Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-15
Total in both Banks,

l.. BALANCES FER TRHAsunY Books.
no tho credit OF tho Commonwealth, sic2,sss 50
1s%Si F RaSfI T%S%Rs1s' s at5Ss5 Z
n. w. L T. Road, $500 50
Cain in change, prior to April, 1899, 4s5
l.. B%URFooT, Treasurer Commonwealth.
II PRESIDENTS PRoCLAMATIoN.SNo. i.
=. e; C-n., "why, Hal, he Is tho peoples choico-they will no,
n. c. :Ay: Blu, Gull him a Fsdsraiist, and damn him with . name,
i"'y WIN never investigate It's ' Tns an thereby hangs !aley'
AS there is now a fair prospect Of a happy adjustment
oil the great questions which have so long disturbed the
peace and harmony of our political institutions, and well
nigh produced a dissolution of our blessed Union. IL il inn.
portant to settle the principles of our government upon a
sure aud firm basis: TO prevent, il possible, n recurrence
OF these unhappy discussions which, we have reason TO
fear, may one day be destructive - our liberty and hap
pines. The portentous clouds, which for a time have so
fearfully overcast our political horizon, are now almost dis
sipated. The tumult of passion and excitement, which
~pervaded the breast of the people, and perverted their
reason and Judgment have now ceased TO exist, and with
the causes which produced them have passed away the
feelings of the moment.
But the principles remain interviewer as a mart of our
constitutional history, and liable TO be. hereafter qsoted as
p~recedents establishing rights. We should then careful.
y and dispassionately review those which have been
their merits. l have lived long enough to learn, that pre-
JUDGE and interest ever gain the victory in the contest
with reason and judgment; and that the argument adj.
dressed 10 the pockets of the people was BY far the strong
est that could be offered. For this reason | bay. forborne
thus long TO speak my sentiments upon a question where
the persuasive voice of temporary interest opposed the die
"NN - 'ON"N NbhNiN huCIC AHG people VI tnS Stale
wished to sanction the unwarrantable course of South Ca
rolina, and by unfolding the wrongful act of another. force
a reduction OF The tariff. But, since these causes have
ceased TO operate and influence their decisions, ! will adj
dress myself to all candid and liberal individuals i'm sup
port of the Presidents Proclamation.
A new set Of politicians have lately appeared. who
seem TO be afflicted with the morbid rage of debate, of ar
dent minds, fertile imaginations, and copious flow of words
listening with impotence TO any logic which was not
their own; easily retu,ed, but impossihle 10 he silenccd.
Their trade is 10 question every thing except their own in.
iallible dOgmas; TO yield nothing, and talk loudly of liner
ty and Their OWE patriotism by the hour. These have
raised the hue and cry against the President. and without
the slightest examination into the principles contained in
the Proclamation, many of his friends have Joined i'm the
denunciaton of A Federalis! A black cockade Federal
Isl! "A Hartford Convention FederalisL In their patrio-
tic phrenzy they have not only disproved the absurd here
sizes of the President, hut in their enthusiastic chase after
reserved rights and State sovereignty have absolutely
proven that there ooS no such thing as a General Go.
rernnent! This may indeed be deemed an important
discovery, and a patent right should surely be the reward
oil MS invention and ingenuity. "No, exclaimed the ora
tor, this : a mere league between independent overeigns.
which each one may cast of as an old coat, al his pleasure.
ana incur no crime morally or poliiically-our Union ha.
formed no government" What, cried an honest farmer,
standing near, with a broad stare of astonishment At tho
new lights 'toe have not a General Government ~
ana though the orator had proven clearly and incontestibly
mat there was no government, yet the plain farmer was
still incredulous, as he had a short time before read the
constitution and come from Washington, where he said
that such a thing did actually exist. The simple decIara-
non oil what he witnessed was too strong for the LAWYERS
logic. And with the argument which proved our govern.
mem a mere league or treaty, would every other one fall,
- '"S P"'h WV iltculStHN farmers would trouble Them
serves 10 investigate the facts. But TO proceed TO the Pro-
clamation:
The first Objectionable feature is stated in these words :
In our colonial State, although dependent on another
power, we very early considered ourselves az connected
by common interest with each other. Leagues were
formed Tor ommon defence, and before the Declaration of
independence, we were known in the aggregate charac-
ter, as the united colonies Of America. That decisive and
important step was taken jointly. We declared ourselves
a hanon ny a Joint, and not by several acts, and when the
terms o our confederation were reduced 10 form. il was
that OF a solemn league Of several States, by which the y
agreed that they would collectively form one nation
for the purpose of conducting some certain domestic con
Germs, and all foreign relations" 1t is surely true, that
we considered ourselves connected by common interest.
during our colonial dependence. The stamp act as early
az l765, the taxes upon tea, glass, paper. &c. onerateJ
upon ua, not as distinct States. but az the American q y
pie, or in other words as united colonies. Franklin's letter
10 Governor ohirIey' against The imposition of taxes, his
speech before The in opposition to the stamp act.
speaks OF them not as separate and distinct States. but az
a nation at that time oppressed in an aggregate character.
ny a ruinols system Of taxation. All Of the acts OF
The British Parliament consider them as united-historv
speaksoi them as such. The Congress assembled at New
YORK on the Th October, I765, protested against the
stamp act 10 a Joint and aggregate characteristic at Phi.
iadeiphia was a Congress Of the Union-the laws of Par
hament were general-fbe resistance TO those laws crea.
ted a common cause and joint action-ihe leagues formed
TO resist them were for common defence-ibe aoent yybicL
Ihey had at Paris was looked upon as = minister of The
United Colonies-sent by the United Colonies TO procure
foreign aid for the United Colonies. Can any person sGI
doubt? P''V" '"'
But that is not al. We declared OURSELVES nation no
q Jolnt, and not by several acts-that decisive and imporf-
AMI step was taken jointly. The history Of the times
shows tis-and still more satisfactory evidence. Look Ia
the act passed by Congress, June 9TH, 1776; moved
by the delegates from Virginia, according 10 the in.
siruction Of The Virginia Convention THAT inc Congress
should declare that these UN1TED COLONIES arc
and OF right ought TO be, free and Independent States. ina
'hcy are absolved from all allegiance to The British Crown
and that all political connection between them and Inc
STATE Of Great Britain, is and ought TO be dissolved; and
,nat measures should be Immediately taken for procurino
Ie assistance Of foreign powers, and a confederation he
lorIned 10 6ind The colonies more ciosefv f~ORefhey." Here
mey are spoken Of as united colonies, preparing 10 form
confederation to bind themselves more closely together.
Agan-Some OF the delegates in Congress had moi
been authorized 70 radfy this declaration, and il was ar.
gued' that II such declaration bs agreed 10, these dele.
gates must retire, and possibly the colonies which tbey
represented might seeede from The Ugion." Here. in ,hs
very words OF the Proclamation, they are spoken Of A.
uOted colonies, and IN the arguments upon is adoption. n
5 feared mat some Of these colonies might possibly scceds
from the Union, because their delegates were not au,bo
riZed to sanction this measure.
but l nave not yet finished. The title OF the Dselara.
ton oil independence, is, "A Declaration by the Repre.
sentatives Of The United States Of America in genera
Congress assembled" The preamble says, "yhen in IN,
course Of human events II becomes necessary Tor one oso
pie to dissolve the political bands which have eonneete,