Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-12-29

ba'iou with which atm informed the Governors nics.
sage has been received both in Legislative aud private
circles. The warm patriotism and aCi,uow ici,-c.;
worth of tbc Chief Magistrate, ought not to excus.,
ms errors ofScniineui, his fine talents be periiib
10 obscure his POLITICAL mistakes. His message j. 4
Smte paper whch will, outiiye the present day, aid
VIII probably of the ma>cras of tie iu.
'"'t "'s,orian Such document ought to have been
P'cf"'ed si'h great deliberations IA important pro-
position vi Doubtful character should have been ad
'aHced' mich less should any conclusion have bccn
sctcd which Is absolutely precpitate and erroneous.
not cunian OF the prCl'Xity of the message.
lie faculty of condensation does mol belong 10 every
hi''.' anu s very probable that the Governors forte
consists rather III an exuberant fancy than in any
uaoid'nary power OF analyst of logical deductions
bad always heard that bis opinions correspondent with
those ut the prevailing party IN Virginia il, relation 10
to rights OF the Federal and State Governments but
had likewise supposed that his zeal at least tenn
pered by sound discretion One of the propositions
he asserts however, would seem to this sup
position The proposition itself has been teri
nnsy maintained by the most fiery zsaois of the party
Even The Enquirer, which does often boggle q:
difficulties in the way of its object would pause be-
ofe II would undertake TO support strange an ori
Mon.
The Governor asscrts--"Tha The General Govern
meat cannot even for the great and essential object OF
nhionai defence eiutef under The making polrer
or any other, occupy foot Of land which to erect
tie most necessary fotication, without tho previous
eNpct authority and sanction of the Stale wherein tie
work rs TO Is erected"
+ is this proposition true? ! answer No. Tie Coy.
enor is totally and absolutely mistaken lie has has
THY imagined that the 10Th clause and 9Th section of
the LIT article of the Constitution as restriction upon
ihc war making power,--wbereas il is in fact an en-
lafGcHen ot thai power, by comforting the General
Government erctusire Jurisdiction in an cases chntso.
erer" over all places purchased from State for 1.-The
erection of forts magazines, asenals deck Yards and
other needful bndiugs.n
Does it follow from this clause that Congress cannot
cree; TIE most Unnecessary iorGcation in time of
war TO repe an invading enemy WITHOUT the previous
explicit authority and sanction OF iG Stale wherein
III; work 10 be erccted?' Most extraordinary CON
cusion! If such be the construction of the Com
sttution, thea the powers vested in CONGRESS- IN .,;
care war"-'to provide and maintain a navyn-ssto
raise and support armies"-''to ,epcl u.ascnsn-and
70 "''6e al laws necessary and proper Tor carrying
mo execution such powers" empty and aiming
grants, and altogether depend for their eiicacy upon
the consent Of the most insignificant and powe,ess
member of the confederacy Such Construction
would place the safety and defence Of lie Union 81 the
mercy ct single State, how facous and diso,rap
izlng that State might be. / boldly CHALLENGE the
Chief Magistrate, with all my sincere resrect for his
character, 10 put his finger upon that clause of the
Const tuition which warrants the proc,siiion lao b.e
advanced. challenge him any who concuis in
fs opinions, 10 point out the clause wbio requires the
consent OIL "a particular State TO the erection of a fort
magazine arsenal, or dock yard! Had the Governor
asserted mat the General Government could not exer
cse erciusare jurisdiction such places without such
consent The proposition would have been plain and
uhhchaole. The Constitution wisely permitted the
States TO retain their tcrIol iaI urci in all c,see
where the should be Expressly CO ded: but tho
question If Jurisdiction entirely distinct from that
which concerns the execution of the powers granted
Tor The national defence. further 10 affirm
that this doctrine Of Governor Tyle,s is en,elv ne
discovery, and that from the foundation of the Govern
ent TO the present time the right Congress TO erect
the necessary works of defence without The consent of
The States, has been repeatedly exercised and never
before questioned.
There is another sentiment in the message which no
considerations of individual or ,,lc aI resnoct Ca, t.
auinor, ought 10 shield from animadverson He savs
to The egisature-"Cheish the people and imnroye
me country; let the citizen be taught to .ook only TO
ms Gore'7'meh Tor aid towards the mproy emcnt of
MS cond'cn with the certainty that where it is dcser-
we'd, II will be bestowed far nearstf the STATE.
will allow Then will be furnished another guarantee
Oh ms hdtiiiy 10 tiie Constitution and formidable
castwmk tee provided against the cncroachme MS of
the Federal Government" Were these Tic sentiments
of w ashngton the father of his county, Did ho
ns'h tue peTnicIous Ha1im that all our pat lotto aec-
tons were 10 be exclusively dev oted 10 The State .,d
HAT The National Government should be req ardad like
foreign nation with jealousy and dstrusi? Shall wa
men teach our children :ha Virginia is their o,ia,
country ana 'ha The name Of .9ee;iccn is associated
MOI w' sense ct national PRIDE security aud honour
but with fearful ideas e arbitrary mower and fedora.
encioachmcnR Is it by ing these seeds of local
and State jealousy that tlc risiDg 8, iteration likely
to hc improved in sentiments Of respect and affection
Tor the Union that last ictnge and nue of all that !.
glorious and happy in the destiny the American peo
pie! Let me not be understood, however as enter
tauIng the thought that WORTHY Chief MAGISTRATE
would desSned'y weaken that cd cord which binds
US together as nation His love country is too rel
n'o"" e"ner 10 deserve suspicion or TO reqnirc Gu
.og'un, ana lie IS probably the last man no would
"'Fe Pehncd Inc passage on which have commcu-
'ed had he been aware of its tendency, or fureseen
me ccnstiuctIon which might have been placed upop it
IL IS to that generous ardor which distinguishes bin,
Ta'ber than To those painful CONCLUSIONS which tlt
understanding derives from past exrerience that ,ro
must ascribe the exultipg expressions AT te ooee f
h's message, Chat no blot upon our escutche-
o';'"-and tat Virginia, hist Size finds hetsef main
ea'n"g aocuincs al variance with those Of her sister
states claims at least the merit of cors,stencr r;.
compliment IS web calculated to tickle the vanity cf
lie Ancient Doinn'on-but how has size been con-
slScnF before The present Administration came into
ouice and antccedcUt to tie last term of the Jata
PRESIDENT s'c was found sustaining With all her force
INC powers OF The Federal Government twelve
months e'nba,goT met bar entire appobation-a war
Prcc'Fitateiy declared and waged at IN immense sa
cf'fce of blood and treasure enlisted her vigorona
suPPoit-to The policy Of powerful maritime fore
formerly E" much object OF inyeciye and dsru.N