Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-08-02

VISION OF the Constitution, observed sot slaves free
and you Immediately reyostonisc inc feelings, habt
and prejudices of the Southern people. 1t would N,
longer be thought gnomnious bring up their offspring
in some industrious calling, by which, instead of passing
their lives, is too frequently the case in dIenes
and penury they would promote their own interest ant
the public welfare We should to be tributary tc
the North for almost every article of comfort
ence and luxury enjoy; and by their own folly
our Northern brethren would call into active exercise
the productive powers of the abour and industry of the
Southern States, which would cut off one of the great
est sources of their prosperity" We solemny con-
vinced that these important and beneficial effects would
how from the emancipation and removal of slaves
and that the intelligent and rejecting part of the
munity would sanction any plan likely to accomplish
tins desirable object. But il by MEANS as Anxious
nagnes, disproyes assertion, that "savery init
natey blended whour poiity, feelings habits and
Preudces" we the word polity in the same sense
IN winch it is employed soaew ere 10 Isl book of Vat
TEL that is, system of regulations or measures by
Wmchthe safety aud welfare of society may be guard
ed and preserved whether it be right or wrong, we
leave to the decision of those who are more intimately
acquainted with pathology and criticism than we are: in
inns acceptaton o! the there is little doubt that
few will differ from in opinion that eslayery IS sin
timately blended with polityn and that we cannot
suddenly rid ourselves of the evil, without eopardsing
the prosperity, and perhaps the wellbeng of society
we conceive 1t unnecessary again TO repeat, that we
oeieVe t'at the whele OF the Federal Govern
tneh would be inadequate to efectuate the emancpa-
tlon and removal OF our slaves beyond the limits of
our territory The plan is too tardy, and slow in IFS
operations The national debt is not yet discharged
and if history does not most woeully deceive Ms if me-
yer will be paid Off The black population, too, ccreas
es with rapidity unprecedented in the annals of rnan
kind
10 relation TO the argument drawn from the preamble
OF the Constitution, that Congress is invested will, full
power to provide for the common defence and general
welfare" we beg leave to enter our solemn protest
against IT. In paper of the Goth in inyestiqatina
another subject, stated in answer to this inerprea
ton OF the clause that considered it necessary opl,
10 OBSERVE that the common defence and general wei
are" were only the objects for which the powers emu
hera'ed IN the instrument delegated and If any
other construction be put upon the words the Congress
OF the United States must become supreme and un';m
TIED IN lis authority for there is no subject that is no,
directly or indirectly connected with the common de-
fence and general weare;" and of course oeta:led
SPECIFICATION of PoicerS TO Government which as in
trusted with the common defence and general wei.
iare, would be superfuous and should have been dis
pensed with: and here conceive that very profount
remark OF Mr. Madison, in lis able and luminous
and eloquent commentary on the Virginia resolutions
OF w, supports our reasonng,slat there is not the
slightest difference between Government with HAeco
Po10erS as the Federal Government unquestionably is
and unlimited means TO carry them into execution and
government OF Hnited poUerS" AS the right OF Con-
geSS 10 PROVIDE funds to effect any favore object of
lonal policy, not sanctioned by express grant of pow
er' Unnecessary 1.-THE execution of specified power with
'he assent OF the States the proposition Involves sol
eclsm OF most garing kind wherever there is right
there isa concative obligations aud say that one
or State, has right ghch be exercised without
the appreciation or permission of another absurd
We could with as much proprety say, that has
right to murder another with his assent" Besides this
"tImeo Danaos ct dona lerentesn-we still remember
that when the grand scheme of internal Improvement
was in agitation Its advocates coutended only for the
constitutional power of Congress to carry on with
the assent of the parties the Federal compact they
IN very short time however peculiarly foru
nate as to discover that the power was completely and
Of the Constitutions and that the assent of the States
was entirely unnecessary.
The Crusaders, by the author of Waverley, was pub
llshed IN Philadelphia, few DAYS since and is now fo