Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-08-05

Shelby at his residence Nay, DID not sfr. Clay
himself volunteer as his connseE Did not Burr
visit him p,ivately' Did not MIR. Clay carry let-
tiers of introduction 10 Washington. But enough
Of this.-If the Generals letter Of caution 10
Governor Claiborne, AMI Mr.. Jeffsrson's ies,ilro-
NY to the fidelity Of Gen. Jackson, do not show
his innocence, why it is always in the power of a
weak man, when guided by designing and infuri-
sted partizans, to blast the character of the best
of patriots.
We by meaGs feel sanguine in the success
of the Jackson candidate for Governor in Kentucky
I--if not beaten, he will succeed by a very small
majority Barry has offended too many by his re-
! lief opinions, and his holding the office OF Judge
in the Nov Court,to expect the support of all who
think with him on National Politics. lie will not,
I've fear be able 10 rally the Jackson force around
him. In letter from Mr.. -, learn, that he
calculates on Darrys being elected by majority
OF about 5000 votes only. Our friends in Kentucky
say that in consequence of their local politics Bar
nv will lose at least 5000 real Jackson votes and
| that ths contest for Governor will not he fair
test OF the strength of parties with regard TO the
Presidential election.---We entertain no doubt. b,,,
that Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri will give their
votes 10 Gen. Jackson.-Our Friends in Ohio are
| IN high spirits. and driving ahead with great
contidcnce.-fou see the Coalition prints are at
feeling to claim even or , votes in Tennessee.
| Believe them not, for there is no district in this
State IN which they get more than one vote
out OF ten. Adams has friends in this district
than any other; and am sure out OF 5000 votes
he cannot possibly get more than 1000. He has
a lew friends here who are disposed to make "A
noise but IL is done for effect in other States''
| D'iceUing Ignordncet- Correspondent of the
Charleston Courier, processes 10 descent land at
great lengthy on the true principles OF the Con-
stituiion, and 10 claim for the General Govern
rnent under the clause TO 90 lay and collect taxes
duties, imposts and eXcises,' the paramount pow
| err OF making '' tchat conditions they may
think proper with respect TO receiving foreign
merchandise and even TO refuse foreceire them -
lie has still further the folly to dwell on the
phrase &c general welfare as giving substantive
powers to Congress-and declares that " the pow
err oil laying duties and the trust of general ,reI-
pare both being expressed, they consequently
! resulting powers, and may be exercised IN con,
nechon. ---But, what shows most strikngly of all
the gross Ignorance OF this writer as to common
matter of fact is the following statement:
a." proposal in 1881 to enable Congress to i'm
pose duty OF per cent AL valorem, on certain
Goods, wares and merchandise. was rejected
The Legislature of Virginia declared that the
permitting any power, other than the General AS
sefnblysof the commonwealth, 10 levy Duties or
Taxes upon the citizens Of the State is injurious
10 ms Sopefingig.' In 1888 similar attempt was
made with the same result. There was universal
" Jealousy of the exercise of powers by Con-
gress; and fasdious regard for the inyiolablitv
| of their several prerogatives.''
| After mentioning other cases, he adds:
" o avert the dangers which threatened to o.
III.
system of Government was adopted The ineffi
ciency of The general administrative authority and
the conflicting and unyiedng interests OF the soy
erai states, dictated a more comprehensive emu
'neraton oil powers TO be vested in Congress and
an admission OF general expressions, to obviate the
difficulties that might arise by a too rigid adhe
renee to the letter of the Constitution Hence
the terms Common Defence and General Vel
! fare"
| Now, is this writer; can any American. be So
profoundly ignorant of the history of his Consti,u
lion, as not to know that these very terms are to he
found as well in the limited Articles of Confede-
ration as IN the more enlarged Constitution of the
U States? that they were not, therefore introduced
to cure the defects Of the Confederation. These
phrases are found in the 9Th Art. and they accor-
dinghy call forth from Mr.. Madison i'm his celebrat
ed Report. the following conclusive commentary:
MS similarity IN The use Of these phrases i'm
the t,co great Federal charters, might well be
considered as rendering their meaning less liable to
be nasconrued in the latter, because il will scarce
~ be said, that in the former thew were ever un
uerstood 10 be either general grant of p0,cer or
10 authorize the requisi;on or application of money
by the Old Congress 10 the common defence and
general ,oeDdfe except in The cases afterwards e.
Enumerated, which explained and limited their
meaning; and it such was the limited meaning at
tacned 10 these phrases in the very instrument
revised and re-modelled by the present Constitu
ion, 1t can never be supposed that when copied
into this Constitution, different meaning oitrhf
| to be attached to ;hent." Yet it is by such 6ip-
pant writers as :. One Of the People" that the
people to be deceived about their own Cons,j
luton. the powers of the government are TO be
II; un'.aTTantabiy and unwisely extended-and the
! very mischief which he wishes to avert viz. the
i+solutIon OF the States, may possibly be brought
/ bout. For, the asurpatiOn of great powers will
rove as fatal to the Union as factions spirit in
the States 90
| For, says one OF the most useful and most sapa
cions men in this country, Z" Experience has con-
vincei me, that the pcrinanencv of our govern
ment depends upon rigid limitation of IDS powers.
! In consolidated form, ii could not last ten wears
10 extensive is our territory, soil and climate
so varied, That no human sagacity could frame any
system oil laws that would equally affect the dia;.
rent s. sometimes conflicting Interests of c,,r conn
| try And under the iederative principle every
approximation to the consolidated form ca nnot fail
TO be proiucive of the most serious injury and if
carried TOO far, must end in the destruction of tbe
Syst"m At the same time, while we would avert
| he usurpaton Of powers we would deprecate tbat
/ impassiOned spirit which would heedlessjv rnsI
to arms and resistance, and uadly strike at the bov
| ark OF our Covenant.
ELECTIONEERJNG MANCEV.RCG
There have been many tricks resorted 10 bv tbe
coalition Prints more execrahle than the foIo,yno
--'here are some more contemplate They doS
tne heels OF every man Of any sort OF Distinction
u iicnd,to pick up something which may be pub
lished for the gool of their cause-if an onnne, n,
seize his most unguariod expire .sions t,yis, ,ia
from their original meaning, strip them of every
thing winch xplains their proposition, and then
pu them forth to the world as The real dortr;nes
and designs OF the leading men of the Jackson bar
W NOW, every man OF sense and honor knows
upon what light rrund these street ru,uours are
circulated, how apt they are to be nisunders,ood
ana now easily they msrepresenteI Expres.
slons are drop IN SpOrt or in a Def--thev are ae
companied by other expressions which qualify and
explain .heir purport-they may express SEN