Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-10-12

! The Romano too. inihe days Of ta,ir iseputiir.
had their laws written brass. They uled TO
make laws for the benefit OF the many, which
should not be locked up in the books OF the doctors
oil the law. but exposed TO public view in the Ca
pi'ol With what success the history oil tia, Re-
public tells rs.
by the Lex ReSia, the PEOPLE make corces-
sion to the Emperor of the Republic, of tn n;
tchoie porsr"UD
1t the effects produced hy this doctrine of
traditions, snd prescriptions. and ires og s,ives. g
privileges, and prscnees, and pTeceden,s. and &C
qniesescss OF the country, whereof the mem1iy OF
'uan runneth not Ia The contrary tia, drove our
ancestors to the Nav World. The traditions of
old mother church, end the practices and prece.
dents oil the privileged orders, Nth the ar3uies-
cences Of the country. had made Europe so hot.
tha, those who found themselves in the direct
line OF the preceden,s could no longer stay.
! Mighty beneficial tor the few: they gave 10 the
many poverty, and pefsrcu ion, s. DEATH yet all
TINS was no doubt In law language, with The tdoif
consent of Hhe country.
So too, after they came to the country Of CO.
inmhus, and settled the plantations by A" tscit
! arrangement (i2) with the scquiescence oil the
colonial legislatures, Z" the royal pre.ogative was
In force In each colony, 10y virtue of it's acknow-
ieigins the King for It's executive isrste, IL
was IN Treat Britain By virtue OF a lake acknuw-
ledsment there
But, no sooner wa i" The Claim TO a direct and
Indefinite power ipgrsf;ed on the z, ecedent OF
NE regulating pO,cer>," lie whole charm was dis
-olved al once and every eye was opened to the
nsnrpaiion. (!3) God grant, We may ere lung see
I'D" same here again.
The success OF the revolui on broke the chain OF
these a" .acit arrangements" and +" acquiescences
oil Colonial Leg istotures' aud Anglo American
Z" PTeee,tenis "A nd the people OF each state, as
well as the People OF tn. United States, admon-
'hed by The pas, determined for the J'ure. not to
enrust their Liberties, or of their posterily ira
chions, usage-, prescriptions, privileges, preroga
lives, tact genents, acquescences Of lesiss-
lures, practices, prcc-dents, tsct consent whereof
The memory OF man Tunneth not To the contrary.
| They determined to enirusi their Liberties, no
longer, upon any such rotten foundations. They
expressed their will in writing. They made writ
ten constitutions to which these legislatures owe
their existence ard these sovereign people sdopi-
Ell this, their written will, not By legislative enact
men,s, but by conventions chosen by the People for
the sole purpose OF expressing their tcR on suci,
su6jecis.
The People OF America knew full well tina,
- The English Constitution is nothing more than 4
composition of unwrit en- law, and msxim-,'' (Ii)
and tcith them il meritej end received the noSl
profound consideration, how far the doctrines OF
| unwfitieE law would not sgsin, in this country 4,
| draw after II various prercga,ives appendase.
TO an un~Titen Law; such they had just escap-
| ed from.
i
ing, that they have presented to the world the
sublime spectacle OF the people Of county, NTH
en- ofoodsIted, meeting in regular conventions, re
dlcing their Will TO tcTiii';g, eqrslIy binding on
| nensetceS as we'll as Their sefuIyits created by
thus ciH. They have esssyed great aud no. eli
experiment, BY which the essential rights OF the
people are attempted to be secuf ed not by law.
paramount to prerogstive, but by Constitutions pa
rsmount TO Laws G5) BY these CONSTITUTION,
they have prescribed limits to themselves and their
servants, =" and that these limits may MOI be mista
ken or torgoten, me constitution il ,criltei" (I6)
:" 10 what purpose is that limitation comm :ted
10 5or.tHlg, it these limits may at any time be pass
ed by those intended to be resirained?" (l-l
why does a member OF Congress. or oi state
legislature take An oath 20 support tie cons,itu
ton, IL that constitution fofms no rule for his
veFnmeni? If it is closed him, anG canno, be
Inspected by him:''
= If such be he real state Of things, this is
,oor'c than solemn mockery. To prescribe or
lake mis- oath becomes eqrally crime (is)
The fundamental principles of American l!ber
ty, the theory oil ,orien constitution, the dang
Gus Influence OF the doctrines of scqule-ceuce but
above all, This Consli u:oH OF the u. S:aies afseJ
declares that
g Tbs constitution. and the laws of the u S.
which shall be made in pursuance thereof shall be
| the supreme law oil The Land:''--and that
" The Senators, aud Representatives of The con-
gress of the II. S and the members ofthe several
S'He LeStStdlETCS, ana all executive and judicial
officers both OF the United States, and of The seve-
raj states any thing in the constitution or laws OF
any state 10 the contrary notwithstanding shall be
bound, by oath or affirmation 10 support this con-
=Ii1on." Not this f" Usurpa,ion." N9l
| Whence we conclude that act OF one, or
more or most, OF all Of me state legislatures re-
pugnsnt TO the written Will, alIho Igh with tbs Ia
ci, consent OF the people. is VOID.
Your fellow CITIZEN,
GRAYSON.