Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-14
RICHMOND, April. ID.

TO the Editors Of the Enquirer.


must bespeak the pardon of an intelligent pub
lie Tor again throwing myself upon its indulgence,
alter the iniimaion which gave, Of my deiermi-
nation 10 rely in future upon the good sense of my
countrymen, 10 arrest the further propagation Of
the pernicious doctrines of the American Coloniza-
ton Society. But the recent effu-ions of Opnius
(Which must consider semi-ofieial.l connect
ed with certain public reso!rss of late by the So
ciety, force me from my purpose, and demand
further notice. And while have no doubt, bu,
the interests Of the Society would be best consulted
by diverting the public attention from the real OBJ
lects OF the institution 20 little petty personalities
which have no connection with the subject under
discussion; shall take care, that your correspon-
dent and his Society, do not escape by any arifce
OF that kind; although i, is possible even in ,ha,
species OF warfare, Opimus might find himself in
many respects uncomfortable. And | will now
only say TO him, that am perfectly aware that in
ms estimation have sinned beyond forgiveness
In daring to question the niallibli,y o: his Club
and that like many OF the ancient reformers shall
be able only to expiatc my offence at the stake, or
upon the scaffod. l have, too, in a most unpar.
donable manner, been guilty OF betraying this once
good-n1fured and courteous gentleman, into an
utter loss both of his temper and good manners
Ana above all have so far taken advantage OF hi.
weakness, as TO drive this selected Champion and
wee PRESIDENT OF the Colonization Society into an
unqualified declaration, that his Society looks To
their establishment at Li5eyia as The first, and
MOI me least important strp,'t 10 ellec, the entire
removal OF our Slave population. And this too,
almost al the same moment that worthy member,
with whom presumec Orimius's very well nc
quainted) Tor the purpose of que,ine public alarm
j. moving string OF resolutions before the parent
Society, declaring To the world, among oiher thing.
I" that It's only object is the removal To the Coasi
OF AFRICA win their own consent, of such people
OF colour, within the United States, as are alread,
p( ofi L.,
vidials and the laws of the different States NAV
hereafter liberate." But this is not all: These
high offences have been greatly aggravated by the
TACT, that they have all been committed by an arch
= County Court advocate and YOUR crrap, nupiI
Messrs. Editors" Without venturing, in anv
degree, TO question either the candor or morality of
Tins course, according to the standard which the
Society may have erected; would respectfully in
timaie TO your correspondent, that if this is spe-
ciien, can have as little fancy for his system OF
ethics, az / have for his politics: and which. he
must pardon me for saying, would be esteemed
entirely too jesuitical to pass as c,lrren, coin
even among the most subordinate of that profes
sion, which ne has chosen to deride Let ms
however, foreso for the present. any consideration
oil TINS act OF gOod faith to the public which Ie-
iigious ard philanthropic association has been
pleased TO exercise; and superadd some further re-
iections on that ground Of hope, which the Society
mas so!eHnly declared 10 the world was its ONLY
anchor OF salvation. l mean the powers of the
Federal government TO interfere in its behalf ard
TO take the Society and It's new Colony into their
lowa hands. And 10 enable the country to take
Just and satisfactory view of this question il is ne
culiary proper, that the reR objects of the Socie,v
stripped and unmasked of all ts false halilinents
should be taken into the estimate. And while ]
have been hsHetofore iabourng to collect the scat
tered, and latest evidences Of the Societv's pur
pose 10 effect the general eman cpaton of slavery
-, Il.
tuition, under his newspaper signature (no doubt in
moment OF weakness and melting pity for all Az
rica) has told the whole tale. shall therefore
on the present occasion, consider him as good au-
thority tor the fact, that the Society looks IN
their establishment az Liberia as the first. ana
not The least important step'' to the attainment
OF this object How, then, does the question fair
ly present itself: The American Colonization So
ciety protesting, by its public resolves. that It's
only object is the colonization of the free neonIe
OF color on the Coast of Africa; while one of lis
Vice Presidents, an active defender in the nubic
prints, backed by public journal, styled 1.-The AT
rican depository created by its bounty. and ex
cIusively devoted 10 its service, are industrousv
engaged In intoxicating the opinion, that negro sla
very is the greatest social and political curse of our
cou,1ty, and that its removal il indispensable r.
our fuiWe safety and happiness:t With this
doubIe.fat'ed, Janus-like aspect, being 'neither
EsIi nor fowl" it presents itself before the Ameri
can Congress, and begs to be adopted as legiti-
mate subject of its bounty, and clild of the Con-
siituiion. An the question is again emphatically
asked, under wat provision OF the Constitution is
it, that this application is madc2 We are told by
Opirnius, according 10 bis explanation now given
that it is under the iml;Hcd power of Congress to
appropriate the public reve.ue to objects connect
ed with the domestic Tranquility, the common
defence and general welfare" a. indicated in the
preamble 10 the Constitution. and ,. ifhout settling
the question between US, whether til. taut was
with him, IN the statement of his propos;t ion, or
myself in misapprehending it, I am willing cow to
consider this 10 have been his original meaning:
AND sill! must deny, that this doctrine Of
90 the appropriating power" of the Government.
-" has been conceded by large proportion of the
wisest and best men of our country, ana been sus-
tanned by the uniform practice Of every aGminisra-
ton from the first TO the last" But on the contra
ry, think shall be able to shew by an application
of it, to some of Opimus' own examples, that in
its practical operations it would fall but little short
oil the doctrine, that the " General Government
might do toh0tepeT il beIiered tO0uld be condu |
Give TO the Common defence and general welfare
or, i'll other words, whatever it pleased: and that i,
Is heresy, which can in no degree be reconciIed
with the idea, that the Federal Government is one
Of limited powers.
But before proceed 10 test the orthodoxy of
this new doctrine, derived from the fsca! movers
OF the Government, will succinctly state lis
history as far | am informed upon the subject.
(though certainly cannot hope to enighten your
Correspondent upon this poHt.) This doctrine,
which is but modification Of the more extravapant
one Of the " common defence and general wei
fare" was, believe for the first time asserted by
any Office Of The Government in 1901 and then
by Col Hamilton, in his report upon the subject
OF Manufacture The notion at tina; time was
considered as extravagant, and although a Federal
IL. =. -. Al I. -