Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-11

the sacred duty OF seizing the proptiois opportu
nifty, TO do all ia power to perpetuate that hap
piness- As TO that species Of confidence, which
would eXtinguish free enquiry and popular watch
fulness, it Is never desired by patriotism, nor
ought TO be yielded by Jfeemen.
la pursuit Of our purpose, ought to keep in
mind certain principles which are believed 10 be
sound; 10 enquire whether they have been viola
ed under the constitution: and then consider how
repetition Of those violations may be prevented
as thus:
L. Government is instituted for the COOL Of the
community, and not TO crafty avarice aulbition
therefore, unnecessary increase OF debt--appont-
mcnt Of useless officers, such stationary minis
tiers to foreign countries with which have lit
tie connexion, and sixteen additional Judges at a
| time when the business Of the Federal Courts had
greatly dimin'shed-and engaging us in a war "a
broad, for he sake OF advancing party projects at
\ home, are abuses ia government
Ill. The chief good de.ivable from government, j.
ctuu h6erty; and IL government is constructed,
As TO enable its Ilmnistr ators TO assa that liberty
with the several weapons heretofore most fatal to
the structure Is detectives of this sort s,apd,up
| Arm,es-Fleets-severc penal Lans-War-anG
a multitude of~civi officers, are universally adj
mit,ed to be; aud if our goverRm, nj can, with ease
| and impun,y, array these forces against social
| liberty, The constitution Is defective.
| III. Peace is undoubtedly that state which pro
poses TO society the best chance Tor the connu
ance OF freedom and happiness; and the situation
OF America is such, as to expose her 10 lever oc
also disabics her from gaining any thing by war.
But ii, by indirect means, tie executive can in
voive us in war not declared by the leglslaiu, e.:
II treaty may De made which will Incl Ell; al y
produce war, and the legi,a ure are bound 10
pass all laws necessary to give it full rifect; or If
the Judiciary may determine d war 10 exist, al
though the legislature a. In refused to declare II;
then tue constitution is defe Give since il admits
constructions which, pawn our freedom and hap
| pines upon the security OF executive patriotism
! Inconsistent 81 Ia i,a
Nv. Union Is certainly the basis OF our political
prosperity, and his can only be preserved by con-
inning, with precision, the federal government to
me exercise oil powers clearly required 10y The
general interest," or respecting foreign nations and
The state governments 10 objects al a ioca naurr
because the states exhiniI such varieties OF char
actcr and Interests, tlat on-ol.da,ed ponqr 4
| government would be in perpetual conf,ict with
state Interests, from its wan oil local knowledge
or from prevalence OF local prejudice or
50 as Certainly TO produce civil war and disuuion
! IL then the distinct province, of the general and
s'ate governments afe not clearly defined; II The
former may assa the latter by penalties and by
absorbing all subjects of taxation-fa system lead
| ing TO consolidation, may he formed aud pursued
and II, Instead OF leaving il TO the respective
states 10 encourage their agriculture or manutac.
tures,as their local interests may dictate the gene
raj government may by bountys or PROJECTING d,,
ties, tax the one TO promote the other; then the
constitution has no, sufficiently provided for the
continuance OF the union, by securing the rights
Of the state governments and local interests
V. 1t is necessary Tor the preservation Of repub
ican government, that the Legislative, executive
and judiciary powers should be kept separate and
distinct from each other, that no man. o, body
oil men, shall be authorized to exercise more than
one OF them at the same time: The constitution.
therefore, IN consigning TO the Federal Senate, a
| participation IN the powers of each department
violates this Important principle, and tends to Gre
ate IN that body, dangerous arstocracy. And
vi. An essential principle OF representative
| government is that it be influenced by the will OF
the people; which will can never be .xpresseJ
II their representatives are corrupted or influenced
by hopes oil Ollie. If this hope NAV muItinlv of
hces and extend Pauonage-if the president NAV
nominate to valuable Offices, members OF Tia. le rs
iature, who shall please him, and displea.c the
people, by increasing his power and patronage-ii
ne may be tempted to use this power and patropag.
| ior securing his re-electon-and If he NAV even
bestow lucrative diplomas upon Judges, whilst rhey
are receiving liberal salaries, paid as the price OF
their Independence and purity; then risk EXISTS
lest the Legislature should legisatehe in !yes de
cide-and the Senate concur in nominations with
an eye to those ofices-.and lest the ure ,ident ma
| appoint with view to his re election; and tim,
may at length appear the phenomenon, OF 90
ve MOI mt, republican in form, without possessing A
single chaste organ ior expressing tn. public viii
Many OF these objection were forcseen, IS zen
ne constitution was ratified, by those who voted
Tor lis adopon; but waved then becaus of the vas
Importance Of the uniSn, which a re,c tion rngh,
| have placed IN hazifd-Of the provision made ia,
| "ndIncnts, as trial should discover dcfects-ond
The hope that in tie mean time, the Instrument
w'ii aii IL defect, might poducs social happiness
F! III proper tone was gwen 10 the gorernmeut nv
me several agents, i'll it's operation But since
exp 'rience has evinced tina: much mischief may
be done under an unwise administrations and that
e en- the most valuable parts of the constitution
may be eyaded or violated, VIC ought no longer +,
res our security upon the vain hope which depends
on The rect.ude OF f.iiible men IN successive ad
min But now that thu, union IL len,
iy established by the general opinion of the Gill
zens a. we can ever hope it TO be, it behooyes u,
to bring forward amendments, which may fix
upon principles capable OF restraining human
lfraiies.
Having, L trust, shewn the utility and necessit,
oil such efforts al this tnc,I will adventure TO sub.
NIT 10 The consideration OF my fellow citizens with
great humility and Difference, whether it would no
be advisable 10 have the constitution dmended:
/ Isl. by rendering president ineligible for the
| next Turn, anu transferring from him 60 the e-
gisiature, the appointment oil the judges and sta
tondry oreign minister's; making the spends oil
tho latter to be no longer discretionary ia the
! president
z. BY depriving the Senate of all executive pow.
| er; and shortening their term OF service or sub.
jecting IFS members to removal by their consGt.
! uents.
3. by rendering members Of the legislature and
| theJudges, whilst in Office and for limited
| time thereafter incapable of taking any other of
hce whatsoever(the offices of Pre- .ident and Vice
| President eSceptedJ and subjecling the Judges
10 removal by tic concurfing vote OF both hous
es Of Congress
4. by forming some check upon the abuse OF NIB.
| nc credif, which, tho ia some instances useful
J IKE tieets Il Armies, may, like those, be ear
| REQ 70 extremes dangerous 10 liberty, and in
| consistent With economical government
.. BY instiiutng fair mode Of impat melting iu-
| ries. d.
g. BY declaring that TO treaty with foreign na