Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-04

|sAa,G,e processes 10 avoid l.r discussion OF Tic
constitutional right OF the General Govsrnnen Il
make internal improvements, il is unwilling tha
any powers should be exercised within the limit
oil Msiss by tbs Gener-i Government. involving
jurisdiction ever the territory of h., State. AT e,
de"oasiIatirs, by the mot conclusive reasoning
'ne npracticsbliiy and iD.Ap ,iiency IL the exes-
else Ot the power 10 make Internal i:r,rove, ent,
by The General Government. the L. g.la,use. with.
out giving any direct sanction to his mode OF ex-
pending the public money, resolves, .'.bai il !,
-hsl! DE the determination of Tie Gov.r.mea, oil
the United State. 10 appropriate a part of is re-
vsnuc 10 the purposes OF n,etna. impsoy ealrn.s
IN The cons,I uciion of Roads and Canals and i'm
proving the navigation oil Rivers, and in prcmo,-
i"g u ucaiion, il is the OPINION of this Lecisla-
'ufe that The 'iunds dessnci for these objects
o'sn' 10 De distributed amnns the seversl Sise- in
proportion 10 Their population TO be expended M,
der tie authority OF Meir respective Legisa-
lures. The Legislature of CoHnecucui resolves -
ha' ~, a, this time, inexpedient. that this Lee
s'sS'ufc should express any opinion upon The sub
Ject matter OF the resolution from the State of
Maine, In relation TO The funds. which may be APP
p.oPi,ated Tor objects OF Internal Improvement
Inc G-ne'a! Assembly OF Virginia having seve, al
tin=s heretofore tested asains, the exercise of
this power by ,he General Government, as veil a.
mar oil protecting manufactures, il la. become he
less necessary Ter me to press the deeply inter
.stinS sno)ec ufon its attention al this time.
~ Is expected, that iis 70 mer pro,seta,ions
VIII DOT be abandoned. nope, however, I
may re ncuised In remsiking, that, after
oou' IN Fly years OF fors-fulness, there arpeir a
tooe peculiar sang uiaIity in the selection of Ike
specified power in the cons tu,ion ..to regulate
commerce. Tor the purpose OF jn-tiiying The ex
else OF the power over internal iInIroycEen,s
am internal protection OF manufactures This
poser Is now "a d TO be fun and plsnary in the
cohsutu ional grant; whereas it is certainly l,uii
Cd The same clause which makes the grant, I'M
ITS the objects of the grant, II is more character,
ucaIy i1reign and external than any ofher speci.
"eu power granite In the Constitution; ye, il is
no" sez al upon. sfter long TO besrance, to Justify
'he exercise OF powers c,ost chara .,caIiy in.
ernai Including all the minuliT o! local, nuuci-
F'i s'oe police The power TO regulate com
me'ee' Is IN 'bs following words-'C Congress hall
nave power 10 r-Snla'e commerce, tpitt fo.e ign
nations, dmo'g tie several states. and trith The
ft"t'Ss Ti6es no, .he puyy et 10 regulate com
mtce' amongst Individuals; nor within tue lin
ts OF Tue several states bat ex clu.vslv with cor
potstions, 10 wit: foreign nations-the several
e'aes-ihdian ttibes. So iar from power TO re-:
suiats commerce, or exchanges amongst indiyidu-
ais within the limits of the individual states il viz
'u"iiy excludes the exerci.e of that power. But
mere IS another circums which renders the Sc
ecion Oh tins eX erDa power at this d,v to Justify
the uSurpa'ion OF .aternal powers, the more exfs-
ordihr, Ii Is that there is at this Iime hin me
existing code cf laws, declsratory Interpretation
Oh ,ne constitution, virtually relinqushing all ia-
rl~diction. on the part OF he General Government
over persons, when brought within the mts OF
ne respective s'a'e', under powers granted TO the
Generai Government
IL VIII be found IN the Al and h sections OF
an act, passed on The 81 March, 1927: for pro>
hioitns The introduction of slaves wiihin the Uni
tea States, alter January. 1908. Those sections
iecosh%e me exclusive jurisdiction, as well of the
territorial, as OF the state legislatures ove, per
soos brought within their respective limits rnas,
the provision, of that act This decIara,n,v in
teri rotation OF the constitution, was ,nl,,e with
an express view TO The demarcation of the bouuds.
res between the respective powers of the general
stare governments. in relation to that subject
o ceiVed the unanimous sanction, to the best OF
My 'eco'ecuon, OF both houses of Congress, after
i"H ana ample deibe alton and discussion In the
year iSi9 revision OF The act of the 81 OF March
lSoI, tsok pace. VIXEN a change was made as To
'ne maj disposition OF the persons brought within
VIC hunts Oh me several states and terruuries un
uer mat act out The declaraiory INTERPRETATION of
'hs constitution, as TO juisdction Remained un-
'ePeaea' ms !hterp,- alton will apply TO ,hine-
a. wen az 10 persons, and demonsrebly prov es,
''a' hepnwer 10 regulate commercc, ceases the
moment IN: su:Jec:s Of that commerce are BROUGHT
WITHIN state or territorial limits. So long as the
jurisdiction of the res ectiye states
over the territory, persons and thrs. within their
respective limits shall rsmila tn. states; so long
ne 'eo'e'ai pFae pie, IN beautiful! COMPLICATED
system o. government, will remain in full yigor
ne moment the Jurisdiction is abandoned by the
states The teleratiye principle is gone fursver-
ana with II, the ssclei chart of American Liberties
Il Is win deep re!ac'aGce and roget tina, nv
uu'y con<'E ms me To observe the General AS
seihoiy5 that, whit the tariff is fund to be
more destructive In ito eiFecs gencsslly-bui par
tcu'afiy upon agriculture, than was ever anijci-
Paied; wb lei 1t hiss in fac. rendered agriculture
excepting In tev cases, which serve sill further
20 agsravae the hurthens upon t.s rest, an unpro-
duciiTe' perbp s a losing occupation, there is no
prospect OF lis repeal. So far from il we ars
threatened with its extension. Under these cir.
cumstsnces, 1t is FOR the wislom of the General
Assembly t. de erinine what measures era bets
caicuis'ed TO arrest the progress Of The evil, TO
eiieve the people OF this commonveelih from ther
aalnst oppTessions, and to reinstsie then, in the
iuii enjoyment OF all their rights anl iiberties.
WIN. b. GILES.
The Senate also formed Quorom- III, Hol.
was re elected Speaksr, MIR. HansforI CIerk.
and Mr.. .Soyafs SsIjesnt at Arms, MIR. Warrock
Pr.nter, allen and Martin D0orketpsys. The
Governors Message was read, aud the Senate
adjourned
The IL. Of Delegates was unusually full As
many az l92 msnbers had taken the oA,hs, previ-
Gus to The orssnizn ion # The House.
GENERAL COURT.
So The reader III perceive By ia following
'ketcn, that the decisions of the colS, at The last
term were .eiy interesting IN in4ny tespect-;
a SKETCH
Vi the decisions Of the General Court, Eoyembe,
Term, 1897: p esent, Bro -kenbrough, Johnson.
Allen, Dsde, Saunders, Daniel. Ssmple. Sum
meTs, Bo1Idin and Fill !, Judge: tut all of the