Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-08-07
MR. nEIGHs coUR ser 1YiE ESyqUiaER

examined ali tS opisioa her prcuGico had formed in
regard the % party eoarorersy; and among he vbe
nea ~s ale" LAY and really thought that impartial
could doH"t that the principle Of that and that IL
absolutely necessary N Should particular no
forced as law The safeguards provided by our Constitution for
0"a ats and liberty Jsssned for te protection Of citizens nor
JSreg'ers The protection aliens Friends or enem
matter of Javca United States arc ON ne -
"eat Britain the Ministers Crown disnac
their agents to this country collect information of our
sources our ofces and weak points their to light aud
fan the flames of civil dcord openly engaged in The
okof mischief Can be imagined that Congress cannot authorize
me Afeennre send tsm array eO"e % they persist
Ing at all dota naeAinaions7 do
that this law constitutional is principle .boug
b. Objectionable in its details which forgotten"
Extract from Mr.. Leigas Letter to Henry Lee
In the conclusion of my last No promis.d IN TOO,
the fitness of MIR Leighs claims to the appeation Of
"09 Republican, and in order that no mistake no 70
his language or sentiments may occur have presented
the above extract from his Alien Law Letter in which
he ayows his opinions and procaims his Jews upon the
very SUBJECT which, together with the Sedon La con
sttues the groundwork of the celebrated Resolutions
and Report OF the Virginia Legislature of 90 and 90
This letter, although written many years ago was never
seen by The public eye until May, 1884 1t purports to
express an opinion, not formed suddenly and witbout
proper reflection but upon examination OF the subject a.,
which 1t refers and hence il is to be regarded n The
tab'shed and permanent judgment of MIR Leigh upon
that great and memorable question: which first distinc
marked the Federal and Republican Party
know that some of MIR Leighs friends, who profess.
aunerence 10 the old Republican doctrine, affect dis
cover sufficient vndication for him in the case he sup
poses The United STATES are on tic ere of ,oor ,c;fb
Great Britain And others perceive great magic in the
expression Thoueh IL nunv be oLiectouobe .; s Je,Js
'eieh hare torgouen II mig ht suffice here 10 state
that the very supposed by Mr. Leigh was he f1c
upon which the Federal Party sought to Justify and de-
lend the Alien Law, with the solitary difference that we
were them they alleged the eve of war with France
instead Of Great Britain. In reference TO The I,t,er
PRESTON 1t may be avered without the slightest or re-
moest apprehension OF being ccnradiced that ahou gh
the Alien Law ELECTED long and powerful discussion
yet not single debacr in the Republican ranks con-
enuea 'natit was right In prieipe and wrong in detail
II of rVid frint.s.,
glowing eoquence, and with chain of rreragable ar
gnmen they met the advocates of the law ut the bresb
mold and denied the power Of Congress TO pass such
law They commended that the grant of authority was
not to be found in the Constitutions among The soec;6
enumeatons of powers vested in the Congress of the II
states and therefore, the Federal Governnen was emil
" OF usurpation IN exercising it. And yet Mr. Leigb
upon full reflection and examinations thinks TIM mn 5n,
Paruat man eod doubt that the principle Of that act ,oas
coHstitutioHat and here permit me to saw no roes
farther than the rankest of the Federal debaers for
am not informed that any of them debated The inn
Paruauy OF James Madison or John Taylor and their
aoie political associates But, with what colour of pro-
pretty can MIR Leighs friends infer his ostbodoxv FINN
the declaration that he had foygotsn the details of the
Law, while he is distinct plain anpuRoe can male
him. IN acknowledging the principle that Conoress sse
authorize the Erecutice 10 send item IgensJ 7eo mr. m
eogtHe them, dey persist IN Stagiag Certainly The
federass conendcd for nothing more but precisely a
Hgain-Mr. Leigh thinks the power is ndispessablv
necessary to be exercised $50 rs ut I'LL ercnts 10 C,
yer maehinatons The Congress of the United states.
6y The passage Of the Alien Law, certainly did what Mr.
leigh here admits they had right do for the Alien
Law authorizes the President to order ali sneh g;eas ne
nc shaH "age dangerous 10 c pence aHd sgety Of ne u
oaes ~ @aH here reasonable grounds to suspect are
concerned IN any treaso1abe secret 'rachiaofioos
ogaHst ne Co0eyHne thereof dcpart out OfMe Terri
oryg ue Unitcd States, ,oitn such time as shau be ,
pressed ~ such order Here it will be perceived pc.
cuIar coincidence Of language occurs in the above
Extract and the Alien Law. Mr. Leigh contends
Tor law 10 d9eat The Nn0ckinations" of dangerous
aliens The Alien Law authorizes the PRECEDENT TO
order such as cure engaged bt am reasonable or Sc
eret mackiHoti0ns against The G61eyy,penf m ds,or,
ont # the Tsrrtorg Of the Uaaed STATES DSt a
sli stranger coincidence is be found by couparing
he above Extract with the speeches Of the Federal de-
Daers IN The Virginia Legislature Of 1903 I'm vain did
iey urge that France and America were "per0;og' a.
war ~ vain did they contend that tie admission nj
ahsHs t"to eonniry oas aoQctker uaiter Of graee
N vain did they depict the danger of permitting them 10
remain almost ~ 80 many words did they charge France
WIN having sent among parcel Of i0ecadaries IN
hght asd fan ute Famcs Of ciru discord" The stern
Republicans answered that the Constitution was moi
70 be altered or enlarged by combination or neon.
hsfiiy Of circumstance that the power claimed could
not be found IN that instrument and was therefore
reserved to the States, and could not be exercised
~ inc General Government without a polpable and
dangerous usurpation. The wise the GOOD tho vo.
neraoe John Taylor Of Caroline declared ttat me-