Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-11-06


i ' 81 NJ CT our Republic 1t is alphabetically srug-
zen The rights OF the c,c and The riG his of tie
""y. "letcvrt govrrnTIents> have been formed for
VIC purpose u securing any portion Of freedom 10 the
people, these antagonist prime pies have never failed
c"'e int" collision. Power is always stealing from the
many to the few. and the many ars always Jealous Of
rncroachmrnts upon their rights. This disposlion on
c part OF the governing parv, to cntrench upon the
rights OF the govrrncdlhs anxiety for an en-.
arTrmcn, AMI concentration powers in the ruler and
at Jealous vigilance the part Of the people to re-
strain the ruler and distribute his powers has produced
IN all free governments two rival and conlcndng par.
les So long us these parties struggle for the inainc-
nance OF their respective pancpes, they constitute the
grand PrcscrvalIres of human hcy-whrn they Grgen.
err into mere struggle for men, hcy become the bane
o freedom, and the instruments for tine establishment CT
, tyTimny.
The history of,hc English government is rcpete with
instructive ini"nnton the operation of these rival
prnc pies il the struggles of the Wings end Tories
the concnding for the enlargement Of the powers of
The King, and The other maintaining the necessity Of Ii
hitting his prerogativc. and distributing additional pow
efs among the people. AT every period Of 60
ycrnmrnt, these principles have displayed themselves in
t"sl vgnr.-Nhateve the parties in govern.
mrnt have at different times assumed, the objects wlc!
they have iab"rd 10 accomplish, have ever been the
Oar separation from The Government of Great
Britain, produced by the operation Of the pEin
c:prs.
II was ncl the imposition Of small tax upon our IA.
theirs that induced them to their ale glance to
George II l. and dissolve The bonds which had united
them wtl their mother land not simply the prn.
cpr OF representation tina: HpellcG them 10 that bold
and hazardous course but il was the attempt OF tic Bril-
tlsl monarch to enlarge his powers, to usurp the ghts Of
!3ya subjects, and Concentrate them in the govern
macnt CT EngianJ that mpclIcd fathers to their
rights, ard resist tie entertainments end usurp2Iion Of
the Crown. During our EVOLUTIONARY struggle, when
had pledged their fortunes their lives and
their "nor. in defence If Limitation and distribution Of
pnwcr there who dared 10 cspousc The royal
cause and contend for the opposite principle The former
the Wings. the latter the Tories OF the rcvolu
tionllir former b. their vIDr and their devotion TO
the of human liberty, have secured an mpersha
bic rcnowntlle latter b. advocating the Of dcs
poiis, have saccd ieIt aInrs high the pillar ct IN
fanny In Tx deliberations If the Convention which
framed tie Constitution OF the y. States, these antago
nSt principles: operated with such force, that they had
we'll nrh dissolved the cGavCn!lon. and defeated all The
benefits which secured Ly years war. In
the on there E"n who doubted The capacity
o the people for sr!govc.nmcnt, and therefore con-
tcscd inr tc concentration OF large powers IN the Fc-
GYra Govern rut. On the other ilnd, there
others vino maipta.Scd, that the State Governments or
the people themselves entirely adequate 10 cNcrce
all powers and. therefore, "y contei:ded for nIscry
/ and rigid limitation OF Federal powers. The difficulty
was finally settled by mutual concess on-bot: parties
yirldrd portion Of their principles, and compromised
upon present Constitution. the great palladium. Of
lh'rty.
! The principles whc! had divided the Cpnvcn-
tion produced contend.ug parties, wien the Consu.
ton Submitted or ratification 10 the people % the
States During the frs, administration Of the Govern
ment, the influence Of t.!c Of George Washing
,uu curbrd and rrsira!rd great extent the opera
tom Of these rival prnc pies: hut they did not cease TO
exist In the administration Of John Adams: they dis
played themselves n, mos: dangerous and alarming
In that great struggle Tor principle and Tor the
! preservation Of lie Constitution during that admins
ratton powers claimed tor the Federal Govern
ul.mt which wee unauthorized by thc Constitution. and
the granting Vi Which would have been virtual ccog-
.son ol the es,ablisl,nrn, of monarchy, upon the
.pns Of The tpnbsc. The people in their strength,
AID Elected t., rca, political revolution OF lfSc~,
wA!ch has SIEGE been regarded rs most signal tri.
umpll arbitrary power.
