Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-14
VARIETY.

Po1ITIcs. the time of the adoption of the
federal constitution, il is we'll known, that one
class of politicians, deeply impressed with the
evils which attended the late feeble confederation,
anxiously desired to mpart to the general govern
mcnt the most ample powers, and to its adminis-
cation the most controlling and paramount energy
and influence. Another class OF politicians, calling
TO recollection that our liberty and independence
had been achieved, under the guidance of the con-
frderation feebly united, and badly organized ps il
was admitted to be, and adopting the sentiments
and maxms of their friends, the Wings of Eng
land, which inculcated what was believed to be
salutary jealousy OF executive power, urged the
prudence of reseTyng as much power 10 the peo-
ple and TO the States, and delegating little to the
government, as was at all consistent with the pub
lie good Such were the general views and OBJ
iect5 of those who were called upon to discharge
the high and responsible duty Of framing for the
people and for the States Of the union Constitution
or form ofgoyernment. Under these circumstances,
the constitution, every social compact, actually
and voluntarily entered into, must of necessity be-
was a work Of compromise and mutual concession
The middle course, which is said to be usually the
safest was believed to have been adopted II was
thought that az 10 foreign relations or concerns
in the regulation Of which the confederation was
particularly defective, the present constitution con-
ferred all the powers, which the most high toned Of
the FIRST class Of politicians could have desired !;
while, at the same time, to every thing internal
and municipal, as TO every thing that affected the
purse or the person, came home to the fifeside
and the business of the citizen, so much was re-
served to the States and to the people, as would
satisfy the utmost wishes OF the most timid belong
ing to the latter class Of politicians. When the go
vernment came to be administered however, it was
soon discovered, that the battle had to be fought
over again. Those who had wished to confer upon
the government unlimited powers, foreign and do
nestle, national and municipal, general and local
over the whole and over each individual looked at
the constitution through such a medium, and exam
ined il with political microscope ofsuch descrip-
lion, that they sGtC, or beiieued they saw, or aE
Eecfed 10 believe they in it, all the powers for
which they sought, and al which they had origin
ally attempted 10 confer. In ascertainng the pow
ers conferred by the constitution, their process Of
reasoning it sbeeved, began at The wrong end 49,
they first enqured what ought 10 have been con-
ferred2 what it would have been necessary, pru-
dent and proper to have conferred? what would
promote the 4" general welfare" when these en-
auiries were settled 20 their satisacton the power
tsslf was found-for they would not admit he SUP
position that any power could, in fact, have been
withheld, which ought TO have been granted This
system Of construction IT Is apparent, substitutes
erpedisncy necessity the tyrants plea for the
exercise Of absolute power IN The place ofthe con