Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-19

supreme power in a State, aud we might Just as well
speak OF half a square, or half a triangle, AZ Of half a
sovereignty. Its a gross error 10 coniouud the exercise
of sovereign powers with Sovereignty itself; or the dele
CATION OF such powers with a surrender OF them. A
sovereign may delegate lis powers to lie exercised by a.
many agents as he may think proper, under such cOndi-
lions and with such limitations a. lac may impose; but To
surrender any portion OF his sovereignty to auU her, is To
ennihilate The whole. The Senator from Delaware, (Mr.
Clayton) calls this metaphysical reasoning, which, lac
says, he cannot comprehend. IL 10y metaphysics, lie
means that scholastic refinement which makes distinc-
tons without difference, no one could hold it in more ute,
contempt than he, (MI. c.; but l., on the cou,rary. lac
means the power OF analysi SIS aud coubuauon-tlat powe,
which reduces the most complex idea Into its elements
which traces causes to their first principle, and, by thc
power OF generalization aud combination, uuites the whole
in one harmonious system; then, so Tor from deserving
contempt, 1t Is the highest attribute OF the human mind.
1t is the power which raises imam above the brute l.
which distinguishes his faculties ltou, Mere sagacitv
which he holds in comm'u With ia'eiior animals. LII
this power which has raised lhe astronomer from being 4,
mere gazer 90 the stars 10 the high intellectual enipence
Of a Newiono 1apl,c,; and astronomy itseII nom, = mcvs
ohservoirnOi iu u.aiVd facts into that Noble sc,ence which
Displays 10 our admiration the system OF the universe. And
snal' 'ns h'so powered ihe tu'nd, vi ich has effected such
wonders, when ligtCtd tuthe laws which conuo OF IN, u,a
'e'l'' "',I' DC forever prohibited under a scnseless cry
20 c.e'aphyslcS, tom beng applied 10 The high purpo.e OF
political science and leg sla'ivn? He held ,htm To be sub
lcct TO laws as hNtd as ina ter Itself, and to be as III a sub
Jecl Tor the application Oi the highest intellectual power.
Denunciaion may indted fall upon the philosophical en-.
quirer into these first principles. as il did upon GshIeo and
Bacon, when they first InlUldcd tie great discoveries
which have immortalizrd their names. but the lime ~ I'M
come when truth will prevail in spite of prejudice aud de-
NNf ""A "hNA eihtN dWu ltElNldUOl n ID 4 M
sldtred as much a science as astronomy and chemistry.
In conneXiOn with this part of the subject, he under
5000 Tue Senator from Virginia, CMr. Rives) to say that
sovereignty was divided, and that a portion remained with
the States, scverally, and that the residue was vested in
the Union. by Union, lie supposed that the Senator meant
The United States. III such be his meAuing-iC lac intend
ed to affirm that the sovereignty was in the twenty-four
States, in whatever light lac might view them. their opi.
mons would not Disagree; but, according TO his (Alr. Chs)
conception, the whole sovereignty was in the several
States, while the exercise OF sovereign powers " a diyid.
.ed-a part being exercised under compact, through this
General Government, and the residue through the sepa-
rate state Governments. But il the Senator from Vir.
gnia (dr, Rives) meant TO assert that the twenty four
states formed but one community, with a single sovereign
power, as to the objects OF the URion, il would be hut lie
revival OF the old question, of whether the Union was
a union between States, aS disiinct communities, or a mere
aggregate OF the American people, as a mass of inJiyidu.
AIS ana In THIS hight his opinions would lead directly to
consolidation. W
But TO return to the bill. 1t is said that the bill ought
10 pass, because the law must he enforced. The Laws must
be enforced. The Imperial Elict must he executed /,
Is under such %sOphiStry, cOuched in general terms. with
ou' looking TO the limitations which must ever exist in the
practical exercise OF power, that the most cruel and
despeuc acts ever have been covered. II was such sopbis.
Try as this that cast Daniel into the hou's den, and the
three lnnoceuts into the fiery furnace. Under the same
sophlstry the bloody edicts Of Nero and Caligula were exc
cuted. The law must be enforced. Yes. the :. tea fax
must De executed This was the very argument which
impelled Lord North and his administration i'm that mad
career, which for ever separated us from the British crown.
