Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-02

rights, e oahger OF The subverson OF our liberties
would be greater; the chains Of federal usurpation
would De more easily rivetted upon US, and in the
end, resistance might be vain. He did not know
by what means the gentleman had arrived at the
conclusion, that the present was designed as
personal opposition to the President. Such a
design, No. Tor one, Positively disclamed He did
not believe, that single friend of the resolutions
was actuated by such consideration. Ifthere was
any thing personal on that occasion, it was to be
found among those who were opposed to acting on
the subject, from their attachment TO the Presi-
dent.
ihe delay IN acting on this subject would serve
only 10 show the elaboration of Virginia, and her
desire not 10 interfere unnecessarily, in the affairs
OF the federal government Several years had
elapsed since the passage of the obnoxious laws.
virginia was willing TO leave the resistance TO them
20 her representatives in Congress. She had
| waited until new adninisr alton had comment ed
under the hope that the government would then
review It's measures, and return to the original
principles OF the constitution; those great prin-
ciples which Virginia had proclaimed in '9S to
| constitute the only basis of the Union" and to
which she had ever since adhered with an unwa-
| vering devotion. But The hope had been in vain
| A new administration had commenced The first
Message of the President gave no indication Of
| MS disposition 20 retrace the ground which had
oeen previously taken; on the contrary, he recom-
mends the main enance Of il with renewed force
lie even goes farther, and recomm ends still fur
'her exercise OF POWER, in the pr objection and ac-
compiishment of schemes equally in violation of
.he limited charter Of federal powers, however brill
liant and dazzling they may seem. Nor was there
any reason to believe that the Congress was dis
posed to change its course. The resistance of our
faithful representatives having failed, what other
course was loft TO Virginia, but the rei,eraton OF
ner antent principles applicable to the present
,imes! This was a duty which she ow ed alike to
he ss,,ss& n
ms was the first meeting of the Assembly since
I'M prostration Of our hopes from new admins
ua'ion' What, then, he asked. becomes of the
argument that the subject hastily pressed up-
on the House! II it were practicable for the peo-
pie 10 assemble in body, wha, was there 10 pre-
vent them from expressing their opinions? And
was there any thing to forbid such an expression by
their representatives,
AT the time Of the adoption of the Constitution.
IL was feared that some expressions in that ip-
7"umeht' were too broad; that under them the
government would assume powers not intended to
De delegated, and dangerous to the liberties of the
people. These anticpations were held out by the
warning and prophetic voice of Henry. What |
ne 'oen said, was now matter Of history. It /
should be remembered however, that the reply to |
.hese iears contained the great argument which |
induced Virginia to adopt the Constitution. 1t |
was said, the state legislatures representing di- |
rectiy the wishes and the feelings of the people. |
would be ever watchful, and ready to sound the |
alarm upon :" every intraction" ofthe fundamen-
tai principles of the compact that this would be
the'r dty and 1t they performed it faithfully, the
FEDERAL government would be always preserved in |
its legitimate orbit If this argument was sound
then; the patriots Of '9S had acted in accordance
win these great principles, where was the i'm
pfopriety OF acting upon them, of re-asseriing |
them notc? Mr.. d. commended that it was, under
this view OF the subject. incumbent upon all who
thought the tariff and the scheme of Internal I'M
provenent unconstitutional, to vote for the pre-
amble and resolutions.
Mr. Garter Of p. Wni. regretted very much
that he had been compelled TO vote against taking
up the subject. The present proposition was the
same with the exception that it admitted of dis
cu'son OF the merits. He approved of he princi-
pies contained in the preamble and resolutions
but contende,l that it not expedient to act up
on them at that time. He did not approve of the
manner in which they had been brou{!ht forward
Why was it not made known al an early day in
me session that the subject was TO be acted on
But what were the resolutions intended to effect
They were nothing more than a feeble echo of the
voice OF '9S; but a twig from the majestic tree of
that day. Would they add any thing to the i'm
pressions which had been made by Jefferson and
Madison! The subject now before Congress,
and In all probability it would be referred to the
decision of the States.
be more useiully employed, by acting on bills for
the relief oil the people The system Of Roads and
canals had commenced with Mr.. Jefferson's ad-
ninistration. He referred to the able and lumin-
Gus report of MIR. Gallatin to shevy what were the
Impressions of that day on the subject The Go
vernon OF Virginia had lauded that report in mes
sage To the House. That legislature had even gone
so far as 10 ask the general government to cut
canal rem Norfolk TO Curriucl. If there had been
| any change ef principle, it was not in those who
| now advocated the power
Mr. Drome0oie remarked that the case referred
| TO by Mr. Ship, grew out OF petition whichwas
referred TO committee who had reported il rea-
sonable, and the House concurred in the report
But he had not been able TO learn that bill had
| ever grown out OF the report, much less that the
principle was then solemnly settled by the House
tina; the government had the power. AT that time
the embargo locked up our commerce; and the Pc
ttioners asked that the power might be given to the
general government by the legislature: But could
any man believe that the legislature had the right
to confer new powers on the government by their
simple vote
| Mr.. Taylor observed, that, Mr. Garland had ad,
mitted that cases might exist which called for the
interference Of the House that they had occurred
IN 80 and on the Missouri Question. Mr.. II. said
he also thought that on ordinary occasions the Lee
gislature should not travel out Of its accustomed
course; that nothing but subjects of great impor-
lance would Justify them in doing so. II become
Their an enquiry whether the present was one of
those important occasons9 But before he entered
into this enquiry he would ask, if Mr.. Garland
thought himself instructed by the people to vote
for the resolutions on the Missouri Subject Was
there more feeling throughout the country even
upon that subject, than now exsted9 The Alien
and Sedition Laws had given rise to the report and
resolutions of so. But these acts were no further
| important than assumption of power which
might lead to the oppression of few individuals e.