Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-23
cared on the whole. that the power exercised BY

the bill YVES
" Condemned by the silence Of the Constitution;
CONDEMNED by tho rule Of Interpretation, arising out
OF the Constitution;
" Condemned by its tendency TO destroy the main
characteristic Of the Constitution;
Condemned by the exposition of the friends Of the
Constitution, willis, depending before the public;
Condemned by the apparent intention Of the parties
which ratified the Constitution;
"Condemned by the explanatory amc nts proposeJ
by Congress themselves, to the Constitution;
And he hoped would receive its final condo mnat
by the vote OF the House." Although Mr. Madison wa,
member Of the very Convention which had repeatedly
refused TO confer upon Congress- the power
oo although in 1871, he delivered speech sgains, the
assumption oil the power, yet when he became Prcsi-
dent he signed The bill Incorporating the present Bank
81 the " Stafes!!f Comment is not necessary; and
proceed 10 notice additional evidence of the chsny. Of
faith In Mr.. adisons Report, he en,phatcay denied
that the Supreme Court OF the States was the umpire to
settle conoverted constitutional questions. Among other
expressions are the following. at appears 10 your Com
mittee to be plain principle founded in common sense
illustrated by common practice, and essential to the ma
urs OF compacs that, when be had to no ir
ounai superior to The authority OF The parties the parties
themselves must be the righul Judges the last
whether The bargain made has been pursued or violated
Ana, however true, therefore, il may be, that the Judi
cta department is in all questions submitted TO il bv the
forms OF the Constitution, decide in the last resort this
resort must necessarily be deemed the last in rtiatio TO
me authorities Of ne oher departments IF The govern.
n'enf not in relation 10 the rights of the pa ties 10 the
constitutional compact from which the judicial as we'll ms
the other departments hold their delegated trust ON anu
other hypothesis The delegation judicial po,rer ,,oIa
dnnui the authority deiegafimg and the nee
oil this department with the others in usrp.d
might subvert forever, aud beyond the possible reach OF
instituted preserve" Notwithstanding this distinct
and unequvoca denial that the Supreme Cou,, is the ,r
bunai 10 ajudcate political questions MIR. Madison has
within the last i've years written letter. which he *.
pressed his decided conviction that in asserting to aud rs
flying the Constitution, the several States thereby cons
ued the Supreme Court the arbi,er to which the sove
reign States must appeal for redress OF grievances
Messrs Editors in thus noticing the conduct of Mr. M
am influenced by no unkind feeling towards him, and in
the language Of the sage, who his and
friend, may he permitted TO say, that would not plant
ihorns OH the pillow Of age, worth and wisdom" That
the evening oil his life may be and Tranquil as its
midday brilliant and glorious, is the PRAYER of hi,
z grateful couuryDen.
was induced to anmadvert upon the hucuatinc cha
rscier Of his opinions because AIR. adisons authority
Is so frequently invoked TO sustain false
Ell weak cause. We in this country too apt 10 be-
come man-worsippers, without due regard truth or
common se'.e We have no right to expect assert,
that any man or set OF men are absolutely perfect m tcs
dom virtue.
Among the queries recently addressed to the Hon. VIM
c. Rives enqured whether he thought Congress nos.
sessed the power construct works OF internal improve
meD In answer 10 this. Friend of Justice" observes
that cit IS not little reaarkaLle that should have ia
ken $50 htHe pains TO inform myself as not TO have
read Mr. Rivess speeches in the session Of and
that OF 26-27 read tho speeches alluded to shortly al
ter their publication and as those speeches did in5ofm
as tohdt r0utdbe Mr.. Rpess opinions in the year 1888
thought that the query propounded quite appropr
aie aud think now the logic OF your 10
tue contrary Notwithstanding Alter replying 10 the ques
ions about internal improv your correspondent OBJ
serves, that in like manner (by taking pains )
might very easily have collected Mr.. RS opinions OH the
right OF secession from his speech the Senate ON
the bill providing Tor the collection Of the revenue
have a,tenvey read this speech Mr. Ryess and must
confess that il in that speech he has uttered the word Sc.
cession or any sentiment from which his of the sub.
