Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-02
RICHMOND, FEB. Q.
FOR THE E.VQUIRER.
TO THE PUBLIC.

ceeding TO inform the People OF Virginia, whether
or not the President had assumed powers for the
practical administration of the Government, para
mount the written Constitution and regardless of
all its restraining provisions, he excuses himself
from the performance of THAI primary duty-vol-
unfairly imposed upon hmscli-iu the following
words:
''We know that many of you (the Poople)
strongly disapProve some Of the leading measures
of the present Administrative not conf
dence in it, and would be exceedingly unwilling
to sanction the principles of construction applied
by the present Chief Magistrate to the Constitu-
uon oil the United States But we do not perceive
IN these circumstances any sufficient reason for
Withholding your support from the ticket we have
recommended We ourselves are not agreed upon
these subjects While some dSapprove these inea-
sures, want confidence in the Administration, and
are unwilling to sanction the principles of construc
ton adopted by the President,-mOst Of us approve
the general course OF the Administration, have
confidence IN its virtue, its patriotism its wisdom
and see nothing 10 condemn in the Presidents in
depreciation OF the federal Constitution Yet we
DO not discuss among ourselves, and we will not
discuss before you, the grounds of this. difference
We waive such discussion, as wholly inappropri-
ate"
now beg leave to ask the People of Virginia,
whether they satisfied with this most extraor-
binary apology; and whether the Chairman was
not bound, alter telling the People how TO vote up
on the Presidential election, TO furnish them with
all The means OF Judging upon question, which
he describes himself 10 be a-important? The
cause oil this omission is alleged to be-tlat the
enlightened members of the Convention-assem-
DIed Tor dhe'eApress purpose of enhghtening the
PeoPle-wcre all bewildered and in the dark
themselves, respecting this important point ;
anu th2t their own squabbles amongst themselves,
having caused refusal 10 discuss il amongst
themselves, would render the subject napnropriate
Tor discussion before the People There is how
ever, something so novel and singular in this
VowaI, that II seems scarcely possible TO do Justice
to 1t, III any other than in the sagacious Chairman
own words.-liear him "Yet do not discuss
among ourselves Qhe Presidents Interpretation
OF the federal Consttution,) land we will not dis
cuss before you, 0he People,) ''the grounds OF
this difference. We waive such discussion as
wholly priatc."-Coud any subject in it
sell nave been more appropriate for discussion be-
fore the People, upon the question of the Presi-
dents reelection, than his own Interpretation of
the federal Constitution Can there be any sub
Ject, IN which the People could have a greater in
terest' Yet the squabbles amongst the members
themselves OF this illuminated, benghted Conven-
ton, are held out an apology for leaving the
People also in the dark, upon this all-important
point Is 1t possible, that the People be salts
ned with such an excuse? and is not the excuse
Itself an unqualified avOwa Of the absolute incapa-
city and uniltness oil the members OF the COnyen-
ton arising from their own inordinate passions and
discordant views, TO instruct the People how to
vote upon the Presidential election? and what in
nuence ought the recommendation of such a be-
nighted, discOrdant body TO have upon the People
over whom they seem 10 have usurped the guar
dIanship: Surely if the People are To have any
part or lot IN Judging for themselves, the Chair
man, IN behalf OF their elicreatcd guardians was
soiemniy bound TO furnish them with the mear,s of
Judging correc ly. If the People were to have
neither part nor lot III the matter of Judging but
to take the dicta of the Chairman as their obli-
gatory laws, then il becomes matter of no conse-
quence whatsoever, whether they be furnished
with the means of judging correctly or not; nor
would any Address of any kind be necessary
short order would answer the purpose better: But
II the People are 10 Judge, then what could be
more important information, TO enable them TO
Judge correctly, than the Presidents principles
under which he is at this moment actually engaged
IN administering the practical Government; Let
me, then, briefly perform the task, which the die
tetorial Chairman of the squabbling bewildered
Convention refused TO periorm-and which, they
seem to admit an utter incapacity to perform from
the disavoWal itself TO do SO.
1t has already been seen, that the President
has attempted, on various occasions, to infer pow
ers Of the most unlimited character from sources
paramount the ConstItution-let US now see what
powers he derives from his Interpretation of the
Constitution itself After adopting the novel aud
ingenious device Of amalgamating all the distinct
specifications OF powers in the Constitution, in
stead OF constituting each specific grant by itself
the President seems TO be buoyed up with The con-
ception, that he had increased the momentum Of
their artificial, political power, by the amaigana-
tlon at least, equal to the power of steam in me-
chanlcs;-he triumphanty draws the following
bold conclusions, accompanied with the terrific
threat Of treachery to the most sacred OF trusts -
II the representatives of the peoples power should
cry craven, and ref5 to exert their own unlimited
powers:
If these powers, and others enumerated in the
Constitution, may be eiiectually brought into &C
ton by laws promoting the Improvement OF Agri-
culture, Commerce and Manufactures the cult
walton and encouragement of the Mechanic and
tho Elegant Arts, the advancement Of Literature
and the progress of the Sciences, ornamental and
proiound,-to refrain from exercising them for the
bencilt OF the People themselves, would he 70 hide
III the earth the talent committed to our Charge
would be treachery 20 the most sacred Of trusts -
Here, then, the President himself, in the inter
pretation OF the Constitution, by means of his
newly discovered, omnpOtent, political gas, solemn
iy pfoclaims In his message TO Congress, in sub
stance: that if the representatives of the people
should refrain from exercising powers of egislaon
over agriculture, commerce and manufactures
the mechanic and elegant arts, literature, and the
ornamental and profound, they would be.
guilty OF hiding in the earth the talent committed
~ their charge, and Of treacbery 10 the most sa-
cred OF trusts After this solemn proclamation of
The powers over all these indefinite subjects, as
being proper subjects Of legislation for tie General
Government, it becomes necessary 70 ask, whether
there be any conceivable governmental powers
not included in the Presidents foregoing indefinite
scope Of powers? If not, then the President claims
not only unlimited powers for the General Govern
ment, but denounces the heavy curse against the
Of the government, Of hiding the
talent in the earth, which has been committed 20
their charge, and Of treachery 70 the most sacred
1f trusts, provided they refrain from exercising
these powers over his whole indefinite, unlimited.
scope Of powers. Here, then, are seen unlimited
bowers claimed by the President, 10 his practical
Of the Constitution itself CORES
bonding precisely with the same unlimited pow
lrs. claimed from souIces paramounl In Consiin