Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-24

oil internal Improvement, among whom shrewdly
suspect, Yirgluius delights to be honored as one,
though not the least The late President saws
there six articles Of faith from which that seer
draw their creed, to neither of which can he sub
scribe, though protesting be Of the same persua-
SION, with certain mental reservations, qualifca-
tions, sc. sc.
This DEPRESSION has led me apart from other
views OF Virginius more Immediately connected
with the issue between US, 10 which shall return
and cursorily examine. Ia speaking of the resolu-
tons OF Virginia, inviting Congress to colonize the
free people OF colour, he says; now, if Virginia
may, coRshsuftoialiy, call ON the General Govern
ment 10 and her IN colonizng her free people of CO.
lour, so, unquestionably, may all the other Staes''
To which reply, that Virginia cannot give any
power TO the General Government which It does
not inherently possess; and if Virginia cannot nei-
Their can all OF the states. There is no mode by
which consent OF the can confer federal pow
ers, except that pointed out by the Constitution
they must be entire, unrestricted, independent of
every other power, 10 give, not at all. This is
doctrine OF the friends OF internal improvements
swell as the friends OF State Rights, with some ex-
&epions among the former which is another instance
OF disagreement in their fundamental articles
What says Mr.. Clay in speech delivered 10th
January, 1924, on the subject Of roads and canals;
." Nor did he claim the power in question from the
consent or grant OF any particular state or states
through which an object of internal Improvement
might pass. But the power to establish the i'm
provement must be found in the Constitution, or il
does not exist"
Camus did not find justification in the tile
of the act, stated by Yirgimils but in the body
OF the act Itself, where the consideration is clearly
expressed, Tor the appropriation IN favor OF General
Lafayette; and he d!sclanls the influence of that
Holy Land and that God OF Ammon in the eyes of
his enemies, who now flock 10 offer incense at MS
shrine, before entering upon their crusa,les
~ kef ! DO, ,,l Ill IL
President, to seek IN the federal constitution for
some authority 70 reconcile the descendant acts
and arguments Of has immediate pTedecees0rsl
No he will scarcely allow him that extenuation
which is allowable to the King OF England the bad
advice OF counsel, which he believes 10 have been
the case. Ii he were asked, what President has
respected less the principles of his immediate me-
decessors he would say, James Monroe. Ii he
were asked, what President has forfeited more com
pleiey the political character under which he was
elevated to the FIRST Office within the gif OF the A.
merlcan people? he would say, James Monroe.
The truth is he never forgave Mr.. Jefferson for
postponing, nor Mr.. Madison for opposing his
claims to this Office Having reached the goal of
bis ambition, he followed popularity his idol ill
she has returned him to his original condition of a
private citizen, unhonored, unaneled, unsung q
When tarnius spoke of Mr.. Monroe's view of
the power of the federal government over the sub
Ject OF internal improvement being unsustained by
ats warpest advocates, he would only have alluded
to the debate in the House OF Representatives. m
1924, after that exposition was made, which was
long and full; and call upon Yrginius, TO shew
where either friend or foe sustained the dangerous
power conteAded for by the President What saws
MIR. Clay upon the subject? % The President thinks
that, under the power OF appropriatng the money
OF the United States, Congress NAV apply it to anv
object OF internal Improvement, provided it does
not assume any territorial jurisdiction; and in this
he elaine tba
more power than the gentleman from Virginia (NIr.
BaIbour) assigns TO 1t; and he, (AIr. c. must own
that he so far conceded with the gentleman from
Virginia If the power can be traced to no more
legitimate source than TO that OF appropriating the
public treasure, he yielded the question" The ar
gument to any common mind that Will take the
pans TO read It. viii oe found Tepete with contra
dictions, and perfectly suicidal. Apd, l think anv
twelve honest i-echo.derS sitting 81 Judgment upon
1t, would lad 8 verdict of wful violation of the
Consultation. # not Of Conscience TO satisfy popu-
Tar favor
Let as for a moment examine some of the pro-
minent features OF this extraordinary production,
winch Is 70 go down 10 pos,erity with all the
weight Of hgh authority, and perhaps 10 cause the
soa! destruction of every thing like state ereign-
". 1t IS commended, says "the President on one
slde' that as the national government IS a govern
ment OF limited powers, it has no right TO expend
money except In the performance of acts authorised
oy The othe. specIic grants. according TO a strict
construction OF their powers; that this grant in
neither OF it' ranches, gives to Congress discre-
tonafy powa.s OF any kind, but is mere instru-
Hent, l' is hands, 20 carry into effect the powers
contaIne1 IN he o,her grants. TO this coHstyllc-
'on I1cds tRcEtHed IN the more early stage of our
goUeFnment; but on further reflection and OBJ
SeTUafio"' my mind has undergone a change, for
reasons t0hich toW frGnJtl, unfold"
Whence we are led to e. q ne, this sudden con-
version There yya M 5,ti,, e =.
ago, when he ascended the Presidential chair, but
on me contrary, public declaration that CONGRESS
heed not agltate the question OF internal improve
mehts again, unless there be constitutional maio-
fNy 10 pass 1t, without his APPRECIATION After e.
humeraliDg several specific powers, such as 10 de-
clare war TO raise and support armies, and navy,
win which he allies what he is pleased TO call the
apPropriatins power, he procsscs-ss In the dis
charge oil the powers contained in any of these
grants there is no other check than that which is
10 be found in the great principles of our system
the responsibility of the TepJeseutafiug to bis
constituents" How does this comfort with bis
after declaration, when he asks have Conrress
right to raise and appropriate the pub!ic money 10
any, and 10 every purpose ACCORDING to Their will
and pleasure?" TO which he replie. no Ile,vs
1t TO Virginus, if he can, to reconcile these palma
Die inconsistencies The whole error of the arm
nent consists IN this that he has taken an incident
Tor principal of which he can be condemned out of
ms own mouth. In page 80, he observes; the
Iigh' oil appropriation is nothing more than a right
~ SPFJ To" pnhli" money TO this or that nnrpose
1t has no incidental power, does it draw after il
any consequences Of that kind Here it is evil
IDENTIFY made principal, and must be so considered
30 Justify the last acts of his administration.
How Is the system of surveys authorized, but
consequence Of appropriations OF course il is the
elect, and not the cause. In p. 81, however.
u IS denied principal, and viewed wholly as n
resulting power. After reciting the clause of the
Constitution that gives Congress the power to Law
and collect taxes, duties, imports, and excise. 10