Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-09-07
VIRGINIA. EraIsxATuRE.

| The discussion of this subject, sounded the Toe
SIN oi alarm, in the mos, Iehtful afms, his rich
| Imagination could invent. MIR. q. introduced
his remarks in alluson TO that topic:
| Mr.. Speaker Permit me to congratulate you,
sir and this honorable house, upon the discovery,
that The Tocsin, should hays been, recently,
sounded in vain within these walls. That wars
porIenious alarms. have already passed away; and
that We fad ourselves, still Ia peace and tran
quillity commencing the consideration of the re-
port OF the Committee of Enquiry, upon the all
important subject, " the reIdfiUe rights of the
general and state s0peJHnscnts. propose, 10
avail myself OF THE state of security, whilst engsg-
ed in expressing my opinion,, respecting these
la,ive rights fully discharge The respon sible du
ty impo-ed upon myself. calling for this enqui.
ryi undeterred, by threats, aud wars Alarms from
any qoarter~ NUr could coniescend to yield TO
these ex,raneous influences, were now engaged
ai docistls operative constitutional means, for
securing the rights Of this state, against the
usurP"sions Of The general government. This
10 not my present duty; were 1t so, should EN-
ter into II, with pleasure and alacrity. My pre-
sent duty, conceive, consists in full aud free
disclosure at the principal considerations which
have urged nue.. most earnestly TO call the attention
OF this ,hou-e, to this deeply Interesting subject
La The first place; conceive, the objects inv lived
in the enquiry, OF The very frs, Impression.
conceive, they involve the questions whether the
General government Is hereafter be administer
ed. upon the great principle OF human rights,
developed aud proclaimed by our ioreiaihers, ia
our written constitutions, upon the old despoi-
&c doctrines of European monsr chies! Whether
an undefned, unlimited, consolidated government
Is TO be substituted for limited, federa,ive, one
and whether, the whole mass of the productions
of the labor OF society, belongs to the government
in It's corporate character, TO be distributed at its
pleasure; whether each portion thereof, belongs
to tl- Observation-Disclosures, who produced il to be dis
passed OF at his pleasure: Or. in other words :
| Whether private property, Is natural right, or
! a governmental ionationi Surely these questions,
or either of iheun will be admitted by ALL TO be
of suffcien, magnitude TO attract the whole aten-
ton OF this house. and to put into requsiiion the
/ whole energies OF it's best mental powers - And,
/ sir, whilst soemDly invoke the whole a
| lents of the house, upon this deeply interesting
occasion, it affords me perfect consolation to be-
leYe, if brough, to act, in pure philo-ohcal sp-
r of enquiry after truth, they will be found amply
competent to perfect development of all The
! great fundamental principles now sought to be
| Investigated. Ii was from this Arm conviction,
that expressed the wish upon the FIRST inirotuc-
ton OF this subject, that the enquiry should be the
enquiry OF the whoe house and Of each ndividu-
! al member Of il. That each individual member
should make the case bis own. Least of all, did
I-I wish it, to be consdere ed exclusively my own
and, Mr.. Speaker, can wish in vain fer this most
desabie course ci INV estisation: davssse not all
equal and common interest in the objects OF IL
Then, why should not each OF us exert the bes,
share of reflections, to conduct Just aad true
results? Let u then, sir, pobly Danish all hIsl
impressions Let us forget all party politics. ali
personal. and local pTejudices. and witt. recipro-
cal confidence like band OF brothers, united in
interests, united in objects, united in affections
msi CHI directly on, IN one solid phaanX, to the
ascertainment of The truth AN enquiry conduct
Ell under The potent influence of this benign and
liberal spirit, upon subjects involving the deepes,
interests of OURSELVES, OF the whole American peo-
pie, of our pos;eri,y, aud of the whole human race
could not fail of the happiest and most complete
success. pledge myself. sir, so far as mag be
engaged ia the discussion, to be influenced, solely
by a calm, and philosophical enquiry after truth
and shall not dsguse the fact, that i hav,
brought the best efforts of my mind TO hear thei
whole force upon this iavestiga Indeed, up
a subject, momsntuous, l should deem my,
self wanting, in due respect TO This house and il
justice 10 myself, were to hazard any inconside
rate views of it; or in fact. any thing short o
the best developements of my mind resullin2
LON he most mature and profound reflections an,
deliberations Yes! Mr. Speaker, / caudidiy con
fess, tina, if should be mistaken in the views o
the subject, shall now proceed to present TO tb
house, the mistake will have arisen from the " an
{ Of capacity comprehend The just and right view
oft; and not from the want of the most a,ientiy
. exam instion, reflection aud deliberaion.
: But, before enter upon this discussion, be,
leave to premise; that shall confne nv remarks
that branch of the investigation, is peculiarly ur
: gent. Whilst, | conceive, it founded in thu
, grossest violation Of morals, of principles and o
3 policy, IL Is daily, and hourly, operating TO on
! inlpOv eTishment, whereas the power claimed 1,
make internal improveme upon the grand ori
gnsl scale, is certanly for the present, impede,
!, IN its operations; aud time for reflection TO de
luded people, mist consequently be afforded
The power to make internal improvements, car
never be exercised, complete, still less, as al
erciIstDe power, by the General Government
because, lie exercise, necessarily involves com
plete unqualified Jurisdiction over territory. Thb
~ consolidation IN its essence--I verify believe
there il not one state ia the Union, which ,voul,
, surrender this power to the General Government
III that distinct question, brought directly I,
iis consideration. / ihereiors, conceive, the at
tempt at this usurpstion, has nearly reached it's ul-
uma'um. Its impracticsby appears 10 be aiTea
dy developed Besides. the prohigaie expenditure
Of the General Government, ana the crippled con
dition OF the revenue, arising from the excuses Z,
which blind, unprincipled svsrice has driven ur
the tariff, have, at least far Tie present deDrip
ed The General Government of the means Of max.
ing extensive appropriations for internal improve
fnent-. shall, therefore, let this branch of IN,
subject rest Tor the present; and devote my undi-
vided attention, TO The examination OF the tariff. -
To it's doctrines. principles, it has none--To IN
policy This branch OF the SUBJECT, inperiousI,
calls Tor more animadyers3ons, than could be com,
pretended, within the limits Of single speecb 49,
shall first premise, however, that the claims OF IA,
powers TO make internal improvements, aod Il
protect manufactures, are twin usurpations The,
were begotten together; and the one was made de-
pendent on the other high tariff was founH IN
dlspsnsby necessary IN the fret instance 20 tsi-,
simple funds for splendid, internal impfoy eInens-
snd the waste OF the public treasure, in exnen-
dtures for schemes for internal IMPROVEMENT,
q fUfffa L..