Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-05-02


as practicable. The then friends of State shts.
Che true tedrdlists, but who ny Singular mis-
nomer, were immediately after called dnsiJeder-
GtiStS, whilst those who had throughout opposed
the federal principle assumed the then moro po-r
pular name Of iederaliss,) succeeded, or;hn'>
hey succeeded, IN saving much of what t.-,-s
mad so earnestly commended for. The advocates
oil what was in the language Of the day called
strong General Government, certainly failed in
obtaining by express grant, or necessary impIica-
ttion, much OF what they had 80 long and so ably
Struggled TO acquire Tor the Government
ne question OF ratification came on, and was it!ti
oil difficulty. The abuses 10 which some of the
more general provisions of the Constitution mig nj
1e exposed, we've pointed out by its opponents
| 4 he concealed powers of the Constitution which
are at this day put forth with so much confidence
were dlsclaiIned and condemned by those who ad-
vocated the ratification. No candid and well in
FORMED man, Will Tor moment pretend that, if the
powers now claimed for this Government had hesn
aVowed at the time, or even had been express
~ disclalmed, there would have been the slightest
chance for the adoption of the Constitution by the
requisite number OF the old thirteen States
but At IodS ratified, said Mr.. V. b. and from,
me moment Of ats adoption to the present dov III,
Sp!rn ne had described, had been at ,r0rk to OBJ
ram oy construction lchGt scas included or IN
feIlaea 10 DC included IN the grant. 1t was far
from his intention to urge this reproach against
me actors IN those scenes. He was persuaded
that the motives Of many, if not OF all were pure
ana even patriotic. They believed that the State
Governments were not safe depositories of nonep
that the States would be able 10 control and would
L
! lDuiously control the Federal Government I'M
less had more power than the Convention of I7S7
was "iiiing TO grant. They thought, and one OF
them with that righteousness of feeling which dis
tIngusled his noble nature avowed officially that
the true question was, not what the trainers of The
constitution intended, or what those nv whom it
was ra'Iled, understood but what the coriect-
construction OF the terms III which il was eS-
pressed This great man knew well that the pow
er then claimed Tor the Government could be sus-
saihed on no other grounds, and he was always
am not, said Mr.. Y. b., condemning theirmo-
uves, but controverting their opinions The test
that was then applied TO the Constitution has been
a'JudSed erroneous and unjust, by the Judges in
the last resort-tfte people Themselves The be-
lei (no doubt honestly entertained by many that
ITS application was necessary to the success of the
scheme & TO the welfare OF the country was found
ed IN impressions as 70 the character of the State
Governments, which experience has denonsIra-
ted to have been unfounded Many OF the most
distinguished Of those who then entertained those
opinions have since abandoned them, convinced
by the results OF that experiment which has since
Deen made tiity years experience of the opera
ton OF the State Governments has made ssass,Ir-
ance doubly sure, that they richly deserve the
confidence which the people have ever been M
ciined 10 bestoW tlfem. Under the broad
shield of State Laws, private rights have beer,
protected, while public prosperity promoted
In the darkest hours of war, when the general
Government was disheartened and enfeebled by
debt and disaster, its Unnerved arm was STRENGTH
ened, and the national honor rescued by the an
thory, the patriotism, and the credit of the States
| In peace they have not only fulfilled wisely and
!us'iy all the great purposes Of selfgoyernment,
Out several OF them have established noble sys~
TENS OF public instruction. or have ACCOMPLISHED or
are now accomplishing great works of inter-
ma! Improvement, as far surprising in magni-
tude and utility any similar works Of the ge-
neral government, as they do in wisdom of
plan, and economy and judgment in execu-
lion. II general surrender IF such opinions,
as, therefore,, ut tbs time, tribute Justly duet
] to -gfyr ,1nl, L TIN.
STATE Governments. But they are not surrender
ed-on the contrary, they have become more and
more extrayagant, until those under whose pro-
lection they now are, claim for this government
I powers which were III express terms repudiat-
ed and denounced by the founders Of this very
school.
Mr.. " b. said he would not feel himself at
liberty TO detan the Senate by following the track
oil the government in its whole extent and through
all Its sInuosities, 10 establish his Positions but hs,
could not avoid doing so in part. The subject was
one OF deep interest, OF which it behoOved the A.
nercan people to be fully informed but which WAS
to be feared is more frequently spoken OF than un-
ders0od The mass OF our citizens are so much en-
crossed in the affairs Of their State Governments
that Tins great matter is in nOinconsderable degree
neglected.
/ During the administration Of General Washing.
ton, no acts of strong character took place save.
the incorporation of the Bank of the United Stateg
that great pioneer OF constitutional encroachnents
together with the principles avoweG in relation
| Of General W ashington TO the constitution hi.
consciousness ot-the difficulties which had attend
ed ITS establishment, and the natural moderation OF
iis character, coming in aid OF the firm counte-
nance maintained by the anti federaIists OF ffat
day, kept the spirit of encroachnent and constr,ic.
ton within bounds that, compared with its pre-
sent character, were reasonable But in the sd
Hinistraiion succeeding that Of Gen Washington.
continuing through the years 1897, '95 90 Il dis
played itself in its true and most odious character
Its fruits were so bitter, and are so we'll refrefn
bered, that any thing like a minute descripton OF
them would be an act Of supererOgation 1t WA
then that the mOnaTcbical and aristocraticatcha-
racter ol the spirit he had described wac Displayed
IN unccasing efforts to wrcsi from the States ne
powers that Justly belonged 70 them, to exercise
such as had never been conferred, and 10 concer
lrtie, as tar as practicable, all authority in tt,,
/ hands OF the President.
! Among the usurpations Of that day Ote alie.,
and scdition laws stand in bold relief not onlv A.
furnishing land marks OF the extent 70 which fts
prescription aud arrogance OF power dared 20 ~.
IL is within the recollection of the Senate. a.
one Of the then surviving members of the Conves.
ton 1897, Ohe late Mr.. Eing) toward the close ~
his long and useful public life declared on tho Zoo.
Of the Senate dat the trainers Of the Constitution
never contemplated the exercise Of such po,yer.
by the Federal Government, as were nosg rlliford
Tor u upon thl subject Of Internal Inrroveuen,.
and that had % been supposed that such po,ye r..
were conferred, The Constitution never could have
been ratified.
B Au auec3ote il related OF tie !sss C;vo,,o,
Morris. conspicuous and efficient member al H..
Convention, and great ladludinarisn ,yhirb il En-
ffflet I'd ff1tr. ~ foir