Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-24

n snsfr inSut Nift general pnWrrs Ia do what
ever il rIeasedaud to exercise jurisdiction over
the ;rrrtory aDd sVaters &c the States. |. al
the ether s;aies excerpt Virginia aud North
q rnliua were dispose L. surrender their
r'sh's &" ti.r general government. he thought
% ~as 40 reason vh, Virginia should do So.
/ The present WAS not the first time ia. District
l." Columbus Was considered as likely tn hc
The ground Of cnutrntin~. The immortal Hem
r. viii the t"n.tte OF iige aud The suiii. nf pro
pi-cy, had rrrHir'd that in affer-;imr, that
hiil. disiict would hrcone Il Pandoia box
G" tits UAion. Congress it WAS said wonl.I.
md, the name or Legislation fur the dis,rici
| invade TIE great rights deserved 10 the states
by the CONSTITUTIONS. Henry was replied 10
by Mr. Madison, and his associate champion.
~, The Constitution, that Congress would not
attempiio lrgislaie for the district -xceyt on
immediate objects of ncccssiiy-ihat there
WAS 40 danger of their ever gning beyond this
boundary. Now, said Mr.. G. if Congress
have power Ia spread Banks Throughout the
country, tn cut roads and canals in all dir.c
tions, where w's the limitation to the powers
at that government, which our forefi,thers had
thought they bad effrctualiy established p
w here were the checks TO the concentration
aud consolidating of power. which they all
| deprecated as the greatest of evils, and IA
most dangerous In our forms Of government.
principles, habits and republican feelings The
concession of these powers to that govern
nrnt, already so anxious To grasp at power ir
whatever form, was virtually erecting one
great consolidated government, and yielding
| up the power and the rights Of the states for
ever The prophecies Of Henry and of Others
| in relation 10 the District of Columbia were
n"w fnflling. That little spot is 10 be the
foundation on which Archimedes is to res, his
lever Let II once he planted and we bid
adieu In the existence of sovereignty or of
power IN the states. Mr. g. called on his
countrymrnto aid him in arresiing these evils.
and IN putting stop TO this march Of usurpa-
| ton.
The House were called on to pass hill
which gentlemen said asserted nnthng-Cnn
gresswsrr To do the rrst-for the bill looked
TO them for aid and co-opeIation. Virginia
was to go into partnership with Congress the
mouse with the lion, Sc &c.
| Mr. Sherrard called for the ayes and noes.
Mr. Morris of III thought the eloquent re-
marks of the gentleman from Ibemarlr.
would he entitled To great weight, lfthev did
not lake for granted the proposition before
thr House. The question was did the bill
involve the constitutional question. lis friends
asked us passage on the ground that it did
not touch this question, and conceded 10 the
general government no power whatever.-
And, surely, he said, gentlemen ought first 10
show that it did. H., did not think the hill
was liable TO this objection, for it contained
neither directly nor indirectly any concession
of power TO Congress.
| The hill he said, proposed only the incorpo-
ration ot JoInt stock company for the pur-
pose ofimprosinS a river which washed the
shores OF several distinct and separate sove
reIgni'es. whose permission to cut their soil
was first necessary Ia be obtained. Suppose
the government Of the u. States exercised
power only over the District of Columbia.
woild nat u company having in view the nm
provement of The river apply to the several
states for this permission, and, also fo th.
Legislature exercising authority over the Dis
trlct? They could attain their object N 20
other way than Ivy these applications What
difference. he asked, was there between that
case and tie present state of things? Shall
| 1t be said that because Congress had also the
power To legisate for the WI hole u. States. il
should moi exercise its rights and powers o.
yer the District? Was there any objection in
tins two-inld character Of Congress
| Mr.. Gorden explained. that he did not pre-
tend TO say that Congress had no right TO e-
gislate over The ten miles square. And II
the gentlemen would so amend the bill AS To
coDfnr the power within that District. h,
would cheerfiIlly vote for il. But he would
not vote for any bili which gave to Congress
n participation in cutting the soil of The states
And 10 any bill on this subject, hi would in
sist npon clause denying the right of Con-
Sress to Iegslate on it, hey ond the limits of
the district
Mr.. Colston said this would leave the ar
gument where it was. And if any bill was
passed denying To Congress a right which
they claimed, il was pretty certain coinpa-
ny never would be FORMED
| Mr.. Morris continued his remarks. He did
not think any one wonld deny to Congress,
acting as the Legislature of the District, The
right of giving To the company permission to
cut the soil of the district Virginia wonld
not allow others 10 cut her soil without her
permission, and she ought not To expec; diff
Ierent course from the Legislature of the
District or of the adjoining states.
! Mr. VI. commented on the two fold legisla-
i've Character of Congress, and commended
that they were not a, all inConpatiblp with
each oihPr.-The bill, he said, did not ask anv
thlnS which conceded or involved the power
IN the general government To embark in a ge-
neral scheme OF internal improvement. IL il
ora, ms voice would not he raised in favor of
1t. IL Virginia subscribe tO the company, she
"ould nave vote in the meetings of the
stockholders, not as n sovereign. hut as stock
holder-and this would he the case in rela-
ton to Congress. Would it, he asked, be
respectful towards that body 10 say that you
viii not pass The bill because the money
which they may subscribe may possibly not
belong 10 the District of Columbia ? WHY
would Gentlemen gratuitously suppose thai
Congress would do wrong? Satisfy him that
thry could not subscribe TO the company
wlthont putting Their hands into the general
treasury aud taking the money which belong
ln Of Il 4.
would not vote for the bill. IF be did not mis-
nndprstAnd ono of the 11rniecfs nr th, cnnr,.r,-