Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-03-14

tnose VINO strenuosy advocated change of poll
teal system, were Washington, Madison and many
Others who Afterwards conspicuous leaders in the
republican ranks.
In less than seven years after the termination of tho
war, the present government iraS ordained and este
d!isaed by the people of the states.
Immediately on the adoption of the constitution
the old party distinctions effaced and new diy
sons, with different objects became visible at an early
period. The clements of strife put in notion
and a new combination of parties effected. The
principal subjects of contention, were the prnci-
pies of Interpretation applied to the constitutions, and
the best mode of administering the government. Some
maintained that the constitution instrument of
limited and specified powers; others contended that
the principle of construction, the necessity of implied
powers, and the general grants contained i'm the con-
stitution conferred upon it unlimited power The
leader of the latter class of politicians was Alexander
Hamilton placed at the head of the treasury depart
ment by General Washington. The talents the learn
ing, the ntiring assduity of Hamilton together with
the high reputation he had acquired in the military
service, gave him more influence and power than any
OF the distinguished men with whom General WASH
lngton had adorned his cabinet: the whole machinery
OF the government, managed according his views
of sound policy. The president Justly relied upon his
integrity and patriotism; but Hamilton monarchst
IN principle. The constitution which he draughted
and proposed to the American people for adoption
affords sufficient evidence of that fact He recon-
mended tina. all state lines should be erased from the
map that members of congress should be elected by the
people of the United States without regard TO local
divisions; that all power should be conferred upon con-
gress to make any laws whatsoever that they might
ueefl necessary Tor the general welfare. He also
commended that the senate should be hereditary and
that the president should be elected for life. He honestly
believed that this was the only form of government
suited to the character and of the Amer
can people. lie warmly contended that the country
could not prosper without such concentration power
and that sooner later would be mpeled to that
alternative. Entertaining these views, it is not sur
prsng that he exerted all his power bring that con-
stituon which we did adopt, to conform practical
operations, as much as possible to his principles
and to confer upon those powers which he thought it
IN ha hnli ho,
to IN order to secure the and prosperity of the
country. Hence the great design of Hamilton to
draw and to secure all power to the general govern
ment With this view, he devised and put in opera
ton his scheme of national bank his funding SYSTEM
and his scheme of internal taxation His reasonings
and practices the great storehouses to which our
modern consodationlsts resort for all their arguments
and authorities After all their efforts, they have only
been able to expand and illustrate the principles which
were developed by their master.
Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatn, contended against
these pernicious doctrines of Hamilton, with great zeal
and perseverance. These gentlemen maintained that
there was no augmentation of power in the change of
government from the confederacy to the present
tutlon-thc only change made was giving efficacy to
those powers vested IN it beorethe only difference is
that under the conderacy they taxed states but now
they tax observation-disclosures say they, the powers of
the federal government enumerated-it can only
operate in certain cascst has legislative powers on
defined and limited Objects beyond which cannot ex-
tend It's jurisdiction. These sound DOCTRINES which
alone can freedom and happiness which are
alone suited to the wide extent of territory-the
great diversity of interest and of character-these SIM
pie and wholesome principles had influence on the
practical operation of the government for many years
after its formation. The policy of Hamilton held the
ascendency long after he had retired into private life
and we were rapidly approaching a consolidated go
vernment of unlimited powers. During the admnistra-
ton of the elder Adams standing army was created
burthenSome taxes were imposed-alien and sedition
laws were enacted-and the citizen found no proec-
ton or redress either in petition or remonstrance.
But the seed had been sown in good so-the little
eaven which had been infused into the body polite
penetrated, and wrought thorough publication of the
corrupted mass. The people, ever sagacous in Disco
vering their own true interests slow i'm detect
ing the of Hamton's poicy-they were con-
strained to acknowledge that longer perseverance
would be voluntarily to bring upon themselves an UNI
limited and despotic government. They determined ON
maintaining their principles and in 1901 Mr. Jefferson
was brought into Office Under hsinuence the alien and
seditionaws weresufered expire; the standing armies
disbanded-Jheo stentatious forms ofrcga govern
ments were neutrality-suspicious. every tendency
accumulation of power in the federal government was
promptly opposed and checked in The beginning. Under
the influence of his successor who adopted the same
principles and pursued the policy, the old national
bank was refused recharter, and system of internal
improvements by the general government vetoed--
These the undisputed guides of Virginia statesmen
PLAIN and simple IN their habits unambitious of power
put the government on its republican tack the
apt expression of Mr. Jefferson and confined its opera
ton to the limits of strict construction
Under this simple and unambitious form of govern
ment, operating few specified subjects of general
and external nature, might have gone rapidly on in
career of unexamped prosperity, had it been for
the concurrence of many extraordinary circumstance
In the creation of which the government had agency
and over which it had control. For many years the
powers of Europe had been striving involve us in
their quarrels and to drag into those of
ing determination, which they waged against each other
Every effort to avoid collision unavailing. No hui
man foresight wisdom, could have prevented the
war, in which we were finally involved. Being COM
mercial people, having many seamen ships, and vast
quantities of agricultural produce and merchandise
floating on the ocean, it might have been easily foreseen
that those lawless the sea, who regarded
neither treaty neutrality would drive us into
an open hostility. But unfortunately for our country
the proved to be disastrous one though finally
successful The country was not prepared for such a
contest; and the operations of the war were badly
managed. The finances became deranged and were