Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-25

power in relation TO them, who had? Were they |
an ou,lawed race, DISTINGUISHED Of air beneficial
exercise of political authority accessible to It's
burthens precluded from any sustaining visitation
OF it's infllences This could not be in resson any
more thsn Justice or humanity.
The case. Mr. a. said. addressing the
strongest appeal 20 sympathy and feeling. 1t ad-
dressed hoNev yet stronger princple-the
obligation TO extend protecting to those who
were committed TO control b. the Constitution.
The CO. cession were asked to make so far
from violating any Constitutional or other princi-
pie, would be made OF TO sympathy, but duty.
Nessrs. Sorrs, Campbell, aud Wood (of N.
W spoke in favor of the bill, and Messrs. +
Johnson aud Cook agains it..
MI Cambr eleng said it not his intention
to pIoiong the debate. He 100 sensible tina,
he owed apology to the spirit OF humanity,
for every word he Uttered: for, while he debate
was prost essing, those for whom the charity wa.
designed, were peiishing He respected the
| pies Of gentlemen who entertained cons itu,onal
doubts he also, was arxious to act upon cuns,i
,utiona principles /; bu, this not The time,
the occasion. figh the battles he Constitution.
Even if he doubed, he would at oRce cast his
doubts aside and extend relief his suffering fell
| low citizens. He confessed he was, in this IN
stance, acua;ed by a impulse, such as he sht ud
| feel seeing fellow creature about to perish
amidst the wa, es-he should plunge in to
him regardless of the consequences. Upon pro-
|
Constitution. Whenever II Is attacked whenever
a ia serou- enemy appear. then would the gen
| 'leman from Virginia MIR. Sievenson,) an him
self. he found sid by side defe ding the principles
OF the Constitution, bat this was not such an oc-
casion. What were the circumstances? In the
coldesi wi ter we have seen for many years in
tue coolest night we almost felt par, of a
10 within sigh, of us. and within our own
jurisdiction, is laid desolaic, and in ashes and cur
iellow>citizens bouseess & destitute, ask us for res
Iief;u was not a time TO stop TO examine our con
sti utiona doubts lie trusted that the Citadel of
the Constitution would never be assaulted; but if
/, ever should, God grant. said Mr.. c. it may ne
yer be surrendered TO an enemy more formidable or
dangerous, than charity. But, in this case, it is
not endangered we have the pc er we are
pro- by the shield of the Constilulion--et u.
march promptly 10 save our countrymen, who
are at this moment perishng from cold and from
! want.
Mr.. Hamilton, of s. C.. said that he really
thought the question free from all difficulty in re-
lauon To The constitutional power If the House TO
pass the proposed appropriation.
| The authority OF " exclusive legislation" given
| by the Constitution TO Congress within the ten
miles square, could fari, embrace all the exer
| else OF pow er necessary for Tie measure Thu,
power of" exclusive lcsisla ion' was ri en- with.
| OUT an enumeTa ion OF any branches of auihorit,
in the grant, which were intended TO be excepted
and 1t was certainly designed that Congress should
exercise such municipal functions as belonged 10
| The social condition OF the people over whom
exclusive legislation vas TO be exer,ed II was
by virtue OF this, that we laid out streets, con
s'ruc'od highways, and appropriated money for
| pavements within the City of Washington.
and, If all these things could be done within
the Ciiy oil Washington, they can, with e.
quail authority, be done in Alexandria which
is within the ten miles square. Is not re
i'ei In cases OF such distressing calamity the
one we have witnessed exercise of authorit .
belonging to the ordinary municipal functions
and 1t we can go into the street ard construct
pavements within the District, for the convenience
oil It's community, can we not exercise the same
power OF appropriation 10 subserve a more emf
nenl convenience, if rot absolute necessity,
/ lie respected the patriotic feelings and epIjeb,
ened opinions OF his friends from Virginia on mos
OF Inc subjects OF constitutional power which the
discussed in that House; but be regretted tina,
! they had retarded the progress of a measure to
which he did not thiak their doctrines spDlied =
r. or, whilst with them lie was prep.red 10 nh, q
| negative on the Unlimited power OF appropriat;no
money On the part of the General Government. a.
ne conceived This one OF the larges; stretches Of
| authority that could be assumed TO give TO any
Government the power to spend money wi,bon,
| RESTRICTION, was to give them the power TO do
what they pleased; l! was the great lever phy sics
and moral, by which, in civilized society aImos,
any thing could be moved Nor was il an ans,ve,
70 this 10 say that 1t was harmless If the whole
power was exhausted by the mere act of ao,ro
Priation, and if Congress assumed no subor,i; =,
power consequent on the expenditure of the mo.
ney. III ought IN reply 10 be remembered that the
act OF appropriation may in itself carry with il all
the consequences of pow er in the effect To he ar
complished, which would sender subsequent LEXIS
ation mere matter OF regulation as to the rnoJifi
! cation OF That large mass of power which The
| appropriation oil he public money hid already
created.
WIN these views, he had always considered the
arguments OF Mr.. Monroe, Gas highly as he re-
spected tie opinions OF this venerable patriot =,
more open TO objection than many of the sources
from which the authority TO construct works ofin-
ternal improvement had been derived With this
| sentiment 1, was unnecessary for him TO say thai
he concGrred with his friend from Virginia (NIr
SteVenson,) thai The charitable donations TO The
people OF Caracas, after the eartbouak
which had desolated their country and IN the rs :
iugees from San Domingo, were app opiations
made without constitutional power; and are there
fore not precedents entitled TO authofity2 Rnt il,
VIII be recollecied that we were not empowered to
exercise " exclusive legislation o. ef the Territo
fy OF Caracas, or over tie inhabitants OF San Dr.
mingo; that The conservation of the peace s.fetv
and well being OF those communities were rot
coohied to odr-caTe. In word, Sir il seems
to me susceptible oil demopsrstion, that the po,, er
oil afpropnaing the public money, within this Dis
trict, for This District, is an inseparable nriJsn,
" to exclusive legislation" over H.
But 1t may be asked, what the limitations TO
the exercise Of this power within the Disric, IF
COLUMBIAN which brought him TO a pon, in the
argument where he would notice a most unwar.
rdhtabia as.umntlon OF authority, which the gentle
man from New York, iir. StorrsO had 90, m
Tor Congress, within The ten miles square If he
understood that gentleman. be had said, that 4" ex
elusive legislation" implied the absolute and Nm
comfortable power OF Congress to do in the Ds,ric,