Ject can be collected, it has escaped my attention.
And should be glad if any would designate that por.
ton OF Mr. RS speech, where the right of secession is
named
Your correspondent has remarked, that Mr.. Webster
compmented the ability OF Mr. Rives's speech in
The courfesy0 debate Much as dissent from Friend
oil Justice upon other subjects, entirely coincide with
him in the opinion, that it in the courtesy of de.
Bate" that Mr. Webster compiinened the ability Of
Mr. RS speech.
In my address 10 Mr. Rves, stated that his constitu
ents had been mortified 10 hear that Mr. Webster had
dorsed his speech aud concurred Gin the results" while
ne "hesitaed about "some Of the premises" Although
Messrs Rives and Webster commenced their bv
laying down different premises "a Friend OF Jusce''
thinks that 81, not very remarkable" hat they should
ultimately arrive at the same general concusons Your
correspondent has involved himself in this diIemmsIf
Mr.. Rivess premises were republican, his conclusions
were feera-f Mr.. Webses premises W. re federal his
conclusions republican Which OF the two Senators
has deserted the true faith, let the world Judge One
thing is evident, that our bounful mother, Virginia in
opposition to the wishes OF most OF her sons was during
the last winter united 10 ars,ocrac Massachusetts, the
sire OF many tederaiss, and manufacturer of wooden
nutmegs aud 'oiher notions"
The visible faculties OF your correspondent ga Friend
OF Justice appear to have been pro di-giously excited
in consequence Of - what? Wby having
"seen il stated that worthy and respectable gentleman
In recent canvass for seat in the Legislature had vow
ed as principle of political action, that he always
watched TO see which way the FederGIsfs were going Ia
vote, and then invariably voted, right wrong the other
way And what then Does that prove that Mr.. Rives
voted against the Force Bill? By the way did your
respondent ever see huie book. called ''Selcc Anec-
does Those who fond of the de ph,fuI and limo
cent recreation OF laughing, would do well TO supply
themselves with copy of the work The anecdotes con-
famed IN The book are amusing, but Of them esab.
iish Mr. Rivess title 10 the name of a Jefersonian Re.
publican. MJTTIIrS
Buckingham, July 3D. 1893,
p. s. Will you he good enough 10 publish the following
extract from the Wing of December I4b 1892 MI
that, "Mr Wicher requested the gentleman from Abe
marie to answer distinctly the following questions: l.
Mr. X or is he not opposed the Tariff on con sutonaI
grounds what are his opinions with regard TO the rea
tons between South Carolina and the General Govern.
meni!" 80
Mr.. Gi'mer was unable TO give full answer TO the
geneman's inerrogatory The gentleman from Buck
ingham (Mr Yancey) he understood, had written test.
ony IN his possession establishing beyond all question
the orthodoxy Of his opinions" &c.
" Mr. fancey felt himself bound re AL The letter all,d
ed TO by the gentleman from AIbemare." The Editors
OF me wing then remark that it Is unnecessary to in
ser the letter here. The writer declares himself 10 be-,
"An. Tariff. Anti Nuilifcaon Anti Bank and welding
10 no one in his thorough support OF Gen. Jackson
" MIR Witcber wished 10 know whether the gentleman
from buckingham III his letter. to which the one lust re
was an answer had asked Mr. r. TO posv civ and
directly his opinion upon the consuionay of the Tariff
The principal charge, though by rumo,Ir gajnst hin, no.
TO know whether that question was brought m,ne,ia,el
before him! IL such were the case e answer lust read
tods a PdlpabIe evasion IF The main question:
" Mr. fancey was not sufficiently positive TO answer
me question, with any degree OF certainly. He could
not he supposed to recoIlect the OF letter writ.
IA IN rnl H..