Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-08-28

most profound reflections opcn hein could not tail. a,
me present awful moment, for Virginia. 10 produce the
most beneficial results; and, particularly the reviews
and reflections vi those who called upon to pc form
,he sitimPortant office, Of amending or altering the
Constitution or this character are the remarks vhcn
present the great objects for which all governments are
Intended anu the pecaiar characteristics to
Every founded in the true principles OF po
h'cai science. Ihts Coinmuncat is written with
great ability, and seems breathe the true spirit of
iour aud PATRIOTISM Its style is Simple. main AMI ole
sah ana wei suited 10 the object ol the author. Sure
w hue in'e tune, devoted Ia reviews and reflections
apon subjects OF such desp and vital interests eoul
mol DO insappie Let the writer, then, beg the pro-
'ounu attention vi every politca economist this re
view, and IL he should succeed in calling tn. aeu-
ton of the whole Virginia people, 10 profound rsilcc
lions upon its contents, involving their dear rio
anu liberties, he should laer himself witt, having rem.
derei no small service to his beloved Country, even in
acmevns mat solitary pvint.rie true objects in the
formation Vi governments, and their genuine character.
isics when formed, iuroIuc ed in .ic aou
in the following woTds:
1--WE have sa'd that our present topic is the mpor,
ance oil the Union, and have selected IL because il
cannot, wo apprehend, be too deeply impressed. No
lesson should be written ind-iiby the hearts of
our citizens. 10 10 il the strou conviction with
which IL ought 10 he rsceived, we have thought that wa
'nign usefuiiy insist the chief good hich the non
coniefs, and the ed 10 do this
we are lot sure that this subject ia sufficiently under
sooi because We sometimes appreheni bst the people
are not aware oi the most essential bcne Il. which they
derive from the confederation, but are looking 70 Il
Tor advantages which cannot bssow ani are i'm dan
ger oil exposing u to hazard by expecting from il more
man Il can accomplish. OF all we NAV saw
that the gcoi which they promote il chiefly ne and
thls 10 especially true OF the federal institutions which
o'nd these state, together Their highest function is
TO avert evil Nor let their efficiency this account
be dsparaged The highest political good, liberty is
negative IL is the removal Of distractions Il is sec
my "pm wrong coniers no positive happiness. but
opens held Ia which the individual may achieve his
happiness oy his own unietered powers. The great
good oil the Union we may express almost in word. Ii
preserves us from wasting AMI destroying another.
IL pnac
which, IL broken into separate nations would be array.
ed against one another In perpetual mercess and rui
nous war; IL indeed contributes defence ains,
reign states, but still defends us from one another
This we appreheni TO be the chief boon of the Union
ana IT'S Importance we apprsheni il sufficiently ie
so highly do we estimate it, that ask notbiug the
General Governmen but to hold ,og ih.r to estab.
fish among the different States relations of friendship
and peace; and We are sure thar State Governments
anu Individual energies will work Tor a happiness
snci as no other people have yet secured"
In this quotation will be seem clearly pourtrayed the
only true original objects n the formation of AL tisul
governments AMI the only true, genuine characters
tics OF all righful governments when fornei.-IIow
simple-how plan-ho chaste the style, How lust.
how beau,ifuihow demon ,irative the o3inion, and
principles OF the author These opinions and prnciples
have been strongly illustrated by writer in the En-
qlirer, under date OF March 25.h lS25--accompanied
a. the same time. with wholesome caution 10 Mr. Ad
ans; and a prophetic denunciaion OF his fatal doom
should he adventurously disregard each whoesom eau
hon These remarks seem 10 have been written, upon
the hrst sight OF Mr.. Adams Inaugural Address and
alter previous, most solemn caution had been given
him, upon the first exhibition of his Ohio letter in
which he claims all powers to enable the government
70 better the condition OF the people. The comnunca
ton commences thus:
Inaugural Spseeh-7ne Presidential Chair, or, Tie
Chariot Of the sSua.
observe the middle path" This the sage al !
vice oil tho wise. experienced So when he
placed the juvenile, adventurous phnon in the Chariot
of the Sun; but the rash YOUTH dsreg ariinr hs father
sage advice, dashed up the fiery s,eeds into am erra,c
course and in single day, wrapped the whole &C.
lestral spheres in blaze of FIRE Jupiter TO save Hea-
nd Earth -
dread thunderbolts struck the Needless, ILL., fated youth
into the deepest bottom of the river Po The House
OF Representatives, distru 1ngly, by Hook by Crook
placed MIR Adams in the Presidential chair. "Observe
the middle path"i What hope is there of tllsn!
Whom has the President taken his BOSOM TO advise
the observance OF the middle path!!!"
Mr. Adams, III his Inaugural Address, having draw n
in the most glowing coors the beauty and utility Of
the federal principle, in beautiful complicated sys
ten OF governments, and the xamped public Lies
.ars already enjoyed by the American people, under
its benign influence suddenly proceeds to blot il from
the American institutional CODE altogether. This great
achievement was effected. by referring the bench
cent action OF the General Government alone as con
errng ali 5;os-::;5 acn the American people in utter
disregard OF the influence of the State Governments
Upon this most sudden, unexpected wheeling to the
eit not The rght-about, the writer cnphaticaly
observes;
''Bu, perhaps the Presiden, may say, these are not
the auotced ends for which the Constitution form
ed The magnitieence, AMI spendor OF public works
Internal improvements The end expressed, was
'tie general weliarc; aud the magnificent, splendid
public works, and the roads AMI aque,ucts are the
means OF ehecng this great and general eni. BE il
Wi the change Of the avail in the prac-
teal effect Of the thing? Will the actual structure take
one drop less Of the Of the brow OF Labor Will the
iaborer be content with being told that these splendid,
costly, enchanting monuments, not the end, for
which he lsbors, but the means to produce another
emf VIII this fiacous Inesnorpbosis, stay one drop
oil sweat from his brow, give drop Of comfort
he hearG viii IL save TO his wife and children one
crunb OF bread! What the essential Ingredients OF
governmental spcndor, taken in all. any OF i,s
variegaed iofms They the proceeds of the sweat
oil the aborers brow; pro iucve labor. Nothing can
produce governmental spendour Of any kind whatever
hu, the proceeds OF productive labor VIII il produce
the general welfare! VIII il diuse happiness among,
millions Dos born, or TO be hereafter born take these
ircm mats own uses AMI enioymens, aud invest them
in governmental spienour let the shape of this spln.
dr. assumes be what il may' viii! il not take the
mean OF subsistence and comfort from those who earn
an those who them? If so. would that produce
general welfare? would that difuse gcnera happiness
Certainly not. The general welfare, the general hap
pipess would he promoted by leaving to individual an
all the proceeds OF his tolls; except the smallest
mite which would suffice for all essential governmental
objects. II has heretofore been believed that this was
the great political secret, which had been discovered
and revealed in the fundamental institutions OF the u S.
|, this. which gave them their mora over
the rest of the world.
"Fhe great error in all previously existing govern
mental institutions consisted in this; that Governments
were thought every thing the people nothing: That
vernments The dcfUe Instruments tor creating and
dbussg happiness; aud the people, the passive i0siru
people OF the United States fret discovered, that Just
the Of this DID, revered political dogmi was
true. That the people were aim ut every thing, and
tile Government very little, in the scale of human hap
pines' That individual man, was the Gcfce instrtl-
menf In producing prosperity wealth, and happiness;