Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-11-21

WOulu ucrdnSe the wnCle operation oil the tIOv
! ernment. An Administration conducted on such
principles would divest the Government of all It's
| benehcence. and make it a mere machine to lay
and collect taxes; TO maintain and pay a great
Civil List, an Amy and Navy; to make war
and coin money these being about all The
powers efficiently granted to Congress, accord
ing to the doctrines Of the Enquirer School,
1T is in vain that you contend for ampler powers
than the Constitution confers. The question is not
what it ought TO De, but what IL as we are not,
! like Aiphonso Of CASTLE, - making new world
but decipherng the laws of the one which is made
! 10 our hands. If this Constitution does not give
sufficient powerful wisely provides the mode for
its own amendment In the words of The vener able
George Clinton:
g In the course of long life, have found that
government IL not TO be strengthened by the as
sumption Of doubtful powers, but tcise and en-
ergeic execution OF those which inconfestaJie;
the former never fails 10 produce suspicion and dis
trust, whilst the latter inspires respect and conf
dence. IL, however, on fair experience, the pow
ers rcsted in the government shall be found in
| competent TO the attainment of the objects for
which il WAS instituted, the constitution happiiy
furnishes the means for remedying the erH Jy
amendment"
| But, does oar view of the Constitution frit,er
down its pow to such contemplate degreei Con-
suit the earlier records OF It's history and you will
| find innumeI able evidences of the intention TO limit
is powers to few specified objects, and these
principally of an external description, leaving the
great body of internal concerns to our State Lee
gislatures yet that these few objects were no, con-
siderei as ola small and trifiing character. We
shall cite only few OF the proofs, which
we have before US, to illustrate the real character
of the Constitution.
The letter OF the General Conv ention when sub
hitting the Constitution the consideration of Com
gress and tie sa,es,says: The friends OF our coun-
try have long seen and desired, that the power of
making war, peace and treaties; that of levying
money, and regulating commerce, and the cores
pondent executive and Judicial authorities shall be
fully and ettectuay vested in the general govern
ment OF the union. Bat the inproprety OF dele
eating Such eItensioe trust to one body of men,
is evident. Thence results the necessity of diff
terent organization The delegation OF these
powers is considered as &c an extensive trust"
| Mr. Madison in the Virginia Conv ention, makes
this important remark: g that the powers vested in
the proposed government not so much an
augmentation OF pOpers vested in the proposed
government, as change rendered necessary, for
The purpose Of giuing efficacy TO those tchich
tcere restej IN IL before. 1t cannot escape any
gentleman that this power in theory (the power of
raising money! exists in the % Oimiled) " con-
federation fully as in this constitutional
The " Federalist'' makes the same remark q II the
constitution be examined with accuracy and can
! dour, II will be found that the change which il
proposes, consists much less in The addition of
NEW POWERS TO the union, than in the nvigora-
ton OF its ORIGINAL POWERS. The regulation of
commerce, 1t Is true, Is new power; but that
seems to be an addition which few oppose, and
from which no apprehensions entertained. The
powers relating to and peace, armies and fleets,
treaties and finance, with the other more conside-
BILE powers, are all vested in the existing Congress
by the articles OF confederation. The proposed
change does not enlarge these powers; it only sub
stitutes effeciusl mode of administering
them," Sc.
The following extract from the same No. of
the Federalis, explains the character of the
powers conveyed: g The powers delegated by the
proposed constitution to the federal government
are few and defined Those which are TO remain
IN the state governments, are numerous and in
definite. The former will be exercised principally
on external OBJECTS, as war, speace negotiation,
and foreign commerce; with which last tine power
of taxation will for the most part be connected
The pow ers reserved to the several states will ex-
tend to al the Objects, which, IN the ordinary
course of AFFAIRS concern the lives liberties and
properties of the people; and the Internal order.
improvement, and prosperity Of The state. The
operations of the federal government will be most
extensive and important In times of war and dan
ger; those of the state governments, In times of
: peace and security
Mr.. Madison holds similar language in the
Virginia Convention
g Besides this, will not the people (whose pre-
dominant interest will ultimately urevaiD feel
great attachment 10 the state legislatures? They
have the care OF all local nterests--hose familiar
domestic Objects for which men have the strong
est prediction. The general government on the
contrary, has the preservation of tie aggregate
interests OF the union objects, which being less
familiar, and more remote from mems notice, have
less powerful Influence on their minds
r - ne powers OF the general government relate
10 external objects, and are but few. But the
powers In the states relate to those great objects
which Immediately concern the prosperity OF the
people, Let US observe also, that the powers in
The general government those which will be
exercised mostly in time of war; while those of the
state governments will be exercised in time Of
peace. But hope the time of war will be little
compared 10 that OF peace
ment can have temptation to absorb the local
authorities left NTH the states. Commerce.
finance, negotiation and war, comprise all the
objects Of a toue Of power.''
One more quotation from these ancient authoti-
ties, and we have done In the FederaIis, Mr.
Hamilton says " The announcement of ogr;
culture and manufactures is an appendoge of
the domestic police Of the states. Exhorbitan,
duties on important articles ;end to render other
classes ofthe community, tributary, in an impro-
per degree, 10 the manufacturing classes They
would be attended with1nequohty, between the
manufacturing and non.manufscturing states"
Yet, notwithstanding the Jurisdiction thus re-
served TO the States over their internal impyope-
ment, manufactures, &c. &C. we have seen the
most ample authorities exercised in the enaction
OF an enormous tariff, and in the projected esta-
blishment of magnificent scheme of roads and
canals, TO cost one or tUo hundred millions of