Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-23
FoR THE Nutc.

RULE OF INTERPRETATIONS.
Messy. Ed,lOrs:Uucr this tile published tie
Whis OF the 3th of june very elaborate svios the
rule of Interpreting constitutional aw and pronounced lay
20 bc UuansweHIic, u' nearly Had not been foo ts
'tnss conimedaIom should probably, lave passed it by
without reading
would thank the author inform the good people of these
States what information, Cun-udtio,i
tbs propositions "IiH Constitutional gtoS dn,
are, and Jo'trer TH ne oro tod""s-oH take I0r grant
Ell that lie that tie identical questions
been aud forever viii be open discussion IL viii
not do to answer hat - that we may arrive al iruo IA
pe;aton; Ouy because lie has 5yu rUG 10y which
depreciation prccucs ali farther discussion Aud lus
would hsty his uwn leading proposition.
The aIi"r will not permit Tue maxim "are ecisis' to ap.
ply considering aud deciding ci-iutonl! GIc,tiluS
enquiry therefore the tat rule. proper
whether is tic conviction of tie wise and
il al aacs, that ie kHtit judgment is isFsi-ci
rect that gives force 10 the AKIN o'c dcisis.' Is uo this
Zine of that rule Does not then wei arriy
c'lne constitutional questions those ni-
nary legal character &c the relief in te later change
the former, by change Of the constitution True.
tins rs mcOnvcnien and "Utcult process Blu, which j.
o. ATS consequences or Ia the ever vigHs and chang
The author Gays that ,- reason the rule ",re ,ci,i,
ia, Importance that the ordinary
ted than whatlaw setcd This i, adui.e i,-
aieai Of iaPcJcc and also that certainty aqiaae
then certainty desirable in constitutional e
IONS uncertainty arising from tie varying decisions
tine judsneni, which l. AT last bat PeD,cr Bat tn author
viii admit tins principle TO sp!y ~ interpreting oons'u
i0ual law, because 1.-the matter OF Sd varying, and
never esdWg Importance ~ that sNaH be correctly eNpouHo.
Is the Interpretation of all law, matter OF res!
aud ending importance. But would cLqg.e
whether the author aIsGl dat Law
81 correctly expndri II So Wrat then hrcoinc> of tie po-
,.ston that open discussion: Fu surely e viii!
not upun discussing exposition mcrpeiai
ii constitutional law be correctly CNIouuael.
he done AT cIcr. Is that The past present
O., hrurcs And d,eIm.Ic whui-
when is correctly eNruundr,I Tie author Will certainly
rtvc completed his lahor, till he informs how 5ndby wu
ts % 10 The author again owes why
a. rr should a difference between interpreting constitutional
and munc.a law the first upon tie whole pat.ul
the latter individuals This present, tc enquiry, what j.
i've nation. shah not undertake d"nebu, will enquire
VIAL is nation w,toui udiyidua When discussing
determining the operation 81 Tive constitution upon the naios
p we cot, any ding other, IMAM hrv affect the i'm
diyInals nationl This or that interpretation Is lille
consequence which docs not iHdriG0 Can ANY
ina enable quest under 'he can,,iion which vii
concern jnti.iiuasnay affect ire lives brv prop
cltv9 l. the action of the government upon toe individuals Of
90, nation, some IDEAL matter or thH. or tie auI
AR and water w,n aeo-rd cal boundaries What au
times is ie purpose OF "A constitution j. IL define
Of the several cIeat departments o government upon
the individuals &c naiion2 is this action defined Il
oven open to dscussOn-to different decisions Of tine
matter
is compact deserving the Of a constitution, the
ing Of ,vhh open discussion, and by consequence
20 contrarv decsiOnS' Is that instrument cOnst-
i1n which gives rule to-day, another tomorrow, which
means ono thing mans judgment and ecu thing in
o.er' Can paper give any ru Of action, prescribe
Hu power r-iN give stability to property OF security
"a liberty personally, or collectively CUEB!Sr.