Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-17
RICHMOND, JAN, ~.
For THE ENQUIRER.
MR.. MADlSoN'S LETTERS

hoInespun constitution is here seen, decorated i'm
the most fashionable ,gteIing. Authoritarian live
ry.
The publication of these letters, methnks, must
afford matter of surprise 10 all. and matter of re-
greet TO MIR. Nj. himself, and his personal friends -
IL must be admitted by all, that Mr.. M. is bazon-
ed forth, in these letters, in the most splendid
iatudnarian livery, fashioned directly in contrast
in all its esseia' parts, wi'b the old costume OF
nearly forty years standing.
III must be admitted by all, who have read the
principles and rules heretofore laid down by Mr.
NJ for the interpret ation of the Constitution that
they are In direct conflict with the new notions
ushered forth in these letters.--Iis doctrines as
laid down in his numbers of the &c FederaIist''-
IN has speech against Incorporating the first Bank
oil the United States--in his celebrated Report
against the Alien and Sedton Laws--and in one
OF ms olllcai acts rejecting bill passed by Con-
gress, appropriating money for Internal Improve
ments, assert the plain and incon,roverbe princi-
pies, that the Constitution ought 10 be con ,trued
according 10 ats own written provisions; that all
these provisions should be made TO compori with
each other; and that no one part should be so
construed as TO render any other part imperative
and unavailing.-The doctrines of the letters
nave introduced new notions of interpreting the
same written Constitution. These consist of ill.,
ierences and implications the most remote and in
conclusive, drawn from sources chiefly extrinsic
from its own provisions.-From these sources
~ oy changing one word in his quotations from
tH written constitution, " trade" for commerce"
le" OneT words, NIr. NJ has ODlIteratet'
an It's restraining written provisions, and swAIi w
ca up the whole Of them in less than one ioze IN
words II II should be matter of surprise that an
Old orthodox expounder OF the Constitution of near
~ forty years standing, according TO its own words
meaning and intent, and whose political fame wa,
chiefly bottomcd upon this adaRantine basis should
at this late period completely proselyte himself 10
the widest Authoritarian notions the manner
adopted in making this exhibition of his new attl-
tnde' IN MS new attire, is perhaps not less matter
oil surprise. Mr.. NJ, under he NAL advice of his
loo partial friends has deemed proper to present
ms opinions IN the form of reasoning, backed at
me same time by the potent extrin sic influence of
his own proper name. Ii he and his partial friends
had thought his great name sufficient Justify his
assumption OF the imposing title OF arbitrator
amongst hostile, Infatuated parlzans in relation TO
the most important that ever agitated
an enslaved world, then he should not have ad-
ventuTed into the doubtful field of reasoning; but
should have issued his opinions in the form of AK
IONS, poStulatcs, dogmas and rescripts. If his
name alone Should have been deemed sufficient 10
give an authoritative sanction TO his opinions thu.
expressed, ii would have been fair to have relied
upon 1t alone. But when he placed the authority
OF his opinions upon course of reasoning i, |
would seem be ought not to have availed HIMSELF
OF the use OF his great name. He should have
lett the minds OF others perfectly free to exert
their faculties upon the intrinsic merits of his own
reasoning, and should have remained himself Gin |
cog. The great unknown'--if, indeed the
celebrity Of that reasoning should be such as lust
" TO award 70 its unknown author that great an.
peilation: but Mr. NJ. the rather chooses to cou
pie his name with is reasoning, it would be more
ost mat the name should participate in the merits
Or dement's oil that reasoning, than the reasoning
tse!f should derive any extrinsic influence from
lie great name attached 10 il.
In searching for the unexplained inducements of
alr. NJ. and his friends for backing his reasoning
VIII ms name, only one motive occurs TO the wri-
Ter which could have induced this course-That
Is, 10 aid Tie intrinsic merits Of the reasoning by
Inc eX'rinSic influence of his great name The
writer thinks, il hardly be deemed fair play TO
,ail the reasoning faculties of his fellow citizens
10 exert themselves upon a course of reasoning
presented by himself for their exercise, and then
% bias their reasoning faculties and palsy their
mental Efforts by the influence of a great name
10 develope truth, the reasoning faculties should
rave Deen lett as free as air TO take their own
curse unnpeded by any undue bias whatever.
u could not, therefore, have been expected that
Mr.. M. would have added the influence of his
,reat name to bias the faculties of Others which
lad been invited by himself TO examine his own
easoning. The writer, unwilling to yiel TO the re-
traints imposed by his or any other great name |
viii proceed to examine Mr.. Ms reasoning viii,
III due respect, but with the same freedom he
you'd nave done, II the author had moi done what
he writer thinks ne ought not 10 have done-dis-
'iosed his own name.-lf no other influence is to
e oTawn from Mr.. ms reasoning than that which
rises from its own intrinsic merits, then the wri
or thinks II VIII make, and ought to make as little
IMPRESSION upon the minds OF others as any course
Il reasoning upon The same subject, which has
yer oeen before exhibited to the publicly as the
SAHeSt ialltuu!nalian advocate has yet done: For
he writer thinks it the most incorrect inconrj,,
I'VE and unsatisfactory Of any he has ever been
allied upon to consider and to anayse Avoiding
he use OF the words Of the Constitution in their
lil scope, and changing the most operative word
D his quotations, Mr.. Ms reasoning consists in in
erences and implicaons-the most far-fetched
improbable and deceptive. Indeed On rernota are
ONE OF the most important of his differences that
ot Tie shadow OF shade Of affinity of connection
or OF relationship can be discovered betweenJ ;
hem and their premises. II the reasoning CON
aimed IN these letters be considered. as the hoe,
demonstrations OF the best efforts, Of the best tal
nus ahu o. ue pest experience, then have those
'ho deny the night Of Congress to pass the Tariff
cts, ample cause TO congratulate themselves uron
ne complete triumph Of their principles over these
rea,est efforts Of the most illumineI slterad
nnd-Even throwing in the extrinsic influence
! 'his great name, The writer thinks there is 10
.hhe 70 lear, when 1t is reeoliected that
1eSe HeiH Authoritarian doctrines are in one,
var with the practical and theoretical doc
rioes o. nearly forty years Standing. so that
the new lights shed forth by the new mental eC
orts OF this great name should be relied unon ~
1--WE 40 e&trlnsic influence TO the reasoning OH
me sde OF the question, the other side may Justly
ia lam as sel-oh' nearly forty years Of the best
morris o. The same mind, when in lis best vigor
hd meridian splendor But If the influence oil
'ames be relied on, instead ofthc reasoning in tle
se, Oheh nose who contend for fair interprets-
Z, ~, " w constitution, may not only claim Mr.
"a. > name Tor nearly forty years against his re
III III ..DsefSioh, but the name OF Mr. Jefferson
THIoI' any conversion. TO the end of his life -
Hear MS late denunciations of Lo Ian'at;r.:
0cUInes ior Interpretation of the constitution ron
aimed ia Mr.. Adams's Message Of Is5s a., ~ 81
oth Ice 1873, Mr. Jefferson most deIibera,eiv