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

To the debts the first of tho obiec
for which, by the Constitution Law
Sa duties %po and eSses conferred
ssc 10 their import "a, ; from, heinz
ofte founders Of the Constitutes, embraced great purposes
ha! solemn preamble, BY which People United
announce the great purpose for Which ,bev do o o. %
this Constitutions they emphocaly eighth
they not only poe erec-as to be
Mr.. aadms's Report iaSastress '''
We have this morning very important letter of
MIR. Madison to lay before our readers The His
tory OF It is soon told. Some time in the course of
the year 1880, Mr.. Stevenson, the Speaker of the
H. OF H., being on visit to Mr.. Madison some con-
yersaton took place on the general phrases in the
constitution, the common defence and general
Weliare"-hr. NJ. shed so much light, and produc-
cd SO many new facts, upon the subject, that Mr. s.
subsequently determined to write him, and to obtain
MS views Tor the purpose of laying them before the
fuoic. Mr. Madison compied--but the letter has
never yet been published.-As soon, however as we
had read MIR. Adamss late Report to the H. of r..
we thought the time had come, when Mr. Ms letter
should be called forth-A case had occurred which
would justify IT'S publication 1t the dignuS
0indtce n0dtS. The Advocate who had appeared in
favor of the contested doctrine was worthy of great
respect We accordingly applied for permission to
publish the letter. MIR. Stevenson has been polite
enough TO send 1t for the purpose of pubcation-If
there be any thing, like Demonstration in Politics. il
VIII be found in this letter. 1t completely over
throws the heresy, which Mr.. Adams has advocated
IN his Report:
.MontpelIicr, November 27fh 1880
DEAR SIR: have received your friendly favor of the
10Th instant in which you refer to conversation when
had lately the pleasure Of visit from yOu in which you
mentioned your belief that the terms ''common defence
md general welfare, in the S section of the first article
oil the Constitution of the United States were still regard
cd by conveying TO Congress sstaniive and in
dehnc power; and in which communicated my views OF
the introduction and occasion Of the terms as precudne
mat comment on them; and you expressed wish that
would repeat those views in the answer TO your letter
However disiGclined the discussion of such topics
al ume when 1t is difficult separate in the minds OF
many questions purely constitutional from tie party po-
iecs OF The day, yield to the preccdents which YOU
.N nave imposed on myself and to the consideration
tna' without relying on my personal recoecions which
your Partially oyervalues shall derive IN Y construction nj
inc passage in question: from sources of information and
evidence known or accessible TO all, who feel the import
ancc OF the subject, and disposed TO give it patient
examination.
In tracing the history determining the import of the
terms common defence and general welfare as found
the text ofhe Constitution the following lights are furnish
ed by the printed Journal of the Convcnon ybicb fr,n
edit ~ u"
The terms appear in the general propositions Offered
may 18th as basis for the ncipen deliberations; the rs
OF which Resolved that the articles of the Confederation
ought TO be corrected and ENLARGED as TO accomplish
e OBJECTS proposed by their institution, namely common
defence, security OF liberty and general wellare On the
nay following the proposition exchanged for Resolv
ca that an union OF the States merely federal will not ac
oPhsh me OBJECTS proposed by the articles Of conedera
neral welfare" w -
The inference from the use here made Of the terms ant
e" the proceedings the subsequent propositions IT, al
VIC common defence and general welfare were objects
confederation, they limited objects which ough
70 pc enlarged by an enlargement Of the particular power
10 wich they were limited and accomplished by a chang
~ VIC structure OF the Union, from form merely fedora
70 one parity nationals and these terms are preiixed
VIZ IKE .eSlon to the several legislative powers in th
new cnSer' as they in the old they must be under
stood to be under Ike limitations in the new as in the old
III me course OF the proceedings between the Both q
10y elu ,e o!h OF August, the terms "common deenc
"u seI', welfare as well as other equivalent terms
must nave been dropped for they do not appear In Nh
W" u constitution reported on the day, by Commit