Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-17
THE AfESSAGE.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.
Gentlemen: On the 27th OF March, 1878 the
Congress OF the United States directed the publica-
| tion of the Journal. Acts, and PROCEEDINGS of The
Convention assembled at Philadephia, l7th Sept.
1887, which formed ''Ths Constitution Tor the
| United Siates.''
On the 2Oth Feb. 1921, the Committee of Elec-
| tons IN the House of Representatives of the Con-
gress OF the United States, made report unlavora
Die 10 john Bailey, Esq, who had been returned as
a Representative in The 18th Congress from one of
| the Districts of Massachusetts.
The validity of MIR BIS election was disputed
upon the ground that he was not I" lnhabtant'
oil the state OF Massachusetts, at the time of his
supposed election The Cons tuition OF the u. s.
declares that, " person shall be representative
who shall not, when elected, be an Inhu6i!aat Of
tha state in which he shall be chosen
In order g to settle cOnc'usireiu'' the meaning
OF this word III the constitutlonj among other things
Tie Hou>e o Representatives referred TO TIE Jour
nal OF the Convention The Journal is, then
considered as proper evidence to shew the opinions
OF the Federal Convention respecting the meaning
OF the constitution
If the House of Representativ of the United
States have found tie Journals useful, on one
occasion, may they not find them equally useful in
other cases?
Your useful paper is much devoted 10 constitu-
tional Investigations; and you will oblige an inhai-
tant OF Virginia, by answering the queries which
| follow the extracts made from these Records of
the Federal Convention.
by reference to pages 259, 200 and 26l, it ap-
pears that the following additional powers, among
others, were proposed to be vested in the Legisla-
| ture of the United S'a.es:
J. " To secu II literary authors their copy
rights for a limited time"
z. TO establish u UniOersify
3. TO establish sensinuieS for the promotion,
| o. Literature, and the .4rts and Sciences
4 10 grant Charters Of Incorporation.
.. fragrant patents for useful inpentions.
o. TO establish public Institutions, retvartls,
ond Hinin'a't'es, for The promotiOn of 4gricul-
tire, Commerce, Trade ami Manufactures.
We see b. reference to the Constitution of the
u States that The powers embraced by the LIST and
h OF the propositions, Gas numbered, were given
TO the Congresst
| Do the Congress claim the powers embraced in
the other propositions, by virtue OF an express
clause, as in the case OF he lst and 9Th? or
DO the Congress claim it power necessary
and proper 10 promote the general welfare?
IT the convention refused the 3D. 81, 4ih, and
9th OF these powers to Congress, do you suppose
| that the convention could have ever conceived
that, the power
''To lay and collect taxes to pay the debts, and
provide tor The deience and general welfare of the
U. d" did give Congress these powers-Or that
| these powers would result 10 them as
Necessary aud proper for carrying into execu-
| ton the powers enumeIatedi'
III Congress can exercise power refused 10 them
! by the convention, where was the use in making
any enumeration of poner,
VIII any politician be pleased TO answer these
crude enquiries, growing oil facts disclosed by
| the Journals?
viii conclude by telling YOU an anecdo;e.
In a company where the doctrine of the gene
raj welfare formed the topic of con versation, and
many dark lorebodngs OF the mischiefs that had
resulted from IL, seemed to be agreed all hands,
1t was observed, b. present, that he had heard
a great deal of the violations OF the constitution
( committed by - General Jackson;'' but from what
he nor heard, g General Weliare'' beat him, all
hollow, in tue number Of his violations.
COMMON SENSE.