Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-08-24

the opinions OF his fellow Senator'S he could not but re-
gard monsrous construction of the Constitution. The
amendment proposed appeal from the decision OF the
Vicc-President TO the Senate Ii he believed that the
Vice President possessed the power in question: by virtue
OF his office he could not vote Tor great
upon his constitutional rights subject their exercise
supervision not provided for by the Constitution. II.
therefore, the amendments adopted, he hoped we
should hear OF inherent right which YOU Sir,
have, much TO your credit refused to usurp and which
we, cannot but think to discredit are attempting
TO force upon you, RoteRs coiens
NOTES.
Note lit is within the recollection of the Senate
that of the then surviving members of the Con-
vention OF 1857, (he late MIR. King) toward the close
of his long and useful public ie declared on floor of
the Senate that the trainers OF the Constitution never
contemplated the exercise of such powers by the federal
government as claimed for it upon the subject
of Internal improvements and that had been supposed
that such powers were conferred the Constitution
could have been ratified.
Note B-An anecdote is related of the late Cover
neur Morris, conspicuous and efficient member of the
ention, and great latudinaran which is entitled
credit from its being skimgy Characteristic of the
man. Being at the city OF New y ork, short time after
the ratification by the requisite number of States was
KNOWN he congratulated upon the successful term-
nation OF their labors in the establishment OF cons
ton that w2ud realize all the great objects OF its trainers
"ThGt depends upon hOtc It is construed was at that
early day. when question of could by pos
sibility have arisen, his pregnant reply.
! Note C.-Mr Van Buren, is by no means certain
that in this respect he himself has been altogether with
out fault. At the very first session he into the
Senate, the knowledge of the perpetual drain that the
Cumberland Road was destined TO prove upon the public
treasury, unless taken to prevent it,
and sincere desire go all times as far as he could
consistently with the Constitution aid i'm the improve
men and promote the prosperity of the Western Country
had induced him, without full examination to vote for a
provision, authorizing the collection of toll the road
The affair OF the Cumberland Road in respect
ence 10 the constitutional powers of this government
matter entirely SUI generis IL authorized during
the administration OF Mr. Jefferson, grew of the dispo
siton of the territory Of the United States and had the
consent of the States through which il passed. He ha:
never heard explanation of the subject (aIthougb h
a o. that hao hoo.
satisfactory to his mind. All he say, is that If In,
question were again presented TO him. he would vot,
against it, and that his regret for having otherwis,
would be the greater, had Mr. Monroe much TO hi
credit put his veto upon the bill; it not the onl,
veto, In the course OF seven years service, which thu
most iasdlous critic can torture into inconsistency will
the principles which Mr.. " b. protested maintain AM
in the justice of which he is every day more and more
confirmed.
Note D.-MR. ADAMS ONO LETTER puRrN,
The CANVASS 1S24.-"The question Of the now
er of Congress TO authorize the making of internal i'm
provements s, in other words, question whether th,
people OF this Union, in forming their social com
pact as avowedly for the purpose Of promoting their
era welfare, have performed their work in manner 81
neably stupid deny themselves the means of bet
ering their own condition have too much respect fo
the intellect of my country TO beeve, The first object
human association is The improvement of The condio,
9fthe associated Roads and Canals are among he mos
essential means Of improving the condition of nations
and people, Wheh should deliberately, By The organi
cation Of its authorised p0,cer deprive itself of he fa
Guilty OF multiplying its beSsng s tcouid be as mis-
as Creator tchO should undertake 10 constitute mn
man being tcithOut heart"
INAUGURAL Whatsoever is of domos,;,
Government unconneced with the other members of IN,
Union or with foreign lands, belongs exclusively TO tn,
administration Of the State governments Whatsoever ~
recy involves the rights and interests of the ederave
fraternity or OF foreign powers is of the resort of tb
general government The duties of both obvious ir
difficulties in the detal.'
PREsIDENr's FIRST MESSAGE TO CoNeRess-
Upon this first occasion of addressing the Legislature
the Union, with which have been honored in nr.een,
ing TO their view the execution, far has been eff
ected oil the measures sanctioned by them promoting
'ne internal Improvement OF country cannot cosf
the communication without recommending to their calr
and perseVerng consideration, the general principle i'm
more enlarged extent The great object of the ;nstt,
On Of cuI government is the inpr0ueeI,t of The con
dltion Of those ,cho parties to the social connort
una no gopeTment IN t1hdteueT form constituted car
accomplish me idtofH ends Of its institution but Dyo
portion as az improves the condition IF those oyer cbon
II as established Roads and canals by InupIvno an,
ac!ahng the communications and intercourse between
INSTANT regions and muhudes of men, among the most
important means of improvement But moral pohticoI
'nteHectudl improvement, duties assigned bv n,
duhor Of our existence, TO social no less than TO iI;r
dual man For the fuIfIment of those duties oorern
ntents are INFESTED oi pOlcer; and to the attainment
me Progressive improvement Of the condition of The g0
oeTed he exercise Of delegated pO,cerS is dity as So
cred and indispensable The ttsttTDatiO 0f o,1eys o
granted as criminal and OdiOus" ~
The principle of constitutional construction contained !,
the ONO letter is distinctly repeated in the first
In BOTH the powers OF the federal are reere,
not 10 the enumeration and specification of them made
WIN so much care by those who framed the Constitution
put TO me great purposes for tOhch governments are in
situated, ana the duties assigned by the author of ON
eT'Stehce 10 social man. subecng, of course the
ohs as 10 what those great purposes and dues an,
the consequent powers OF the federal government are f.
no other restraints than the discretion of those who ho
J the reins. " W
ls 1t not most preposterous with such expostons of In,
Constitution, TO talk of this of sDecfe an,
hm'ted powerSf Would Alexander Hamilton who wa
certainly among the most high advocates of the CON
sTucuve powers OF this government have bushed tc
have had such doctrines attributed TO him? His disca
er oil the authority claimed for the federal
he on hmm
and there is in existence other and still more annie evil
dence of his dissent.
Note E--Errdct from The speech IF james H. Bavard
on the Judiciary Bin, in 1902.
owe were next told of the parties which have existed
divided by the opposite views of promoting executive
power, and guarding the righso the people. The gen.
eman did not tell in plain language but he wished
to be understood that he and his friends were the
dians oil the peoples rights and that we were the sdyo
" Gates Of executive power
l know that this the distinction of party which some
gentlemen have been anxious establish; but il is not
" the ground on which divide / am satisfied with
" the constitutional powers of the executive and never
wished attempted TO increase them; and do not he
" eve that gentlemen the other side of the house ever
had serious apprehension of danger from an increase
executive authority. No. Sir, our uetDs as TO NOM
" eIS tchich do and ought TO belong to the General and
state governments, are the true sources four divisions
" cooperate with the party 80 which am attached he
cause believe their true object and end is an honest and
efficient support of the general government in the ex
eTcise OF the Legitimate powers Of the constitution
pray TO Tod may be mistaken in the opinion en-
" eTtan as TO the designs of gentlemen whom am OBJ
posed Those designs believe hostile to the powers OF
" THIS government State pride extnguishes national SEN
" unent. Whatever is taken from this government is
" given TO the States"
Better authority as 10 the old lincs of nsr,,, d;y;s;,