Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-06-01

oil
sen'ay contrased with each other; the one possessing
powers confined TO certain specified cases The other
tended to all cases whatsoever For what the case that
would not be embraced by general power 10 raise
ney power provide for the general welfare and now
or TO pass all laws necessary and proper to carry these
powers into execution; all such provisions and laws
sedng at the time, all local laws and
variance with them! Can less be said with the
before furnished by the Journal of the Conven,on H.
SELL han that IT is impossible that such Constitution as
e latter would have been TO the States by
all the members OF that body whose names were ubscrib
ed to the instrument!
Passing from this view of the in which the terms
common defence and general welfare were used by the
Trainers OF the Constitution let look for that in which
'hey must have been understood by the Conventions or
rather by the people who hro their Conve accent
cd ana ratified 1t And here the evidence is, if possible still
more irresistible, that the could have been re-
garded as giving scope TO Federal legislation infinitely
more Objectionable than any of the specified powers which
produced such strenuous opposition and calls for amend
menS which might be safeguards against the dangers APP
pretended from them. r.
Without recurring to the published debates of those
conventions, winch, as far they be for
curacy would, ii is believed impair the evidence fur
Shed by their recorded proceedings, will suffice to con-
sun he lists oil amendments proposed by such the Con-
venons considered the powers granted TO the Govern
men too extensive, not safely defined.
Besides the restrictive and explanatory amendments 10
e 'eAt oil the constitution, 1t may be observed, that long
Ilst was promised under the and in the nature OF
declarations Of Rights" all of them indicating iealou
sy Oh The Federal powers and anxiety multiply Sc
curhcs against constructive enlargement of them But
The appeal is particularly made to the number and
nature oil the amendments proposed TO be made specific
and integral parts OF the Constitutional text
NO less than seven States it appears concurred in adj
ding to their ra,ifcaons series of amendments which
uhey deemed requisite OF these amendments nine were
proposed by the Convention of Massachusetts, fire bv that
oil south Carolina; ttceire by that of New Hampshre;
.toeny by that oil Virginia; thirty by that OF New
york; cenfy-sr by that of North Carolina: .one
| by that of Rhode Island.
Here are majority of the States, proposing amend
eh IN one instance thirty three by single State; all of
them intended TO ccumscribe the power granted 10 The
General Government by explanations restrictions or pro-
hoions, without including single proposition from sin
gle State referring 10 the terms common defence and ore
neral welfare; which if to convey the
power could not have failed be the power mos,
y aimed at because evidently more alarming i'm lis range
man all the powers objected TO put together And that
terms should nave passed. altogether unnoced by the
many eyes which danger in terms and phrases en-
poyed in some OF the most minute and limited of the emu
meraed powers must be regarded demonstration that
was taken Tor granted that the were harmless he
cause explained and limited, as in the 'arcles of Con
iedera'ion' by the enumerated powers which followed
them.
IKE demonstration, that these were not under
stood in any that could invest Congress with
not otherwise bestowed by the Constitutional Charter may
NC 'ou III what passed in the first session Con-
gess, when the subject of amendments was I'M with
The conciiaory view of freeing the Constitution from OBJ
Jecuons which had been made the extent of its movers
or to the unguaded terms employed in describing them
Not only were the terms defence and general
welfare unnoced in the long list of ndments brom1b,
forward in the outset; but the Journals OF Congress sbe
that IN the progress OF the discussions not single propo
suon was made in either branch of the Legislature which
referred 10 the phrase as admitting enlarge
ment OF the granted powers and requiring an amendment
guarding against it, Such iorbearance and silence ON
ho be
ohSed TO the part oil the nation which called explana
tory and restrictive amendments and w no had been elect
Gu as known advocates Tor them, cannot be accounted for
without surprising that the ecommon defence and
general welfare were not that time deemed suscepti-
Die oil any such construction has since applied to
them. Fr "
may be thought perhaps due to the subject 10
to letter OF October 9th, 1887 Samuel Adams and ann
Their of October 10th of the same wear TO the Gove Of
virginia. from H. IT, Lee, In both which, it seen that
the terms had attracted his notice. and were apprebended
by him o submit TO Congress every object of human le
gislaon But ii is particularly worthy of remark that
altho member of the Senate of the United States when
amendments TO the Constitution were before that House
anu suury addiuohs and alterations were there made TO
e s sent from the other, notice taken of those
TERMS as pregnant with danger IL be inferred that
first view Of The Gonsuo G and boree member at the
discussed and eucdaed had been changed eonvic-
ton that the terms did not fairly admit the construction he
mad originally put on them; and therefore needed no ex
planaory precaulOn against it.
close these remarks, which fear may be found tedou,
WIN aSSuranceso my great esteem and best regards
Mr.. STEVENSON.
The BALTINoRE Conversational letter in the N
Y Ev Post from Baltimore states that in the Convention
letter was produced from Gen. Dckerson on the sub
lect OF his claims to the nomination being preerrd
lie states that previous TO The rejection of Mr. Van Buren,
by the Senate, his friends New York gave strong indi
cations in his favor; but that now, he himself in the
convention, he would, matter OF just reciprocity urge
the selection of Mr.. Van Buren, On this letter bein
duced the New Jersey delegates came TO the resoIo 10
support Mr.. Van Buren,"
The Jackson State Convention of MARYLAND which a,
met III Baltimore, 10 the following resolution:
ResoiUed That this Convention is impressed with tbe
gh Importance OF unanimy in the action of the friends of
the National Administration in Maryland and that in order
TO promote The same, II is recommended our friends t
surrender all personal preferences, and unite i'm giving
elect TO the acts and proceedings ohe National Conven
uOn recently assembled in the city of Baltimore"
There is still doubt about the result of e TIec
uon In Charleston One paragraph states, that was te
between Governor Hamilton and Colonel Walter Tho
Charleston Gazette OF the 18th states that Col alter
elected the Brgadier by small majority There is alrea
dy some discussion about the in which the cleo
ton was conducted-whether Drum and Fife Majors
were entitled TO vote, SC. &c.
The Editors Of the ntelgencer say: Beiering that public oD
/ NY DEFtNITIoN!" -
The Globe quotes the above sentiment, and animad-
vers upon with great force and our
parts, trust Mr. John s. Barbour will 90 o,and nrcss
the passage OF law, which may define this doctrine of
conemps--and punish any interruption of the public bu-
siness
Erfract Of letter from Washington ,crifen ON Mon
day night
ain the H. of Representatives today the Debate upon
the mighty subject of the Tariff opened in the most
mastery manner by MIR McDu1ie He demonstrated
the cruel Injustice and inequality of the Tariff and PROV
ed think conclusively that the greater part of e bur
den Tell upon the producers Of Cotton tobacco Rice &c
lie showed that duty of IL IL per cent (accorlne 70
The Bill reported by him from the Committee OF WAYS and
Mcans0 would produce greater amount of revenue
tanning amply all existing establishments and will
leave considerable surplus in the treasury applicable IN
contingent purposes. lie demolished Mr. Adams's repo
ami his absurd notion OF referring the power of
protect manufactures TO the clause i'm the preamble of
the Constitution relating to the common defence" in