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

the public m that design had to change
the government from its simple and republican form, to
one II ,anarchcal at least too energetic for the tenn
the American people, conviction which beyond all
doubt produced the civil revolution OF 1900 and for which
"obvious andole has yet been discovered by those
who its victims. BY that great event, the public
sentiment improved, public councils purified the
spirit OF encroachmen severely rebuked and il then
hoped exunguiShed Tor ever During Mr. JeHerson's adj
minstra,ion, and with single exception that of Mr.
Madison, the government administered upon the prin-
cipes which The trainers OF the constitution avowed and
which their constituents had ratified and the people once
and again confirmed The charter of the Bank of the
United States was, after hard struggle suffered to ex-
pire; and the conceded and weundersood powers the
were found amply sufficient to enable per-
torn the great functions for which il was instituted Du-
rag great portion OF the time the country blessed
with degree prosperity and happiness without para
lei in the world AT the close of Mr.. Madisons admins
traton, new bank was Incorporated, and received
his reluctant assent Ii will be shutting eyes 10
the truth TO deny, TO attempt 10 conceal the fact
that that assent, coming from the quarter that il did
has had a most powerful and lar from salutary in
fluence the subsequent course of the government
Its author had HIMSELF former OCCASION demonstra
ted the want of power in the federal government 10 ncor
porate bank and his assent was placed on the OK
ground that the recognition OF the authority of the
government in relation the old Bank by the State 90
and the Courts well the people, had pre-
cluded the question of consitutonaty Thus the power
in question stand successful Interpolation upon
the of the constitution. This great precursor was
again followed by other attempts, but of restricted and
qualified character, 10 extend the principle other
topics of legislation. They WERE however, promptly de-
eaed by Mr.. Madison, who, upon all points the
Bank of the United States preserved invioate the great
principles upon which the revolution of 1900 founded
and of which report upon the Alien and Sediton
Laws the exposition For his departure, in that par
cuar, o. departure il was his have been seen
II is not at this time my official duty upon their su
iciency; and am wholly unwilling 10 volunteer a de-
nunciauon of any opinion deliberately formed and upon
high responsibility by of the most, the most
compshed statesmen that country has produced.
However individuals might differ the correctness of
his conclusions all mankind must acquiesce in the purity
the motives which led to its adoption The political con-
dion ofhe country the close of the late war; refer
ence to old party distinctions speculaon TO the future,
and the aspirations ofndvidual ambition accompanied
many cases. by sincere desire to promote the public
good produced occasional attempts during the amnistra-
ton that followed TO revive in form less exceponabe
the doctrines which already been so emphaticay
demned by the people. They were, however, i'm great
degree restrained and kept down by the resistance of the
remnant of the faithful, and the qualified opposition Mr.
Monroe
But il these attempts said Mr. " b. revive the con-
demncd heresles OF former times, of themselves
successful, they served the purpose of giving
nance TO petenslons on the part OF men in power,
which out-Herod Herod. The opening scenes of the
present Administration have not only been the subjects
intense interest in their day. but will mark
era in our future history They will stand a beacon
succeeding Administrations, warning them of the point
beyond which the people will tolerate encroach-
ment upon the great charter of their liberties The pre-
sent Executive, in his exposition of the constitutional
powers this government, has gone far beyond the ut
most latitude of construction heretofore caimed As il
to give point TO his exavagant pretenons-to demon
that the result of the last election only only the
restoration of the Of 1885, but of the principles that
day. we have great portion of the obnoxious doc
rne then contended for again broadly advanced in the
SUMPTION that III was within the constitutional
Cyl OF the Executive TO have sent Ministers to the Con-
gres OF Panama, without the OF the Senate and
Sir TO give high finnish TO the picture senu-
ousy conended, from quarter in amity with the
tive, that the control of the rights and privileges the
Senators on this floor, and their constituents in a
most essential particular, Is power inherent in the
office OF the Vice President of the United States
/ | have, Sir been brought up in opposition to that
school Of politics from which such principles are le.
giimate carnations. From my first acquaintance with
public affairs to the present day, have regarded it as sa-
cred duty TO resist Them and consider myself on this
The hIgCh aF ,Iuf.v
matters of which have spoken with much more of what
might have spoken daily passing before eyes, are
as has been before Observed identical in principle with
those which emphacally adudged against by the
people in lSOOt They presented in a different and
lar more dangerous form but they nevertheless the
same The spirit of encroachmen has, it true become
more wary, but it is not bit honest Heretofore
the system was coercion now il is seduction Hereto
lore unconstitutional powers exercised force sub
mission, they assumed purchase golden OPT
mons from the people with their means Ii is great
mistake Sir, attribute the radical change in
men effected cotemporaneously with the election of Mr.
Jefferson either to of taxation, practical op.
preston under the Alien and Sedon laws. Those,
doubtless, produced great and just excitement but il
did not belong TO their produce such lasting
consequences Acts Of individual oppression had been
committed BEFORE and have, in different degrees been
committed since But, after having caused
ofpublc excitement at the me they have passed away
with the occasion that produced them Such is human
nature now-such mas II been in all ages of the world
The acts have alluded TO, highly eXceponable as tey
undoubtedly were, could have produced an I'M
yielding exclusion from the confidence of najoyitv of
the people, for than quarter of a ceftlrV of
large masses Of men distinguished for talent and or
Udte north No. Sir said he the cause of that great
and glorious struggle lies deeper-nuch deeper Itpro
ceeded not from the consequences of those acts but from
an opposition to the principle upon which they found
ed-thdt PT'Hcpte UdS an alarming extension of the
constructive POoers Of this governmental arose, as he
had before said, from a settled conviction i'm the minds of
he people mat deliberate plan had been formed by
the men then in power TO change the government from
its true republican FORM 10 one, if not monarchcal at
least too much inclined to that direction Ii was the an
prehenslon that they were about be dcspoed of the
promised fruits of the Revolution that aroused and called
INTO vigorous action that same great spirit by which the
Revolution itself was accomplished. 1t is that cause
only that results unknown TO the politics of any other
country are to be attributed The was at least ade-
quate If all the consequences have been perane nt
And what's the true character of the times upon which,
in the Of events, and the providence of God we
have fallen Most unpropitious truly.
If the views in relation TO the powers Of this govern
ment avowed by the present Executive, and which lie
at the foundation Of the present administrations are the
true doctrines OF the Constitution then toGs the treat no.
ttcdl Revolution Of 1900 founded ia gross error If not
pdIpdbe fraud upon the people, Disguise the matter as
you will, said he, to this complexion must we come at
last 1t was most manifest, he said that Whatever ef-
feet the events OF 1797S9 and 1900 had had upon the
Federal men of that day, their consequences upon the
principles that then prevailed, have been as efectua
| as was hoped, and for season believed.
| g We have scotched the snake, not killed III;
She'll close and be hoTsolfngain."
But he trusted The prediction would not be VERIFIED
! She'll not close again. The people will prevent it,
He must indeed be miserable Judge of public senti.
ment who cannot in its daily Indications that the
same spirit which before rescued the Constitu-
ton from the hands Of its enemies is At this moment
fully reused The excuses of the last three wears
I roll in lie.