Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-28

or us value uimnlsneu, Dy the Necessity
Of admitting its corrupted and degraded and remote
inhabitants TO all the rights and privileges and inn
munities of our own citizens? And yet such must
be the consequence Of the doctrine OF Caius Grac-
chus-such must be the inevitable and the absurd
consequence of deducing the right TO acquire terri
tory exclusively fiom the authority" to admit new
states into this Union.''
But truly, Messrs. Editors, this power of admit
ting states, is most comprehensive and alarming
one in the hands OF your correspondent. 1t not |
only invests the government with unlimited autho
rity for the acquisition of foreign territory, but it
introduces il with it's abundant resources, and It's
overwhelming prerogatiyes, within the jurisdiction
OF states already admitted, and into the very
heart and centre Of the thirteen old u States Here
too. it Indian titles may be extnguishet and
. Indian territory purchased, for the purpose, and
under the authority" not of approprating mo-
ney," and " making treaties" for the common
defence and general wea, G. - but =" of admitting
new states into this Union" And lest the common
sense Of the community should be startled and the
jealous fears of the states alarmed, 30
CANT proposition, your ready-wittcd couespon-
den, has presented alternative. Objectionable only
in this that it imposes his political friends Cone
article of whose creed. believe is, that Incl
dental power can be exercised by the government,
but such is absolutely necessary for the execu-
ton OF It's enumerated powers,) obligation 10
shew that's the repeated acquisitions of Indian ter
rtory, during the administrations of Mr. Jefferson
| and Mr.. Madison, were absolutely necessary TO
the execution of their power " TO dispose Of and
make all needful rules and regulations, respecting
the territory and other property of The u States"
! The next example which had cited TO shew the
! practice OF the government in relation TO appro-
pria,ons, was the annual expenditure of consdc-
| rable sum, " in ameliorating the condition of the
! savages." That the propriety of this expenditure
| had been suggested by it's obvious tendency 10
insure the domestic tranquility ant" to promote
| the general welfare" of our own country, I did
not suppose could admit Of a doubt, and the connec-
tion betwee such objects and the specified power of
raising and appropriaing revenue, was so palpabe,
tina, deemed 1t unnecessary to search further for
! an authority 10 accomplish them: Caius Gracious,
however, disclaims usual, the part of his IA
vori,e administrations, such unhalowed objects.
! and triumphantly sustains himself, by the ieclara
ton IN the act itself, that II done 10 pro-
mote civilization among the friendly Indian tribes
and 10 secure the continuance of their friendship
And where does this learned commentator find an
authority tor eilecng these purposes of benevo
lence and patriotism? The preamble 10 the cons,i
tuition which designstes all the objects for which
The government instituted, and its powers
distributed. contains direct alluson to the In
dian trbes and 10 civize them and conciliae their
friendship are accordingly purposes, which the 20
vern,nent has no right even TO attempt except so
tar as they are connected with that Sc general vel
iare TO avoid which, your correspondent seems
prepared either Z" 10 fly to SWIM 10 dive into the
FIRE, or 10 ride in the curIed Clouds
But the title OF the act, is an act TO regulate
trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes - Sc
and as the power is expressly given TO CONGRESS
=" 10 regulate commerce with foreign nations and
among the several states and teith the I,,dinu
b70eS, 1t Is passing strange in the estimation OF
| Caius Gracious, tina, should have looked TO anv
otner authority, to justify the appropriation in
| question And has it indeed come 10 this? Is This
devoted champion of " state rights this Jealous
advocate Tor limited construction, who has alreadv
shewn that he Can " cavil on tho ninth mart nj
hal, proposed TO depend the title of an act for
Tie Jusiincat!on of its provisions? Or will he adj
nit, that under authority &c regulate commerce
win the Indian tribes 1t was allowable to eypend
| large sums OF money in establishing schools. and
IN the Sfauitous distribution of iations useful do
incs'ic animals, implements Of husbandry &c !,
Ii so, what ev,ravagant deductions NAV NOT he
drawn from similar power in relation To IS TO-
reign naIionS:" And who will pretend 10 deny.
'hat Gh!er an authority" to regulate commerce
| among the several states,'' Congress NAV contri
butte to the comfort and Improvement Dhvsical
as well as mental, of their numerous inhabitants
! W, who shall set bounds to the OVERWHELMING
! con'nteTc'aI blessing that may be showered on us
III the shape OF roads and canals and schools and
colleSes' 1t was but lately, Messrs Editors, that
you Undertook TO win back 10 the fold from which
nc had strayed, wandereT of the mountain Nav
be pardoned, for recommending 10 the same kind
aud consideratc attention. your erran, nuoiI of tho
iow!ands! One more number on constitutional
construction without previous communication Inv
signal or otherwise, with Richmond, and Gains
Gracchus is lost to you forever,
The last example cited from the DAYS that inter-
yened between The termination of one inadmissible
authorily' and the commencement of another was
the appropriation &c for the relief of the distressed
inhabitants OF Caracas - In
correspondent fairly acknowledges himself at fault
Even the process OF Procrus,es fails hin, here. and
| bis iayorite and all-comprehending powers &c of
admitting new states,' providing the needfuI rules
Tor tie government OF territories, and regulatire
commerce with the Indians" having defied his uio
most efforts to stretch them to the dimensions of
'his siirple etiusion oil generous aud syslpathe-
VIC Keeling, he Is compelled in despair, 10 pronounce
II an act without the slightest warrant in the
constitution But he stoutly denies that the ,,n1
preparation was approved by MIR. Madison, on the
ground, that By its conciliating tendency in reIa
uon 10 foreign nations, it was calculated TO pro-
! nota'' the general welfare of our own country
and his reason for the denial, is, the utter limos
sDhi'y thai he " who had been so signally ds,in-
spished, as the author OF the report of 90 should
so readily have forgotten lis former opinions,, If
CaIus Gracious will examine that celebrated report.
s. the richest offering which genius and patriotism
ever gave to an admiring country lie will find
the greater portion OF it devoted to proving that
the government of The u. >. is a limited rovern-
nent and that ii can DO nothing without acoos,uti
onai warrant, nothing without specific authority
Wheiher, therefore, Mr.. Madison signed the bin
IN question without any warrant at all or because
he believed it contained appropriation calculat
ed " to promote the general welfare of the coun
Try, IS a matter Of but little consequence. He
must, IN either case have forgotten or intenionallc
aDandoned the principles of his report And that