Under a similar %sophis;ry, "that religion must be protect
ed, how many massdcres have been perpetrated2 and
now many martyrs have been tied TO the stake? What,
acung on TINS vague abstraction, are YOU prepared 10 en-
iorce a law, without considering whether it he Just or I'M
just, constitutional or unconstitutional? will Won collect
money when 1t Is acknowledged it is not wanted He
VINO earns The money-who digs it from the earth with the
sweat OF his brow, has a lust lille to ii ag,inst the uuivorec
NO one has a right to touch il without his consent. cxcept
his Government, and it only to the extent of its legitimatr
wants; 10 take more is robbery, and you propose by this
uli 10 enforce robbery by murder. Yes, to this result Won
must come, by This miserable ~sophAirv, this vague ali.
straction OF enforcing the law without a regard TO the lact
whether the law be Just or unjust. consit,tionaI Or mn
constitutional. asa
In the same spirit we are told, hat the Union must be
preserved, without regard TO the means. And how is IL
proposed TO preserve the Union? BY force - Does any
man, IN his senses, believe that his beautiful structure
this harmonious aggregate of States, produced by the Joint
consent OF all, can be preserved by force? Its very IHlro-
duclion will be certain destruction of This Federal Union
NO; no. You cannot keep the States united in their con.
s.ituuonal and federal bonds by force. Force may, indeed
hold the parts together; but such union would be the bond
between master ana slave, a union Of eXacHon on one side
and OF unqualified obedience on the Other. That obetfi-
ence which we are told by the Senator from Pennsylvania
(hr' "hkins) IS The Union! Yes, ezacion on The side o.
the master; Tor this very bill is Intended 10 collect what
can no longer be called taxes the voluntary contribution
OF a Tree people, but tribute, tribute to be collected uuder
the mouths OF the cannon! Your custom-house is already
transferred to a garrison, aud that garrison, with lis bate.
rles turned, not against the enemy OF your country, but
on subjects, q will not say citiZens) on whoa YOU propose
70 'eVy con'fIouuons'-Ha reason fled from cur borders?
have we ceased TO reflect? II is madness TO suppose that
the u mon can be preserved by force. l tell you, plainly
that the bill, should il pass, cannot be enforced. IL will
prove only a blot upon your statu e book, d reproach to the
year, and a Disgrace 10 the American Senate. | repeat,
that IL will not be executed; il will rouse The dormant nir.
Hol The people, and open their eyesto he approach of des-
pohsm. The country has sunk into avarice and political
corruption, from which nothing could arouse il, but some
measure, on the part OF the Government, OF lolIy and mad.
ness, such as that now under consideration.
Disguise 1t as you may, the controversy is one between
power and liberty, and he would tell the gentlemen who
were opposed to him, that as strong as might be the love of
power on their side, the love of liberty is still stronger on
ours. History furnishes many instances Of similar strug-
giles, where the love OF liberty has prevailed against power.
under every disadvantage, and among them Few more
striking Than that OF our own revolution; where, as strong
as was the parent country, and as feeble as were the CO..
lonles, yet, under the impulse of liberty and the blessings
oil God, they gloriously tiumphed in The contest. There
were, indeed, many and striking analogies between that
ana me present controversy: they both originated sub
staHuaIy IN the same cause, with this difference. that. i'm
the present case, the power Of taxation is converted into
mat oil regulating indusIry-in the power of regulating in
dustry, by the regulation OF commerce, was attempted to
be converted into the power OF taxation. We're he TO
trace the analogy further, we would find that the perver-
sion oil the taxing power, in one case, has given precisely
TIE same cohtrol 10 The northern section over the industry
oil the southern section OF the Union, which the power TO
regulate commerce gave to Great Britain over The Industry
oithe colonies; and that the very articles in which the colo.
mes were permitted TO have a free trade, and those of
which the mother country had a monopoly. are almost
technically the same as those under which the Southern
States are permitted TO have a free trade by the act of
1892, and which the Northern States have, by Inc same act.
secured a monopoly; the only difference is in the means:
IN the l0Imer, Tie colonies were permitted 10 have A free
trade, WIN all the countries South Of Cape Fiuistere, A
cape IN the northern part OF Spain; while North OF that
TIE trade oil the colonies was prohibited, except through
the mother country, by means Of her commercial reguia-
ions. 1 we compare The products of the country north
and soulh OF cape Finistere, we will find them almost
identical win tie list OF the protected and unprotected
articles contained in the act Of the last wear. Nor does
Tie analogy Terminate hnrn Tho ..fr,