Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-17


Speech Of M BR0N, Of Pe,ersturg, upon Me Election
Of Senator IA Congress, deiirered an the House Of
Delegates Of Pirgnia, tie 18th Of January, leS5.
[CoSrixurD1
There was another event more important STILL which
would have resulted from the overthrow of the last As
seinbly IL would have essentially impaired the weight
and responsibility of future legislative declarations of
opinion The time might when the nterposition
OF the Legislature would be necessary stay the
croacmc MT not o: the Executive, but the General Co
vernmcnt, or some other of its departments If en-
couraged by successful instance, would there
be appeal in that case also! Could it not be
plausbiy alleged that experience had shown the liza
bily of the Assembly to misconcepton of the popu-
lar will, and that no obedience respect due to
their resolutions until they clearly sanctioned by
the people! Ii had been contended that two more
trials were necessary to ascertain the will Of the
people concerning the election of Senator How long
would 1t be before an appeal from the Legislature
am abstract question: could be finally detcrmincd5 The
State Legislatures the only practical checks the
federal government and the efficacy of all pacific ea.
surcs depended on the moral influence attending them
Their declarations of opinion, therefore, should be
gardcd as sacred and inviolabe-their Legitimacy
only unqucstioncd but unsupported. Let the people
themselves hold their delegates Just responsibility
but allow third party interfere. He would not say
that they ought to sustain them under all circumstances
but he would say, that against third party TO-
reign power, they ought TO sustain them, "right or
wrong Ii had been avorite object with the old Fe-
deralsts to break down the influence of the State cps
latures; but they had hit upon an cxpedcnt
so efiectual as that which in contemplation
oil making them appear TO be at variance with their
bly, ever had misrepresented the people leading
political questions, and he had fears that they ever
would Their edcts, embodying they did, the gen.
era WILL were entitled TO unqualified respect and obe-
dience lie felt for that capitol and all that enanated
from it, sense of profound and reverence. He
had passed IT at early dawn, when the first rays of
the rising sun furnishing its roof-hc had stood
beside 1t at dusky twilight, when its stately form was
wrapped in shadows, and felt his heart lifted up
wilhln nm as he traced in its grandeur, simplicity
and strength, the moral lneaments of that proud Old
commonwealth, OF which it Stood the perfect
biem 1t was within the walls of that noble pile the
character OF the State had received its impress and
was there the citizen should look for the counses which
were to guide him in the duty Of perpetuating it,
was there his faith aud loyalty were due.-and there
upon that shrine within that temple, his fortune fame
and life If need be, should be offered sacrifice for
the public good. Such the implicit Difference he
would exact Tor the mandates of the Legislature which
was hut mirror rejecting the will and wisdom of the
people, and in deciding the which was arragn
cd the trial OF which though begun at the Spring cleo
uohs, renamed To be consuinmated on that day. he
would prove to the unal that if they might hope to be
forgiven, they must not expect to be rewarded
Mr. Is said that Mr. Leigh had been censured for op-
posing the Administration with too much warmth and in
order TO determine how far he merted condemnation on
that ground would be necessary to consider the opinion
state he represented regard TO that administration
The active part Virginia had borne in the elevation and
support OF President Jackson well known to re-
aure recital; but that her position towards him ma
teriay changed he believed would scarcely be denied
1t had been alleged indeed by his thorough adherents as
late as the last SPRING in the Mnority Address, that he
sustains every principle hold dear But whilst he
readily admitted that many of the leading measures of
his administration had been highly acceptable to Virgil
MIA there but Hith coincidence in regard Ito he
principle on which they based He had vetoed the
Bank Bill, and this State appaudcd him for -no one
had done more cordially than himselfbut yet in that
very veto Message the effect of which desirable
he had placed his objections rather on the organization
OF the existing Bank than the broad Virginia ground
OF the unconstiiutionay of any National Bank, the
following extract from the Message would show: sThat
Bank of the u. States, competent to all duties which
may be required by the Government might be so orga-
nizcd infringe on our delegated powers or the
reserved OF he do fertoi
Had the Executive been called upon furnish the pro-
Jcct OF such an institutions the duty would have been
cheertully performed 1t said the President had
atlcry come to the Virginia ground and he reoiccd that
1t was so--bu justice required that the history of the
change should be understood.
When the Veto was excred against the Mavsville
Road bill, Virginia exulted in The anticipated ar
rest OF the action of Congress the subject of in
terna improvement-but ne verthccss the reasons as
signed in that Message did not cover the ground she
occupied The President denied the authority of Con-
gress to make roads and canals within the limits
and jurisdictions OF the States but admitted the right
70 appropriate money IN aid of work undertaken by
the State, expressly adopting the rule of Mr. Monroe
so much reProbaed in Virginia that Congress have
unlimited power to raise money, and that in its APP
ProPriaon they have discretionary power, restricted
only by the duty to appropriate to purposes of
defence, and OF general, not local, national nor State
benefit The old State Rights doctrine was that
the particular measure must be within the enumerated
authorities vested in Congress-, the appropriation
OF money to be applied to it,, could not be made
The benefits expected from the Maysvc Veto had not
been fully realized. The President had said i'm that
message, although might not feel 1t to be official
duty to interpose the Executive to the passage of
Dill apPropratng money for the construction Of such
works authorised by the States and are National in
their character do not wish to be understood MS ex-
pressing an opinion that it is expcdcnt this time for
inc General Government to embark in a system of this
kind lie recommended that such action should be
postponed until the payment Of the national dcbt-tlat
IL should then be restricted TO improvements of ma
onal characcrand that the mode Of making appropri-
atoms be seedby constitutional regulations In thu face
OF these eXPositons which substantially re-amed
III te last annual Message appropriations had been made
20 an Immense amount and the patronage Of the Exccu
tive greatly increased in the exercise the discretion
OF drawing The line between national aud local works
whereby the fate OF every such bill depended on the
President construction Of what constituted nation.
atty In the annual Message of December last new
doctrine was broaclcd, still variance with that
OF virginia IL then claimed that Congress might
make certain improvements independent Of the State
thorIties Tor removing distractions navpable rivers
below ports OF entry delivery established by law
Under Tic operation Of this rule Congress might fix the
port ofenry thousand feet above tide water and then
entry the James River might be deepened for ships Of
the sea-a measure hitherto opposed in Virginia and
an act declaring Lynchburg port, would confer ON
Congress the authority to open the river to that point
also
Mr. u. said hc had not referred to those measures as
being the grounds Of the Opposition in this State against
the present Administration. There was much i'm them
to condemn add much 20 approve, and knowing as he
did the opinions prevalent in other States nc not
prepared t. say that the President on these subjects
could have gone farther than he had done IN resisting
tc nischicvOus action Of Congress Still il was pro-
per 1t should be understood that he had not sustained
every principle hold dear" The decline of the
public confidence in the Administration might properly
be referred 10 the issuing Of the Proclamation.
Up TO the period Of the Of