Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-11
To the Editor, nj ~. U...


i To the Editor, of the E,o1irer.
ny "a" eommuo,cs, ion 10 you on the su bic G,
OF Mr. Madison 9 letter, have had r.s,enc. ~, -,
Gus papers and documents connected with the yrea,
pohuch struggle oil niDety-eight aud nine And M, a
more intimate acquaintance with the rscoraeJ 80 sf
| this remarkable period Of our na,ions, b.,orv r 49,
,n,, hav. not exaggerated the character Of
tue virginia Resolutions. mistaken the hold .,;,
which animated her councils and enabled her % cn
P'ete INA, goriou. lesson Of freedom which comm.nr
ed with the American Revolution Great and veo.rs
BILE % Mr.. Madison it, land In hs opinion of Won, ,or
respondent he has no equal amongst The ius,riou.
Survivors CT renowned ara) yet, his authority cannot
ana ought not to transcend the Genius OF Liberty
hs voice OF whole people is made the organ to nro
ciaim asov"reign right and ultimate purpose of re-.
earning violated Constitution from the fng. of es.
po"c power what Virginia proclaimed was riyhtfulIy
well as authorta,ively done on the able fon
| uauon OF her own sovereignty. From the eSpress
oil 'ne Federal compact she did seek
care 70 derive right, which she held by emo ard
more consecrated title. No Law could be in forcr tn
declare The exercise Of her sovereign rights
against government, which, all righul juri,ic.
uon over her people was originally founded on her so.
vereign consent, and then and now epdures bv IN.
same mean:-snd which Government, az to all wrong
fuI Jurisdiction. then did now does. rest ON her 20
Vereign orhearance Since then, her cove
above the highest legal impu,a ion all laws both in
heir letter and spii did concur with her SOVEREIGN
rishs-in the language OF the Roman Orator and Civil
ian, Quod out per natuTdni Jds Sit auf per Iepes
nceaf-apperained to her of the sf In.
Federal Compact; and the acquie.cence OF each one
OF the'e sovereign parties, TO the exience Of this
pact Il conditional, 10 reference to the constituted
.ho' les oi the s,me, whilst between the
ts purely conveotiona other doctrine can be
TO hsrmonize with the views Of emily heped
anu IL must ever prove effort of sophIstrv In
give 70 the Federal Constitution character, different
from me one which lite origin betrays; and
revolution in public opinion shall have b.en 40 a.
effected, as to emb den those who NAV he called IN al
minister lie powers TO regard is conventional origin or
US conditional existence. az reflection on It's die pi,y
or charge against its stability il will come 10 6I m
once OF me destroying Apgel-Whilst the commission
proceeds from the highest authority the OF v purpos,
VIII be to disme mber Such state of things viii oroy
me ias aud most awful encfoachment on The mart of
oote'nmeh', whose organization cannot be famed
WI hout the Cooperation Of the States. In such a cr
sH' IL must require som thing weighty in orgu.
meh', than the mixed character of jurisdiction N
p,i,; e eenIhs fortune OF arrogant usutpston.--
rotcans are never right when they are found subs,i
tung mechanical views Of for the .ri,i,
which engenders freedom. and whose nobes a,tibu,s
IL oen seen,when eninaiing defective forms II MOVER
tuy eoerces them TO fulfil design. foreign to ,er
'ab'ished theory How eorions must this spit be in
en mat exhibits to the world when il imparts to
nnihsd form OF government the tone of free
dom, and whilst IL preserves the powers IL has ord,ned
rom their own corruptDg tendencies lives in the n,
uona character, independent OF the forms which IL
mas gwen brth, and sole arbiter Of it's own course =
Such, In faint define alton, was the spirit which obsa
me legislative councils OF Virginia in 'Os and 20 1.
thi- spirit to be dreaded Let rsher be cherished az
the nohless inmate Of all civil poty A pIorlous
enthusiasm, equally distinguished by constapcv and
on IL the Offspring Of reason and szsion wi.
conJoned; ITS tendency is In favor of reelom-
has proved the sbies instruc OF mankind The b.
tory OF the Rights of Man furnishes the facts on which
HdPPy tendency Is established. In Ms ~,
government however diversified by political soIecism.
anu however remote from that perfection which The
pho'ophy o. the social system bestow. the institu-
tons OF government this principle of the human mind
has contributed towards the di.coyery of The ,ru. Is
ments Of civil and political liberty: whilst II has
elevated the reasoning OF men these vital ques.
