Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-05

own SratiuCatOns. Dut, u may De sara, wnefe Is
Congress, whilst the President is exerting the lber-
ty of his government, which is proclaimed to be
the power of his government over the minds, boz
dies aud things oil his people, all equally the OBJ
iecis OF his power according TO the genuine mean
ing OF his message, as the writer expects hereafter
10 demonstrate? win not Congress form a com
petent check TO the Presidents governmental liber
ty, if not well exer,ed! 1t is answered no. II
Ill not. No. IL does not, 1t forms combine
ton with, not check against executive liberty
Here the British and French governments are pre-
sented Tor models. Both governments founded up
on the principle Of omnipoteacy, instead of the
discarded american principle Of the retained
rights Of the people, and limitations upon the
poicer Of the government. These are to he the
substituted models tor the principle oil " the PLAN
rights Of man. forming the only real efficient
check upon governmental liberty, which is govern
mental power. Does the British parliament form
check upon the liberty of the British Kinps Do
the French Chambers form check upon the liberty
oil the French Kng' No, in both cases ihey form
the strongest combinations with the Sovereign, to
enable him TO exert his liberty over his subject.
So much is this the in G.. b. that il has
become practical par. of the lex parlian emf aria;
that when the British Minister is not expett
enough in handling the Kings liberty, power and
perfection, to secure majority in Parliament 10
combine with. not TO check, the King he is turned
out OF his place and one expert enough to effect
minister finds very little difficulty in effectng his
object This is easily doae, by means of execu-
1--we patronage and consequent corruption. The
same routine is observed In France. The same
thing as the writer thinks and means to prove, is
now IN practical operation in Congress, and alwa.
VIII be the practical effect of every omnipotent
power. The only practical check that has ever been
devised Is the orig NAL American check--mita,ions
uron The power OF the gov ernment grounded upon
y" the plan rights of man, and enforced by
the people themselves in their original native cha
racter. l. not Congress a, this moment enyaqed
In the actual exercise of powers, not seen in The
constitution; and in The same moment, asking to
be invested with the very pow ers It has already
usurped! For ex'mple-Fhe poV er to regulate
commerce is seen in the constitution. The power
TO regulate manufactures is seen in the Cops,i-
luton. fe' there are committees of manufactures
as well as OF commerce. The as distinct and
substantive power as the other. The jurisdic-
ton over one subject is given in the constitution.
! The jurisdiction. The other, as the writer
thinks, Is usurped ty Congress. The power TO
regulate agriculture, is not in the coustitu-
tion. Yet there are committees of agriculture as
well as OF commerce. The power over asricul,urc
Is NOT only substantive but primary power, and
susceptible OF the easiest and heaviest definition
There Is power seen in the constitution "to csta
iish post offices and post roads, There is d COM
mittee of post Offices and post roads There is no
other roads, and the word caual'' is not seen in
the constitution at all. Yet there are committees
upon roads and canals Even under. this usurpa-
tion as Tar as It has yet gone, the usurped power is
incomplete The jurisdiction over these roads and
canals, when completed, is not vet usurped and
IL were, would be ihpracIcabe, without a civil
revolution After hese usurpa ions, what security
Is there alnst the usurpaiion Jurisdiction err
persons, as 10 their condition ofbond or frceS How
10 VIII 1t he, before there will be committees
upon the principle OF labor, willing or coerced ?
"hal was The use OF Inserting one po er in the
constitution and excluding another; if CONGRESS-
can legi'ima'ey exercise jurisdiction equally ov
poth: Inc one included in, the OTHER excluded
from the constitution. Nay more, iniinitel, more.
powers not only excluded, but also absolutely re-
fused TO be granted, nor ought they to be granted.
see he Journals oil the convention upon this point
IL congress can include within The powers OF the
PrHcucai government what is excluded by the
constitution, nay more, what was most wisel, re-
fused a, The tin OF its formation, what ould pre-
vent / from usurping the powers absolutely proli-
oteo! especially II tie omnipoient influence of
the general welfare or betierine the condition
Oh 'he people, which is lis SYNONYM, is enlisted
INTO The service OF these usurpations an influence
wiiich coTrodes and disso,es AL limitations and
restraints upon power in every form W whatever. Is
II not more wonderful to behold these standing
committees al this day, upon these excluded al d
! bO''S'9, 'iA'i ~ VIII ne IiVe wears hence,
10 see standing committees upon the prohibited
powers--ihe power over religion, and over the
press, Tor examples! And would il be more ey
U'oanary to see these things hen, after being u
surped asked TO be granted; than it now is to see
! former usurpations, asked to be granted at this
+ lime! is 1t NOT, then, most evidently seen that
Congress is as ready 10 combine with the sovereign
, Nv usufpations oil power, are, and ever
have been and ever will be, the British Parliament
ana the French Chambers 10 combine with their
respective soyeregns in their respective usurpa-
'iohs' aiiresilting from the causet--the pre-
Pohderance oil the executive the other depart
ments, arising from Patronage and consequent cor
rup'ion Congress does not now, & never W i'll form
competent protection against executive usurpa-
uoh' so long as the Executive prepondcrance shall
exist Ihl~ general view of the subject is here IN
troduced merely for illustration. 1t is most mo-
nenlous subject, aud at the present crisis when the
future destinie+ of all limited governments are put
al ha~aFu' calls Tor the most prompt and accurate
I investigation.
But II probably will be sad as il heretofor has
Deeh s"'u' IN relation 10 the wrer-This is bold
language III IS harsh, and uncourteous TO the pow
ers thai be. IL is wanting in the fawnng fashion
aoie aduiation, TO The great official dignataries OF
he government; and in the absence OF the spirit of
iuoia'ry' TO which the peoples ears have become
accustomed, will excite reseaful preiudces against
the writer, and these will lessen if not DESTROY the
influence ms PLAIN truths would otherwise neces-
saIily pa oduce--Tbe writer would respectfully ask
the sensitive critic; why this should be? The lam
guage is that of plain truth, opposed TO deusive
error; and The reader should recollec that truth is
the decided enemy OF enor-and that The real sling
complained of, is not in the verbaee; but in the
PLAIN truths, the yerbage discloses Nor is the ,vri-
Ter unaware that be has been charged with writing
under the malignant influence of political disap-
pom,men's' ana Vlndictve personal feelings. Need
HplnHpI H.