Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-11

eu, anu tQelT ueClSiOu - Ototlueu III tuc
ion OF the US. When the President, in behalf OF
The general government, undertakes to derive pow
rrs from the social compact, or from I" the great
object Of the institution of civil governments" he
ntrudes himself into the place of the people, in
their sovereign characters, and usurps their pow
er of judging for themselves, as to the means Of
lettering their condition.; and makes consti- |
tuition for them, according to his will INSTEAD OF car
ryine into efrec, constitution made according TO
theirs, and, of course, usurps their sovereign will
In forming the Constitution OF the u. s. tie peo-
pie exercised that act of sovereignty for themselves
They judged OF the best means OF lettering their
own condition, and those means consisted in having
one general, and number of local governments,
amongst which, all their political powers were dis
trIbuted. They determined amongst other things,
that the general government should be limited IN
its powers to general objects specifically defined;
and that the power to make internal lmprov
being local in its character should remain with the
state governments, and should not be granted 10
the general government. But, says the President,
- And no government, in whatever form consiltu-
ted can accomplish the lawful ends of its institu
'lon, but in proportion, as it improves the cond-
ton OF those, over whom it is established This
assertion contains another very ineligible hint,
IN relation 10 the Presidents views, to the inn
materality OF the forms, in which governments
shall be constituted, provided they be so constitut
ed as to answer all the ends Of their institutions:
and this can only be done, in proportion, as they
shall be empowered TO improve the condition of
those over whom they are established, clearly
inferring, that the means for improving the condi-
con OF the people, should be Left unlimited, other
wise the practical government might be palsied in
the choce OF means, and consequently doomed te
perpetual inferiority to governments which are
placed above the will of their constituents. and of
| course, would not be palsied by their will in the
choice OF the means to better the condition OF those
over whom they established. But, admit the
Presidents abstract position TO be true, in what
way will he make the application of it to the ge-
neral government, so as to derive any power from
it whatever? If it be true that all the powers of
The practical government derived from the con-
siituton Of tho u. S., how he add 10 those
powers, by 1.-The consideration that I" no govern
ment, in whatever form constituted, can accom-
psh the lawful ends of lis institution but in pro-
portion as it improves the condition of those over
whom it is established This consideration NAV
go, az 1t does 60, to inpugn the wisdom Of the
constitution in having fixed limits to the powers of
the practical government; but government holding
all its powers under that institution Cannot rightfully
rsce itself above that constitution, and invest itself
with powers beyond the limits of that constitution
merely because the President thinks those limits
are unwise, and that it would have been better to
have lett the practical government unlimited In the
choice Of means 10 improve the condition of the
peOpie. Ht EIesiuent may, ana doubtless does.
most heartily regret, that these restraints are i'm
posed upon the practical government, but he cam
not help it. He has remedy, 90 long as the
constitution imposes the law upon the practical
government. The President proceeds-t Roads
and canals, by multiplying and facilitating the COM
munications and intercourse between distant re-
gions and nuthudes of men are amongst the most
important means OF imrrov ement.'' What then ?
Does it therefore follow that the power to max e
tlerp rny1H NJ he an bait.
the state governments, than the gen. government
Bat whether or not, it being the will of the people,
that the power should remain with the states to be
executed by the state governments, there is no
Pretext for the usurpation Of the power by the
general sovernIn ent. In the next sentence, the
President points to course for the derivation of
this power, with Others still more indefinite, pa
ramount to both the will of the people and the
| constitution. But moral, political, in,ellec-
taal improvements are duties assigned by the o1i-
thor Of our eIfstenee TO social, no less than to
Individual man" .5y whom assigned to social
man, in the application of the abstract express
sion, " social man." to the general government?
Assigned by the author Of our existence. Here,
then, is derivation Of power from divine right.
There can be no other meaning put upon the
! words" Assigned by the author OF our exist
| ence to social man. The author Of our exist
ence is no other than the divinity. Social man. 10
other, than man in his governmental, as contrasted
with his natural condition. Hence, the President
has mounted up 10 the divinity, in aid Of his CLAIM
TO sovereign power, as being paramount to the d-
vnhy, In aid OF his claims TO sovereign power, as
being par amount 10 the constitution itself This
clrsi0n is put beyond question in the following
sentence: @ For the fulflment of these duties
governments are invested with powers and 10 the
attainment on the end, the progressive improvem ent
OF the condition OF the governed, the exercise OF
delegated power is duty as sacred and indispen-
sable, rs the usurpaiion OF power not granted, is
criminal and odious.''l What a sentence y How
strangely organized! How can it be decy pherea;
Why all this abstraction and obscurity in a case
where plainness and simplicity alone ought to have
been consulted Was the President DESTROYS of
being understood? Did he not possess capacity
TO make himself understood, if he desired il, For
the fulflment Of these ends (makiDg roads and
canals, moral, political and intellectual improve
uents,) governments are invested with power"
BY whoa are governments invested with power? 7
Governments, mean all governs ents. The gene
raj governments not made an exception, GER
tanly the answ er is, by the author Of our exist
ence- moral, political and intellectual Improves
ments duties assigned by the author Of our exist
ence 10 social man in the sentence above and in this
for the fulhment ofthese duties (the same duties)
governments are invested with power of course,
by the same authority: by divine authority by the
author OF our existence, equally applicable to the
governments of the u. 8 with all other govern
ments; Z" and TO the attainment of the end the
progressive improvement of the condition Of the
governed the exereise of delegated power is duty
sacred and iij-DengabIe'' - The ox-rei-o OF deie-
gated govver.'' de'egaied By whom? certainly by
The author Of our existence, certainly by the d.
yinhy. Where are the limitations. he Las mpos-
ed upon his delegated power? If there be any,
where are they defned2 There are none. 1.-THE
author of our existence should have delegated any
power whatever. to the practical government, that
power IS delegated without any Limitation what