HOES, u mas enlarged the science OF modern politics
and was not this principle of enthusiasm above de-
scribed, the political Mentor OF the republican
party at the period OF ninety and nine! Did il not
sway the councils of the Virginia Legislature, ami
would be essening the character Of Mr. Madison IN
say mat iumined his mind and guided his skilful pen
"hen drawing up his mastery report? Whilst the Con-
| suuton was under popular advisement, Mr. Madison
with others engaged in literary discussion of IL. me-
rus ineir purpose was to recommend its adoption to
defend II against its adversaries but not to expose ito
detects, however apparent face-these defects
would yield TO the process of the ameioraion provided in
the instrument; reasonable expectation at the fine
me remarks contained in the thirty number of the
Fcdealist, on the Judicial power granted by the Fede
raj Constitution, TO which Mr. Madison refers in his let
ter, are characterised by great bevity and the argu
ment OF necessity, then urged, is wholly anolooo,ic,
and shews that the mind of the writer was governed nv
he uctauon OF supposed imperous necessity: but no
accusation oil inconsistency, with his report of nnetv
nine, has ever been preferred against Mr. Madison
founded on the simple view of the subject before taken
m me same numberhe speaks Of the residuary and in
vloiabs sovereignty of the Stateswithout enouirng
into The extent OF the violations which the encroach9
ments OF the Judicial power might make on this invio
liable sovereignty. The natural inclination of This do
partnent oil power to ampy its jurisdiction as well as
the silent mpercepdbIe progress Of its decrcees the
powerful agency exercises through the uncontrolled
10 NOT make any part OF this
Der. The object which his patriotism then aimed 10
accomplish was, the accommodation of the Constitn
lion to his fellow citizens and engrossed az his mini
was, Win this great deSiderGttl the Of
the system were permitted TO slumber on the soft down
OF political confidence IL So with that patro
ism which sought 10 the frame of the qovern
menC IN the ranks OF the opposition was found the
pride OF oratory rendng the veil fuurity; and Hon
ya name synonymous with the richest endowments nj
prophetic genius, pointed the course of usurpaten
winch the government would take; he left nothing for
utuy 10 disclose, except the proof of his own eDob
ened forecast Ii is impossible doubt the patriotism
OF MT Madison, and perhaps his letter is the Offspring
OF that sensitive patriotism which, particular unc-
lures can beget cbmeras, TO alright its own repose
Nor can any one of his fellow citizens habituaIlv re-
gardng him Corinthan pillar in the Tenple Of onr
republican party, consent 10 reproach him with the inn
Pu'auon oil error, without that deem sensibv which
ainlcts vrtuous mind the discovering of a long
standing friendship. He does seem, however at This
very interesting period Of his venerable age and conse
Grated public character, to have SPARED of the us
Gus principles which made the of his early
and active connection with that orthodox party that hes
towed on his valuable services the richest mead of c
VIC honout and IT we to regard his letter as the We
taole production OF his pen, is less than
m0Hrnlul act OF separation from his most devoted
friends. The most striking mental phenomna exhibit
ed by that letter, consists in the strange revolution o
doctrine, and opinion The lofty State Right Politician
has voluntarily abdicated his own fonours for he
away the praise long and Justly given TO him fo,
the author OF spirited analytical view of The Federal
compact, 10 assume TO himself the reuutatiop NJ 80
netrical reasoner on the subject His Letter re
Jecs the palladium OF American liberty for moro no
Pothesls. As well might Mr. Madison have reduced
me poucaI happiness OF his fellow citizens 10 depen.
dance on the planetary system and drawn his analogue.
| . IL