Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-19

/ mericsn System."nl But hear Mr.. Hamilton in
1 his own words, upon the subject of internal inn
4 provements:
Extract from Hamiiton's Report-6M eriition,
pages $3.50.
"IneJacthfafttg Of the transportation o. cont
1odtt'es.-AmProvements avoring this object in
timateiy concern oil the domestic interests Of q
community; bat they may without improperly be
mentonea as having an important relation 10 man
ufactures. There is perhaps scarcely any thing,
which has been better calculated 10 assist the ma
Dufactures OF Great Britain, than the deliberations
Of the public roads OF that kingdom, and the great
progress which has been OF late made in opening
Canals. OF the former the U. States stand much In
need Tor the latter they present uncommon taciI-
l tiles.
''The symptoms Of attention TO the improvement
Of inland navigation, which have lately appeared
in some quarters, must fill with pleasure every
breast warmed with true zeal for the prosper ri.
" OF the country. These examples, it is TO be
hoped, will stimulate the eyertions OF the gopern.
gent: and citizens Of eUery State. There can
certainly be no object, more ,oorthv of the
I cares Of the local administrations: and II
Uere to De ,oshe, that there ,cas no doubt of the
potcer Of the NdtionGi Government to lend its d.
rec! 0'd, on comprehensive plan. This is one
OF those improvements, which could be prosecu-
ted with more efficacy by the whole, thar by any
part or parts OF the Union. There are cases ia
which the general interest will be in danger to be
srcrihced to the collision of some supposed local
interests Jea'ousles, IN matters OF this kind, are
erroneous.
"Nor does Mr.. Hamilton pretend to derive hi,
Jduostte P0tcer orer manufactures, from the spe.
cihed power, ito regulate commerce with foreign
nations, among the several States; and ,cifh IN
asdn fr'oes; bue from the specified power, :. TO
lay and collect taxes duties, insposts and excuses
to pay the debts aud provide for the common de-
fence and general welfare, Of the u. States
Extract from the Report-page 81.
question has been made concerning the
constitutional right OF the government Of the u s.
I,,et a.
. certainly mo good foundation for such question
Inc National Legislature has express authority,
10 lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and
excuses. to pay the debts and provide tor the com
mon defence and general welfare"
How little could Mr.. Giles have thought nj the
tune ne was exhibiting the sghtless distance, the
fashionable latitudinarians were ahead of Mr.. n.
In his Interpretation OF the Constitution that he so
soon should have found Mr. NJ 1.-The foremost in the
latiiudinarian's race!
In considering these quotations. and compare
sons, u cannot but appear strange, that whilst in
low Mr. M. had been successful i'm demopstrat
ing 70 the CONVICTION OF every candid, impartial
mind that the latiudinarian doctrines for inter.
preting the Constitution, contained in MIR. H's Re-
\ port upon Manufactures, would necessarily result
in the obliteration of all its restraining provisions
ana the introduction OF one consolidated govern
men., "hicn must necessarily eventuate in the
most irightul despo;ism,-that he should not now
see, that his own Authoritarian doctrines must ne
cessa1iy eventuate IN the same results! Ii such
oe ms convictions, is it possible conceive that
nir. M should, in that short interval of time I'M
Ger the int1ue nee OF his official experime nts
and other passing events, become converted from
the most jealous and enlightened advocate for Re-
publican Government, into the Jealous advocate
Tor the very despotisrn, he then justly and hap
PHy exposed and condemned! Such conclusion
could scarcely be deemed within the degrees of
possibility; yet, the writer does not recoect that
there Is to be found in his late letters an appro-
batory sanction Of single restraining provision in
the Constituton-whils:, so far as he has thought
proper to make quotations from it, he has in go rte
only that portion Of it, which confers general now
els, and has left out and utterly
provision in the very sentences partly quoted.
which explains the objects Of the general power,
anu nni's It's exercise only to specified Objects
IT'S true, tina. during the last Summer, Mr.. nj. ia
'ored the public with some equivoqucs, in favor
OF inc power OF Congress to pass the Tariff Acts:
but, he then family minated, that he was not
prepared to admit, in the fullest extent, the claim
SET up for the Federal Government, over all the
proceeds Of the labor Of the country; but even
these scrnples seem TO have taken fiight-not
VestIge OF them being found in his letters.
Mr. NJ could not avoid seeing this sweeping
claim to underlined power, involving the controui
over the whole labor OF the country constituted
the essence Of despotism in all modern govern
nents yet in his letters, he permits this political
oeVouring monster to remain, without one passing
blow.
Is II possible for any rejecting mind to review
the limited powers granted by the written Consti-
tuition to the Federal Government, and practised
upon for nearly 30 years, with the most happy,
success-and TO behold the practical powers usurp-
ed by that government, at the present day, and
yet not see, that has already become transformed
into the most monstrous, colossal despotic power
that ever has been presented to the view and con-
temptation Of man? That it has already swept a.
way the fsderative Principe-the sovereignty Of
the States-the republican system-and the rights
and liberties Of individual man? Can there be one
human being, who recoIlects the happy effects re-
suiting from the present successful experiment
under the strict observance of the limited powers
OF the written Constitution; and who, at this day.
oeholds the impoverishments, alarms, and discon-
tents, produced by the unprincipled usurpations of
unlimited power, and not regret the changes AREA
dy made; and not to anticipate results, ultimately
more to be dreaded in time to come? The follow.
ing are amongst the powers claimed and exercised
by the federal government at this day :-ExcIu-
sive jurisdiction over all external obecfs-Inter-
nal Jurisdiction the SOIL for purposes Of Inter-
nal ImprovemeDt-over persons and things within
State limits-over the occupations of individuas--
The power to control all the proceeds of all the in
dustry Of the Country-The power of taxation by
combinations oil sections, over other sections DO
not these, and other powers now exercised form
frigbtful momentum Of power, whose pleasure a.
lone is the obligatory law' The more especially.
when ii is recoIleced, that this Irresistible con-
soidation OF powers, exerts its influence over an
extended country, and over a rapidly increasing
population of, perhaps, above I2 millions. The
only effectual resistance, that could possibly be
called into action, consists Of the federatiye prin-
oiple, which II erted in its full energies through
the State Governments, would break up this con-
solidated mass OF despoc power, by the consttu-
uonai distribution OF portions of il amongst the
State Goyernments.-Bu if these SentineIs,
heretofore relied upon for perfect fidelity to their
m alnrofe