Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-03-14
VOL. XXX..--No. IO9.

9 supposed violations OF the law or Constitution by
opinion with request Represena,ives af lie neo.
pe o! virginia on this noo and lille thai reou,s, Ger.
an'y does not carry with it the force of on,ho,, co,
considering the high from which il proceeIs itis
ehu'ied 10 the most respectful consideration
Us known TO the House, that have heretofore sxpress
u ophons decidedly aud fundamentally opposed In yha,
understand TO be the principles maintained in the reso
WC Oh me General Assembly Of the Com,nonw eah Of
"S'. nave, however, as felt in duty bound 10 do
sincere regard to their wishes and respect for their
p"vns, reviewed and examined my own, and regret to
say, 'nat see no reason 10 change them
IL were TO consult my feelings rather than NV RI son
my political sympates rather than my polca nrincjples
uu opinions; Or could permit myse TO look TO NV in.
present or prospective, rather Than the ob,ig atoms
owe TO The Constitution my convictions of The ruh
might join in the denuncatons about usurpa,ion ,vran
ny and despo'ism, Of which we hear so nuch Rn; aI
40 not believe in these things cannot on in tho Glance
mat Is raised Whether the people of Virginia, os has
een sa'd entertain opinions in accordance with those
.Apresseu by The Legislature, do not know. have no
knowledge of the opinions my own constituents
me legislature OF Virginia derives authority as do
them think TIE Legislature have aJop,eJ rent;men,s
10 conict with the letter and spirit OF the Constitution
VIII oe Tor the people OF Virginia pass be,w zen them
ana those OF as here who do not agree with them.
mas been said that ona universal cry Of indignation
mas been raised from the Potomac Gulf of Mexico
Ihs' lhe usurpaion OF the Executive in this natter
ms may be So But believing as do that il is founded
upon principles wholly inconsistent with the theory Of the
institution, and in conflict with the ancient of
virginia, ior one determined 10 oppose unIess con-
eu oy me mandate OF my constituents, this current
S u not Voluntarily hoai down the stream, which be-
WIN a' last tumble over into that gulf of consolida.
"on' where regns gloomy and iron desnosn
nj, RENE oer wei, Mr. Speaker, the ,imc when Virgil
Gioaehments oil the Federal Legislature When a dis
unguished son ofVa whose unworthy am AMI
ai S uod' Is yet seadfas in The faith, habitu
y eeieu al or his strait-laced notions of constitutional
law and In mockery and derson was called he gd;,;
razor de bonis non OF State Rights
But that devoted champion of the rgh,s or Tho S,,,
anu OF limited construction of the Federal Consn,ion
" r. barhour neither qualed nor iallereJ in Lis course
Aier a long and doubtful struggle ,he nres.r, Ch;c
assets OF State Rights small indeed Rut ,,h ,h
a o. he stern and inhexble frmness Of the President
aned as ne has been by the people, thus far we find
that internal improvement that great source of ex,v.
giant expendiuresihat system of legislaon On hostile ~
he uue construction OF the Constitution lies prostrats
IT, nu ,anEuage OF It's great champion, " under the
Executive veto. AS ameans of saving portion Of ,ha
,o 1--WE" system from the fate which awaited it-irom
he hosuy Oh The President, the father of The American
system proposed and carried through the compromise bill
wch aiords prospect OF substantial relief from Thai
oppressive system; and l believe ,Lat moro i,nn'ad;a
and as certain relief would have been received bu, To-
the rash and precipiate though gallant and minded
course 'akeh by one oil the southern States which to-
se'"er WIN me proclamation OF the President placed
the country on the brink of civil war; and made ma all
gao 10 Sc ne The matter upon almost any terms
- e p'"s o, me nited states, which has been called
one OIL ,he hrstborn OF federal and now
more g'gan,'c IN its proportions than any of them ard
whose struggle now fills the whole country with
cohhoon, has been felled by the same hand wieJ;ng
na potent safe guard and check upon the encroachmens
Of Use legislative department OF the Governmept-ebe
Executive veto" "'0
am aware sir, that grea, deductions ara ~ ho ,.
