Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-10-05

family and confidential advisers Still their official cmou-
mcns were not the less lost to them nor were these
expressions OF dsapproSaon rendered less Notifying
by the lo's OF Office. Resentment must he manifested
somewhere and in way, and opposition TO tho pro-
sden would naturally present the most ready ieid Tor
its exhibition, as he by the constitution, must be the
prominent agent in their dsmssioa from those places Of
trust, which the elect of the country had declared
they ought not longer 10 hold
Hence il is, that the prominent members of
the iatc cabinet LEADING incorporating oppos-
ton to the present administration Hence, il is, that
distinguished individuals, once protesting TO espouss
the cause of democracy and TO advocate and support
the prncL's OF the Jclersonan school, longer find
value principles when brough, again into
tive rcisc by the energetic administration of Jackson
The possession Of power and the cnouments of oil
both held by tenure which required departure from
republican principles AMI practices have led them asray,
and into associations at war with those principles; and
the verdict of public opinion which only carried home
to them, the consciousness of defeat and produced in
stead Of con'riiion, the CALLING sensations of modification
and resentment.
Such appears to US, il the opposition 10 the present
national admlns;rat and such plainly appear he the
feelings by which its leaders governed In conrma
ton OF this opinion and sele cted from body of evidence
which must be apparent 10 every observer, state the
simple tact that the most prominent of en- repeated OBJ
lection TO the administration ihat in the selection Of in
dvduas to Office, OF trust in the selection OF individuals
perform those duties for the correct and faithful per-
formanco Of which the public viii hold il responsible,
its friends have been preferred TO its enemies; its
poters have been preferred opponents those whose
cycrons have been and bestowed to sustain its prn
cipc and carry into execution its measures, have been
|
cd to ihwart 1t. Efforts and TO bring it into disgracs
This is the political hcresy of which il is mainly ac
cused, and for which, though of the most simple
principles which the actions of all discreet in
vidals and associations of men in their ordinary trans
actions this administration is to he condemned by an in
tclgcnt community. But its opponents will be disap
pointed They count upon the ignorance and creuliy
and no, upon the intelligence and ssgacity of c
zens, and, therefore, their calculations will fail them
| tho trial.
Another SUBJECTS seized upon and urged by the op
position az fatal objection 20 The administration and
being one purely of principle, and most deeply interest
ing to the citizens Of this state il should not pass I'M
noticsd. The subject of making roads and canal. in
and through the territory of the several states by tho
authority and under the control AMI with the mosey of
The naton has long and deeply agitstcd our national
councils Certain limits had been thi, power and
to 1t, exercise by several administrations preceding the
last and within those mits, as they from time 10
time prescribed, congress had sanctioned, by a very
few laws tho exercise OF the power. During tho Las;
ADMINISTRATION, all restriction and al limit were stripped
from the exercise Of this assumed prrrogatvc of the
government, and the existence Of the right and the ex
pedency OF its exercise, were alike asserted and main
famed by all the funcionaries in the executive DEPART
ments 10 this latitude OF constructive power congress
was at length brought by COM ination OF local inter-
css 10 yield its assent app OPERATIONS of the public
money and of the public lands began to be made TO
these objects in defiance Of the payment Of tho nation
Al deot and IN their amounts, and in the extent of the
works thus partially commenced alarming to the discreet
AMI industrious citizen in all part. of the country In
the mean me every appropriation TO these object
ed 10 suggest and encourage applications, which
becoming associated in tho common appeal for public
bounty, received that notice and encoura cement 10
which their repre- strength in the nation entitled
hen and this regularly multiplying power of applica-
ions had continued 10 orerate until at the last session
oil congress That crisis had arrived which every prudent
man mad oreseen, and which every disntercsted m.n
nad depiored The calendar of bills before the national
legislature had become almost entire repetition of new
sppropr atoms Tor roads, canals, and other works called
Maternal improvements and the appropriations propos-
cd though generally partial, an intended only COM
m'ncemens of the respective works. had sweed 10 an
anonn, entirely beyond any cash re'orces OF the 60
vernment, and could only he answered. if made bv
resort 10 consequent increase Of the national
debt. direct taxation
In the face of these facts, bill was passed and sent
10 the President for his appreciation and signature pro-
posing to appropriate $4,000 of tho public money
to make road, not from state not through any
OF the territories which remain the property of the ma
no not from one military post to anoher but from
village or town ina state, TO another village town in
the same state. To this BILL the President with cha
r'cterstc irmness and honesty, refuse his signature *
gave 10 congress, with the return of the bill his rea-
sons Tor that refusal This document constitutes what
has been called the Presidents Veto upon the NAYS.
vile road BILL and any attempt TO abrdge it, give
the triumphant reasons contained i'm il in any other than
the words of the p esident, would do Injustice 10 him
and to tho veto X shonIi be carefully read by every
cizn OF the country and particularly of this state as
points out IN an uncqua'lcd manper. the course OF
former administrations in constituting this power Of the
government and brings back the exercise Of the power
IN an cases where tits 10 be exer edo works If nation
al character This was tho limit prescribed to this pow
rr by Jefferson; this the practice of Madison and
onro'; and this is the limit prescribed and the prac-
tcc, of Jackson
This veto is seized upon by many of the opponents of
the President, strong objection his adminstra on
and is already entirely manifest that their design is TO
make this construction of the powers of the govern
men! over roads and canals the marked line between
me poca parties OF the country at the prcsiden
ta election.
The friends Of the administration cannot reasonably
OBJECT 10 this dividing line So far the question is
one of power in the national government il is CONGO.
ded to be-, not of doubtful existence least of doubt
full eHten and that construction of such power which
most nearly opportunities TO the literal and plain mean
ing oil our written constitution. and which seeks 10 add
the least to the strong arm Of the government and the
most to the reserved rights Of the people and the states
Is tie most republican, will always be the safest and
cannot fail Of being acceptable tho democracy of the
country This safe ground OF limited power ard mi-
ted construction is taken by the President; while the
doctrine of unlimited power and extended construction
IS espoused and advocated by his opponcns-But the
possession OF power TO whatever extent and the xpe
uiency oil its exercise, entirely different questions;
ana IN this view IT is that the present contest assume,
the most interesting aspect TO our state.
were the United States government, under its now
err, to make and maintain roads and canals. 10 take nos
session OF our northern and western canals station lite
Officers upon them, TO appropriate their revenues 10 IL.
use TO set the authority Of the state them at de-
nance, and to prescribe TO citizens the terms upon
winch they could be permitted TO these great works
OF their own construction then indeed the que stsn of
the existence and extent of this power in that govern
ment might become 10 citizens one of lively in
terest But so long this or any similar encroacb-
mcht IS not spprehended, the expedioncy Of expsnd-
ing the money OF the nation in making roads and canals
IN single states, or in limited sections Of orr territory
becomes 10 us Tie question of most immediate interest
The state Of New York has already compIeted sbou,
18l miles OF navigsble canal and AN eTpense Of po
badly not less than S12 000,000 and in doing this we