Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-09


lcnce aud naction, would alone convict you of
treason. But in addition to this, your movements
however concealed from us, did not escape the
fdic0n.eye of our vigilant and fearless Senator,
who denounced you as a deseyter
In times of decided party division, there is no
neutral ground to occupy At such seasons, to
disclaim The badges OF both sides. is generally con-
sdered, either ridiculous aff.ctation of modera
ton. or mark OF excessive weakness. However
uninvlting these alternatives, take lest you be
reduced to the necessity Of choosing between them.
Whatever may be your opinions uron the sub
ject. Tor one, am firmly persuaded that new eli
sis has appeared in the political desiines OF this
country, rather that The old crisis is revived.
The Indications OF federal usurpa,ion suGicen,,
startling TO dspel the apathy, and arouse the ener
gies OF the sluggish and Indifferent waFders
of the rights OF the States Ii is utterly impossible
tina, the sovereignty of the States and the preroga
tive OF the General Government, as now defined,
can co-exist. The former is lost and swallowed
up in The bounJless claims and pretensions of the
lstief.
In system of Government, like ours, principles
are every thing. The precise and definite maxims,
by which the operations Of the General Govern
ment were designed 10 be regulated, should ev er
be regarded with jealous eye The slightest dis
,orton OF their original meaning and intent; the
smallest deviation from the course OF action which
they prescribe, should be met at once by the most
| vehement opposition, and instantly denounced as
dangerous 20 the privileges OF the States and 10 the
| Liberties OF the People. The beginning Of evil j.
too often dsi egarded, because it is small But the
torrent which at first only oozes through the
mounds which are opposed 10 its headlong course,
ALI, II not timely restrained, break through
in all the witness OF desolaiing fury.
Precedent is at all times dangerous thing.
The extent OF its fatal influence IN the ia
depreciation OF the constitution has been but too
faithfully exemplified- First Principles, original
attentions, are scarce degned to be glanced at
| by those who advocate the Unlimited claims OF
the Federal Government. The whole defence is
botomed upon references TO the eXpress and
| acts OF former administrations am aware hat it
will avail but little, to remark, (tho' it is unques
tionaby rue,) that such a course of argument Is
unjust and unphilosophical i'll the extreme 1t
does not at all meet the question al issue Il does
not appear upon the ground OF " judicial Combat. :"
Its premises are laid in the crosses, evasion and its
deductions characterized by the most wretched So
phisry 1t cannot be denied, that those ilus;rious
men who contributed largely to establish the
limits OF federal power, have TOO often by loose
unguarded mode OF expression, without rejecting
upon the fatal use hich might at a future period
| be made OF then language, afforded but too much
room tor this false, bat captivaIn. style OF Undue
ton. Occasional sanctions, too, given hastily TO
bad laws, have aided in fastening the decline of
| tnOse saiuIa'J CnechS Wnlcn are now looked upon
ptiiui abs ractoHs I, is sufficient for the sue
cess Of The opposite argument To remark, that
departure originally ,UrOng, from fundamental
principles, neser can be made rightly any leng h-
ened duration OF abuse nor by any frequency Of
repetition. We have only to look at the sensation
which this imperial clause, about the " general
welfare once excited in the breasts of those who
were opposed TO the adoption of the federal COM
pact and to compare it with the soothing assuran
nt he IL
that period, the monsrrous construction which is
now given to it, was looked upon as all imposs-
bility; as neither warranted by fair interpreta-
ton of Its language, all likely to be reduc-
ed 10 practice. 1t Is not hazarding too much 10
say, that if the same powers, at that vigant peri
cd, had been claimed for the federal government,
which it is now thought extreme folly to fmpugn D,
the golden bond, which was designed to bind cur
external relations in one common and indissolube
tie, would have been Indignantly spurneJ.
For one. 1 am not disposed TO enlarge the grant
OF federal power beyond It's present legitimate
| range. The more power, the more patronage, and
the more patronage, the more corruption. Every
thing al Washington is already fashioned after he
model of Kings and Lords. The poor commons
have no place there The ancient simplicity OF our
manners and the rigour oil our former economy are
gone. The heartfelt cordially and substantial
plain dealing hospitality OF former days, have been
exchanged for the heart;ess ceremonial AMI costly
parade WHICH distinguish the palaces of Kings,
and the rival edihces OF foreign aristocracy. The
sterling FabTician honesty oil our great men is
disappeaT Z" Omna venais Romen The
lips Of influential demagogues are readily sealed by
brides OF Office, and Types which once cursed are
made TO bless, by gliding the metal OF which they
are composed. In s,,ort, the enormous and ncreas-
\ ing patronage of the Executive is unblushingly ex-
erted in every direction. while, at the same time,
the most artnl and slluring bats profusely laid
in the paths Of the people, TO cheat them of the
yeneratej principles OF former age and TO make
them the instruments OF their ruin. If these
remarks should seem foreign 10 the purpose, I beg
you 10 recoileci that whenever a nation has ceased
10 be uirtu0us, it has ceased to be free.
If the People really Gas it s conteBded,) in
favour Of granting TO the General Government the
power which it is exercising, why not let the
question be at brought to issue by PROPOSE
ton to amend the Constitution d? The ferment
which exists throughout the Country, springs ex-
clusively from steady regard to right, and not
from any consideration of abstract eEpediency
Let the power be conferred in the proper way,
and the agitation hicb is shaking the Union 10
its CENTRE would Instantly subside. IL the lid
eous features OF the monster uStrpafi0a, that mil
lions look and fear and trelnble
| must again recur to your Inconsistency. II is
understood that you were bitterly opposed TO the
| Administration of the elder Adams, and heartily
concurred in the feelings and resolutions of that
memorable period. Is not the same fountain of
bitter waters which was opened at that day, now
pouring lis urbid streams tbro' the lsnd3 II the
doctrines held by The Father, were calculated to
| convert an American Presiden, into Despot they
cannot, at the present day, be less dangerous in
the son. IL successfully maintained by him, they