Dning tha t.r successive administrations Of Jefcr.
sou. AladIson AND Monroe the federal government
conducted. with lew exceptions, upon the principles of
the great Republican patti, ch a trlumphcd in the
downfall Of Juhn Adams. But the lines of division STILL
existed, and Tie restless spirit Of power still active,
preparing to seize the first opportunity again 10 take the
Ged in open fight Al the close Of Mr. Monroe adml.
substitution, this opportunity presented itself Al this peri
5lod III History, beg leave 10 pause for moment, and
examine The situation OF parties. In the Prcsidentalcon
test, which resulted in lic election OF j. O. Adams, the
principles of The strong government party obtained he
c"Edaacy although their adsccal were in decided nj.
norty. The means by which this triumph Of the Federal
party secured, should he cngravcn upon the
nory Of those who desire the prrpeuiy of constitutional
liberty There four candidates competing pr the
Prs.d: Mr.. adams ii the North entertaining all the
odous and dangrsous principles Of the Federal party
MIR. Crawford Of TIC South, recognised and esteemed as
Rcputivau-Nr- Clay. Il the West until that period,
recng nisrt a4u.r;nt member Of the Republican
party ard General backs II, also Of the West. known
and acknowledged true Republican, When the
ican candidates adhered 10 their first choice, and
thereby created such division III the ranks thai nei
tc candidate received majority OF the electoral votes
As necessary consequence the election dcvc!vcd upon
the House Of Representatives Of Congress. MI Adams,
Mr.. Crawford and Cen Jackson were returned t. the
llousc The vntr then to be taken by States each
Stale having one yotc-;.e Republican States 10
the majnrity but when the vote TAKEN the vote cf
che Republican State cast for Mr. Adams which
secured his election Mr. Clay lien ~ the House
Of Representatives, and had nnbounded contro! over
INA ori:y Of the delegation from kcntucky--r cxer-
thai control contrary to The express VII! o. s con-
ylenls, and thereby cast The vote 81 kentucky Tor Mr.
Adams Mr.. Clay rewarded By the FIRST Office within
tts Executive yltt. General Jackson was in this way
di;at,t, although he had received majority OF the
ynl,s Of Tie people and Federal President imposed
upon the county, against lis will. Here signal
triumph 10 the principles Of lcdeEal!sn-and should
be forgotten, that this disastrous defeat OF Kcpno-
iica p.incIp!cs produced Dy division o! the he
publican party, and by bargain and intrigue in The
House OF Representatives! During the adm!n!stra.
ton Of Mir. Adams, the c"unry and particularly the
friends o Republican principles, were Sorey punish
ed for suffering tic election TO to the House Of Re-
prcsrniatyeS through tacf divisions end adherence
10 ..rs,.na pr, r.enccs TIE abuse Of federal power
aroused a spirit Of Indignation rom one end Of the
Juun to the other. There no Claim OF power go cx-
,rararan 10 construction othe Constitution broad
M measure dangerous not to meet the appreciation
ll.c President. Tie people oppressed Ly high
protective Iagili--.;ha Irrasory was exhausted by
chmcrcal missions aud splendid schemes Of internal
limpruycneitlhen was the doctrine boldly proclaimed,
thai ag,lla! debt VAS na!louu blessing, aud that
other doctrine. less oions and dangerous that the
rcprec NATIVE should not be palscd by the vii! of his
constituents" During that administration, our Govern
mcnt rapidly vrrging towards conso!Ida,Ion-the
sure tendency ui which must III: towards mCnarchy-
appeal this House. to kn"w, il these disastrous
consequences of division in ranks do not impose up
solemn obligation TO avoid recurrence OF SINH
lar rbnsrs So drtDly sensible the Legislature OF
this State in 1927, Of the dangers Of an election by The
tlour of Representatives that they so!emEy denounced
the proceeding b. which 6snera Jackson had teen De-
: tm,d and rrcnuicndcd "mendment Of tic United
70 nv.L L similar Occurrcuce.