UNI, ' " o, DEMENT'S on account of the famous procla.
m% on; neheve no one more readily or more openv
anu decidedly condemned its unsound and fatal bar;S
man myself; but shall zoe, under the influence Of '
,i Oh account oil mat act unite with those who de-
eiam against the executive veto, of the Bapk and of -;
'erha improvements, and bis fatal hostility 10 the ta,i o.
eviuehces oil the accumulation of all mower i'm the J
U'u In' ana moreover adopt opinions which not ONLY
ueP'"e 'he executive branch Of all the efficiency and
responsibi designed by the Constitution bn lead n H.
ere abandonment OF the executive check on the gis
la1fe ard must end at last in union of all the now
andi uJic
ranDy. "o" VI w
virginia Legislature in accordance with The Ir,Ia h
~ VI 'ne Constitution, and the principles which wers
Enumerated at the time of lis formation will read so
passages from The celebrated letters of pnhivs >, '
contain The most authoritative, and with some n,o,n,
P,ons, me most accurate and profound exposioDs of
doctrine, that any country possesses In reI,
non 10 lis fundamental law. In order 10 chou k
a 'r Madison viewed the comparative dangers Of
me executive and Legislative Department.. + rsfan =,
several passages from the Ash number OF " pbIi.,, "
The Legislative Department is every where ex,ood
impeiuous vortex" " P'"or'h'o'S
AGAIN, u Is said, that the founders of orr Ranrbu
seem never TO have recOected the danger from IiI
same hands, must lead TO the same tyraSnv a. IL - ~ ,o
ehfd by Executive usuTpaions - " ~
where and extensive
p1h ~, - are paced In the hands of an beradsr,,
hareh Tue Executive Departments iustw d'y mo
O;op ., uanSer' AMI watched with all The iesIousv
wieha zeal Tor liberty ought inspire I'm do gusy
where multitude OF people exercise in nerson %
"Ne unc''ons and are continually exposed bv tbei;n
capacity Tor regular delberalion and concer,oJ @ III
W .ne ahoiious iniFigues oil their Executive Mani'
maes; tyranny may well be spprehended on sona r.,
n emergencies 10 start up in the same cmsr,e
IW ~ repTesentdtiUe republic, ,chere tJe 1 800
npe IaGSishdey is carefully limited Bor5 i ee ,n
extent and duration 1 lis p2,cer and uh ~ re
LEGISLATIVE power is exercised by an assemble ,,L;i
isinsPred by supposed influence over The non, MI
an ihlrepll confidence in its own STRENGTH vhoi
VlenUy numerous 10 feed all the passions vyhich o,t
yet not so numerous as to be incapabIe NJ
pursuing NE objects OF its passions by means IvLich
son PfeseriOesj II is against the enterprisino ab;o IS
department That The people ought to indulge all bsjr
Je a0usy and exhaust all their pre- cautions " e'
In the fifty. first number of tbe samo 60, :, =,
'na' 10 republican government the Legislative su,bos,
nd'ur"y pfedohinaes :" and a Fetedv for ia" ny
au"o (mr' Madison) says 60 The legislature ia d;,s,
,nC Gefeh' oranches and that, the weight Of a.
gsanve authority requires that it should be thus dvi%
I'VE weakness OF the Executive, on the other bsnd 800
require mat should be fortified !" and he then refr ~
the propriety Of The qualified veto " ''ie'S 7"
These same general principles arc ansr,y,r, -
and he says: " mT Hamionj
FROM these clear and indubhabIe princioies rss,I,
w" p'Opr'ey 81 negative, either absolute or ona6od
ID me Executive, HpoD the acts ofte egjslaGve bar
es "iihoul NE one or The other The former would bo
aoSoOey unable 10 defend himself against The denreda
uos 81 ne auer' lie might gradually be striped Of
au'noues ny SUCCESSIVE resolutions, or onn6iIofed
~ SWgte Uofej aud IN the mode or the Other liz
- EsaWe and Executive powers might speedily come 10
DC blended in the hands" "' '"
The veto power is also said, in the same nun,ho, IL H.
ga salutary check upon lie Legislative bodv c,I,'
10 guard The community against the effects ~
ptaocy or OF any impulse unlriendIv 10 tho r pr
which may happen TO influence a mo;o,;,, boOe,