Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-20
VOL. X1IM.---Nc. 90.

I select Committee"
Mr. Daniel replied, that the gentleman's views
usually sound and wholesome he would take his advice
Mr. Wicklfe said that be did not know that the Presi-
dent had recommended the exercise Of doubul powers by
Congress.
Mr. Daniel then modified the Resolution 10 read
land so muoh as relates 10 the exercise" SC.
Mr.. Mercer thought il would be best 10 strike out tho
clause He had thought at drst, ths the gentleman from
Kentucky, (Mr Daniel) had been intending ony the in
diligence Of vein OF huinor; hut he perceived tia, was
otherwise, and he thought that the subject was very pro-
per subject OF reference Tie question whether, before
any power exercised by Congress which gentle
men considered doubtful, resort must he had to con-
venon Of of all the people of the o. States
was certainly subject that might very properly be re-
erred TO committee Of that House. 1t furnished a sub
jec Of serious consideration. Yet its seriousness arose
more from the high from which such suggestions
had proceeded than from any thing else. He apprebend
cd that IL Congress never 10 exercise any power
which had been doubted until two-ths of the People Of
The Union had been called upon 10 decide the question:
their path from darkness TO day would be long diff
cult, and would be very seldom ravelled Mr. M. OBJ
Jected TO coupling this clause with that in relation In-
teTna improvements il seemed TO imply affinity between
the two subjects which he was disposed 10 dissolve.
Mr. Polk moved to strike the words ''and The exer
else by Congress Of doubtful powers The Presidents
message suggested the prorieiy OF disspsng all dou bits
about the cOns,ituonaliy OF works Of improvements
eman from Kentucky moved Lis resolution about doubt
full powers, Mr.. p. had supposed, other gentlemen
seemed TO have done, that il had been merely in
Spor he had he should have opposed the re- solution
Here some desuitory discussion the question
whether it would be in order receive Mr. Pok's amend
men ana the Chair was understood as PronounciDg il
be in order.
from
tennessee (Mr Polk) that in making the he had
done, he had been entirely in The gentleman
was mistaGSa if he supposed Mr.. D. came to that House
Tor inc purpose making sport with important part
of the Message Of the Executive His object had been 10
ascertain what powers the President considered as doubt
ful powers and what not in order that Congress might
not exercise them against his will. 1t had been his de-
SIRE il he could be fortunate TO get upon the COM
miuee, hunt the Presidents opinion il IL were nos
sble to discover what that opinion was points Of con-
stiuiona law That had been his WISH and that was his
purpose in Offering the resolution Was this sporting with
4 Hn wa
the gentleman from North Carolina (NIr SpcighO had got
hrs resolution into state that he would be unable TO do
what he intended he wanted buve examined die vs-
rious communications of the Executive 10 that House
at eerent times and also the expressions Of his opinions
out oil doors-becduSe he ceH that Inc ca
preston Of an opinion by The President that he dosbted
me consttHionoity e any particular potoer rendered
mat a "dou0gm P0tcer." and that power ought not
therefore TO be exercised by Congress For example he
desired particularly know what the opinion of the
President on the repeal of the Goth section the Judiciary
act this be hoped get from the gentleman from Ten
nessee I Poik who said to be very intimate AZ the
White House. He wished farther TO know how Car N
State might regard TO its own internal police He
wished TO get at these Executive opinions as they were
TO be gathered from declarations public or private and
among other things from the Pfocamaons of the Execu-
I'VE lie thought that if this could he ascertained tho
Union, instead of being dissolved might be presorved
II the House would only declare how far State might
go His wish was TO this Union from civil War
'hd rom foreign war aso which was not unlikely DO
excited by the course the President was PURSUING
lie would have desired TO make Report upon this sub
Jecr upon the subject OF Internal Imp also He
wished 1t settled exac how iar the House might 20 so
that NEroEs should cease. The House must not run
counter 10 the Preldeurs opinions Constitutional law
provided could discover What those opinions were That
what Mr. d. had thought 10 be perfectly constitutional he
now found 10 he "doubul" Fl wanted to fad out lust
how far Congress might go The President had declared
ia his Message that power ought be exercised if one
fourth part OF the States believed il 10 be ,uconstiiona
all such were "doubful powers and should by no
means be exercised MI D. that in this he fully
accorded with the President. All such questions ought
TO be referred TO the People. 1t the exercise Of
these doubtful powers which had occasioned so much
excitement in some of the States. 1t was the People
who were the proper members eff the Constitution:
they were ITS authors and they could modify it plea
sure. Mr. D. was anxious TO obtain a Rcpor which
should shew how tar the exercise of doubtful powers had
produced the public dsconents The people would no.
yer complain Of having these questions submitted to them;
especially questions which in danger OF dssolvR
the Union. Mr. d. however, said that he was MS much
opposed TO the exercise Of doubtful powers by the Exec
tive as by Congress. lie thought The question ought to
be referred to the people, when large portion Of the
country dissatisfied with he exercise of even ConsG
)nal powers These were bis motives for Offering the
Presidents Message He believed was most inpor-
tan subject Tor references: the powers Of the States ought
TO be Investigated.
man from Kentucky (Mr. DanicD had been more candid
in his expose than he had intended TO be The resolution
II seemed, was intended the President. Now
Mr. considered as looking just the other way. To
him II appeared containing severe reflection on the
conduct OF both Houses OF ougress in the exercise of
doubtful powers IL the gentleman wished TO examine
what tile opinions OF the President ii the House of
representatives, was TO be occupied in the very becoming
and digncd employment sending about i'm all quarters
10 pick up declarations Of the Executive opinions he
thought the most suitable would be 10 ainoint a
committee, not OF The Members of the House. but of the
editors OF newspapers that class of persons were usu
ally very busy IN similar way. This vas no p.rt of
the Executive message. How would such a resolu-
lion look Or how would the report appear which
the gentleman wished to produce by IL? committee
grdvey reporting TO the House that they had discovered
that al such certain time the President had express-
cd one opinion, and at another time that he had OK.
pressed such and such other opinons2 Did the gem
ueman wish to give the committee power 10 send for
persons and papers Or did he propose employ corps
OF spies, or OF those letterwriers who swarninp in
dis city, This would be dignted indeed Tie gentle.
man lad told the House that 1t he should he so fortunate
a. TO get upon the Select Committee this would be what
he should do IT ths TO be the business of the Conn
muee, Mr. T. (houg not apprebcnsive being select
ed) begged In advance to be serving upon
IT. Tie hoped the object 10 view would be stated little
more dehm,ely
AS to ,he other part Of the gentieman's design he
joined heartily in IT, lie should wish see what were
the powers possessed by different branches of this Go.
vernment. lie wished TO see a report which sbouid
point ont those doubtful powers the exercise Of which
bearing this government with accelerated veloci
would not much longer brook There were far too many
tdoubuul powers exercised by Congress- lie hoped the
House would stop in course which the downward
course TO ruin.
Mr.. ewart, Of yvants sail, that with view Of
putting eud 10 his cycussiDn which he considered "a
prepa IRE he would s kt % much of he re-
solution iedtr3 10 HE uti Of H. ,r al Improvement
vi ic bsd afomy been referred TO he mmiuee charg-
ed viii the subject
The Chair replied hat ts woul ot be In ORDER as The
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