Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-06-15

49," "'"' anu nave confluence In his integrity and
IN his means OF information. The best Informed
part oil the community, however, look into such
matters with attention, and the rest take them
more upon trust, and especially if there be no APP
parent danger 10 their rights or their int eres,s.
Ohuef these eli cumstances, Mr.. Adams would
nave gained the applause of The whole country il
ne had shown proper Difference to the opinions
oil Dom parties, by earnestly recommending the
necessary amendments to the constitution I,
would nave been no subject ofreproach 10 him if be
na7 accompanied this Recommendation with frank
avowal OF his individual opinions. Such course
would have convinced all that he was the fast
N'end OF the constitution, ard of the principles
upon which 1t s founded. The history OF all
other governments that ever existed shows that
Ills dangerous TO make the WILL of the Cover.
hors The only limit TO the exercise of power or,
wnat amounts to the same thing, that the liberties
oil no people can last long, when the men in ALL
'nofy are permitted 10 do whatever il may be their
wisdom or good pleasure to think the public good
OF general welfare" requires With this convic
uoh himiy impressed upon their minds, the inn
mortal men TO whom we owe our freedom and our
government, declared that no men or set OF men
were entitled to exclusive privileges that all mower
f'shuuiiy belonged TO. and emsnaled fl ON the peo
p.e- 'hat government was Instituted for their ben
ei'' and ought 10 be under their con,roul Ia his
nrs' message, Mr.. Adams asserts that the qreat
opect OF the institution of civil government ia the
improvement OF the condition of those who are
parties 10 inc civil compact. And no government.
w Whatever form constituted, can accompIish Tho
""iui ends OF It's institution, but in proportion as
improves the condition of those OyeT whom il is
es'aoiished.' According 10 this idea, il would
nave oeen enough Tor the patriots of the Revolu-
non, merely TO have organized the government I'M
On The representative principle, with general now
eIs; subject 10 no limitations but the wing will Of
me people, a. manifested either at the elections mr.
ny formal instructions. This con,roul in the onip;o,
VI INC peSen administration, to be all that il
necessary But the great men TO whose wisdom we
owe so much, thought differently They had seen
Tue representative system perverted TO the worst
purposes and patriotic and republ lean nations sub
uniting 10 usnFpation after u,urpslion and finally
10 absolute despotsm Knowing the ,emptstions
oil power and The Irresistible influence nj ,re
cedents, they determined TO guard our deafly
rousht liberties more effsctually. They ,esorted IN
an experiment In which they placed the fonde.t
reliance -tCrtte7e constitutions and 3ecIorot;ons
~ hiShts In these they undertook. 20 define tho
great oDJectS oil gosernment, and TO DELICATE
no more power to the Governors than was thought
necessary to accom- plish those objects In the for
nation OF the federal government particularly. they
iondiy believed that they had placed every neces.a.
~ guard & limitation. For all domestic or municip,I
purposes me State governments had annie mowers &
wee peter hted from their intimate knovIedoe
OIL and immediate connection with, the people. .
Dut me trest external affairs of the confederation
anu Few OF The internal onee, could only be CON
uue'ed oy acommon head; and TO this government
they only delegated certain specified and enume
rated powers, declaring most explicitly. that all
" powers not delegated 10 The u. s bv III. CON.
,titution, nor prohibited by it to the s,ates ar.
served 10 Inc states respectively, or 10 the peopIe
Hh all 'bis Staring them In the face The friend. of
suons aud brilliant overnment, the advocates
OF unshackled power 10 do every tbing thst IN
their opinion promised TO 90 better the condi,,on
Gi Ih> people" have become numerous. and have
actually gotten into their hands the reins of on
vernment. But alr. a. even goes farther han tbis
IN ms hFsi message. lie says, while foreign ma,
lions, less blessed with that freedom which il
power, than ourselves, are advancing with gigantic
strides, IN the career OF public improvement: were
we 10 siumber In Incidence, fold up our arms
and proclaim TO the iooTId fha. tre are P41srrn
2Y THE WILL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, vould II
ao' tie TO cast away the bountes of Providence and
doom ourselves to perpetual inlelioriIy?" This
arrogant claim 10 independence OF the aDU of fbe
people, and to an equality IN po,Oer with the
rulers of foreign nations, has NOT been and cannot
be, Justified by The friends of the President II is
revolving TO all my notloDs of limited government
and IN conjunction with other doctrines and acs Of
the Presidsnt, ought 10 safety every man in the
nation, that he entertains the sublimaed idea tina,
he government IS unlimited in It's power, and can
do whatever II believes the SO general welfare NAV
require.
During the late contest which issued in the
triumph OF that party, Mr.. Adams took mo mar,
thai pointed him out distinctly as the advocate or
the opponent OF this sweeping doctrine Fills Ohio
Letter, is the only exception to this remark Bot
the numerous presses that advocated his preten
,ions III the states where the Old School Doctrines
prevailed, coatended that forced and unjust con.
struction had been put upon that letter-and all
the old fashioned Republicans who supported him
permitted themselves 10 be deceived into thai
opinion. To observer of the events of tina,
day the made of the letter in other states was
| amusing enough. 1t was insisted upon az proof
positive, that he actually held the opinions be has
since avowed l confess that the letter in CUES
ION appeared 10 me at that time, be one OF those
n metaphysical distractions that, OF itself, would
nave shown tina; the author was half professor and
half diplOEatsi.-It, however served him valu >
able purpose, IN advancing htn the Presidency
| 1t III h were not his actual sentiments, when he
saw this state Of things ard knew that many who
support cd him, did 1t under erroneous impressions
OF his constitutional principles. he ough, TO have
felt still stronger obligation TO make the rscom-
incubation alluded to.
The Justification for the exercise of assun ed
powers, implies principle that strikes at once at
the root OF written constitutions. To say that this
Or that thing may be done, because the zane thing,
or something similar, bas been done before and ac-
quiesced N by the people aud the several depart
menis Of the government, Is to declare, thai such
precedents are obligatory and confer power as
clearly though It were conferred by the con+;,-
tuition. The doctrine asserts, 10 other words thai
be ocquie.cenee Of the people in usurpa'ion,
! iegalizesi t that new powers may be assumed bS
the government with the concurrence Of the legi..
lature, executive and judiciary, and the consent Of
the people, expressed in no other manner but by
the re election OF the men who were bold enough