Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-17
More 'SIGns OF THE TIMES"

Inc scene sihi'si anu enters Mir. John Bailey, n
member OF The RI. OF II. from Massachusetts, with
string OF RESOLUTIONS in his hand Time. last
Tuesday, one week after the Presidents Message
was delivered. Scesic, the Hall of the H. OF L.
ms RESOLUTIONS propose (says the Washing or c.
1aZete) THAT Congress express opinion on the
SUBJECT oil koadS and Canals, the promotion of ed
ucaiion, colonization, and the liberal arts with a
view 10 incorporate these subjects as an amend
Ment TO the Constitution"
1t Is proper to look into the DranaLis Persona
and who then is MIR. Bailey? He is the personal
md political friend OF MIR. Adams. lie was
Cfe'k under Mr. a. in the Department of State.
lie lived, OF course, IN the Iiy of Washing on
bht so anxious were the friends of MIR. Adams in
one OF the Districts OF Massachusetts 10 send him
lato Congress, that they gave him the majority OF
their votes. But the question arose whether he " as
an inhubitant oil the State, and therefore eligible
VA Tins occasion, AIr. A. gave his opinion in
wiring, in favor OF hs eligibility and upon very
extraordinary and eXceptionah!e grounds The
Committee of the II. OF r. decided agans, Mr.. b. {;
he removed 10 Massachusetts, and after some
struggle, ne was again elected, and now holds lis
seatIa Congress. And it is this fdus .9ch0tcs,
VINO brings forward these propositions 20 amend The
Constitution, and 10 vest Congress with the powers
colonization excepted) which Mr. A. has 30
boldly and unhe>itatinsIy claimed in his Message
Why, how Is this! How is it, that Mr.. Bailey, the
personal and political friend of Mr.. a. should nov
come forward 10 ask Tor those pow ers, which Mr.
A himself urged by irresistible sense OF (his)
own duty" so strongly recommended to the Repre-
SenIaIIves OF the Nation TO exert? How is this?
Why this extraordinary Somerset1
w hat does this mean! Does Mr. B. bring
forward these propositions with the consent of MIR.
Adams! VIII ans man believe it 20 lie otherw ise
Is MIR. y. at the bottom OF the scheme9 Has then
.'ir. a. been startled by the boidness of his own
doctrines, and by he indignation which it has ex-
cited In some quarters of the land2 We are sorry
that he did nos think more maturely of his Message
before he delivered n; and that The same irresistible
sense Of duty which now prompts Mr.. b. TO amend
the Constitution, should have hurried Mr. A. TO
assume such eXtravaSant powers without any such
amendment.
But II MIR. b. be serious in his proposition, we
hope every friend OF the constitution will oIn with
MIN In the appeal 10 the STATES about Roads and
Canals. We repeat that we wish 10 see the ques-
ton settled one way or the other. If the states
are determined TO enlarge the powers OF their gen
eral government, let them say so in constitutional
way--throwng every possible guard around the
exercise OF the power; and Virginia even If size
oppose the granting of the power, will after it is
granted, know how TO acquiesce in its exercise
The foregoing remarks were thrown together en-
the short article furnished by the Washington e..
Gazette.--Bul last evening furnishes US with MIR.
baIiey's RESOLUTIONS Themselves which we lay
before our readers and with brief paragraph on
them 10y way oil praise and Cancellation in the Nat.
Journal of the 18Th. We consider the Resolutions
as short Supplement 10 The Presidents Mes-
sage. The friends OF the Message " scared at the
sound themselves have made" are " illing 10 do
now what Mr.. Adams should have done at first;
and submit these usurped powers TO the arbilran,ent
OF tine confederate States This change of tone, Is
almost as extraordinary as the zone of the Message
Itself The whole business does not appear to be
conducted on those clear, solid and lOng-sighted
views, which ought to distinguish the Statesman
lie n. Journals a. last kud enOugh TO compli-
ment the resiled old School OF Virginia Politicians
der " opposition to the system OF internal in
progemeHi has heretofore teen as conscientious
as 1t was Ui,OroHs!!'' % We are inclined 10 hone
that even Virginia will assent to a proposition
OF MIR. Il. NC. &c
We Cannot presume 10 guess what will be her
determination. But we would respectfully s>R
whether there is not TOO much iInbed TO. ether
like Jenkinson's lonhuiafy in the Vicar of Wake
heldf whether some of these important powers
wee not Originally rejected by Tie trainers oil the
constitution; the University, the provisions Tor
he~adysncement oi the SrieEces, &c. Sc. (Sre
Journals OF the Federal Convention, p. zoo e<c.)
Whether this great multiplication OF powers Is lot
departing from tire simple designs Vi the fathers
Of The Constitution?