you shall only carry your produce to
market through our canals or ever our
roads, and then, by tolls, imposed upon them,
we may acquire power TO extend the same
blessings and privileges TO ether districts OF
the country. Nay, we may go further. We
may take II into our heads-Have we not the
power TO provide and maintain navy? What
IS more necessary To "a navy than seamen To
man 1t ! And the great nursery Of our sea-
men Is (besdes fisheries) the coasting trade
wa may take il into our heads, that those mon
strous numbering wagons that now traverse
the country between; Philadelphia and Pitts
burg, stand i'm the way of the raising of sea
men, and may declare that no communication
shall he held between these points but coast
WISE we may specify some particular article
IN which alone trade shall be carried on
And, sir, 1t, contrary to all expectation, the
ascendency ofVirginia, in the general govern
ment, should again be established, il NAV be
declared that coal shall be carried IN no other
way than coastwise, &c. Sir, there is no end to
the purposes that may be effected under such
constructions ofpower. there beg of gentle
men to recoliect--I particularly call upon the
very few members Of this House, who hap
pen 10 be interested in the navigation of the
River on which reside, (the Roanoke y to say,
whether, after we have, with many efforts
and great expense, with the loss Of at least
half of our capital, effected the navigation OF
that river, II would be competent to this go
vernment to seize upon our feeders, to assume
jurisdiction of Lake Drmmmond, &c. and, for
the accomplishment Of some wild scheme
not more preposerous and ridiculous than
some Others could naine--dran the waters
OF that Lake, into The Atlantic ocean, and abol-
ish our canal. live should chance TO encoun-
ter the dispeasnre of the government. under
these constructions of power, they may say to
every WAGNER in Norris Carolina, You shall
NOT carry on any commerce across the Virgin
la line, in wagons or carts because have some
other object to answer, by suppression of
mat trade. Are gentlemen prepared for this ?
ihere is one other power, said Mr.. r.
which may be exercised, in case the power
now commended for be conceded, TO which I
ask the attention of every gentleman who
happens 10 stand in the same unfortunate
predlcament with IN ys-lf--of every man who
has the misfortune to be, and to have been
horn slave holder. IL Congress possess
he power 70 do what is proposed by this bill,
they may not only enact a sedtion iaw-for
there IS precedent--but they may eman-
cipate every slave in the United States
and with stranger color Of reason than they
can exercise the power now contended for
Ard where will they find the power? They
may follow the example Of the gentlemen
who have preceded mr., and hook the pow
er upon the first hoop they lind in ,he Consti-
tntiOn; They might take the preamble
perhaps the war-makng power--or they
might take greater sweep, and say, with
some gentlemen, that il is not to be found
IN this or that Of the granted powers, but re-
suits from all ofthem which, at least, is not
only dangerous, but the most dangerous
doctrine. Was it not demonstrabie, Mr.. r..
asked, that slave labor is the dearest in the
wOrd-and that the existence of large BODY
| OF slaves is source of danger? Suppose we
are at war with a foreign power, and Freedom
should be offered them by Congress as an
induceEent to them TO take part in tor
suppose the country cot at war, at every turn
Of this federal machine, at every successive
census, that interest will end itself governed
by another and INCREASING power, which
is hound to it, neither by any common
tie of interest or feeling. And il ever
the time shall arrive, as assuredly il has
arrived elsewhere, and, IN all probability,
may arrive here, that coalition of knavery
aud fanaticism shall, for any purpose, be got
up en- this floor, ask gentlemen, who stand
in the same predicament as do, to look well
to what they are now doing-to the colossal
power with which they are now arming this
government. The power to do what allude
TO is. aver, more honestly inferrable from the
war-making power, than the power we are now
Ga III a. L. n. r. u
the time when such question shall arise, and
iremble with me at the thought that that ques-
ton is To he decided by majority of the votes
Of this House, of whom not one possesses
the slightest tie of common interest or of com
mon feeling with us.
When, on a late occasion, il was proposed
to this House TO give grant of some ninety
pounds lawful money, To rock the cradle OF
declining age, 10 smooth the pillow of veneer
able gentlewOman, the mother Of a race eff he
roes--a race 10 whom some OF us seem TO
have a constitutional and instructive antipsthy
we have been met with cry of danger to
'he Constitution! Ofdangrr TO the liberties Of
me country. But, when il is progressed to
draw The last shilling from the pockets Of
honest industry, TO be laid out, az from the
very nature ofthe thing i, must be laid out in
jobs, and contracts, and corruption: and IL
you viii trace the execution OF all your pro-
i"cis-tbe Rip Rap, or others, you will Gnd
the process ia the same in all--you are told
that in making roads and digging canals, and
spending millions upon them, you are pro-
noting the honor, and interest, and grandeur
of the country this, Mr.. Chairman, for
fear that the States, which are all camorsus,
burdening your table with daily petitions, to
ct you to extend your post routes through
all the States and Territories, should under
take To- stop the passage Of the United States
mail! Why, sir, II we suppose case like this.