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

many Wherever governments have been Formed for
ue purpose OF securing any portion of freedom the
PcoPe' uese antagonist principles have failed TO
come into collision Power is always stealing from the
many TO the iew and the many always Jealous of
entertainments upon their rights. This disposition ON
the part of the governing party to entrench upon the
rights of the governed-ihs scepless anxiety for an en-
largeent and concentration of powers the ruler and
@ jealous vigilance on the part of the people, TO
STRAIN the ruler aud distribute his powers has produced
IN all nee governments two rival and contendng par
ues' 30 long os these parties struggle for the inainte
nance OF their respective principles they constitute the
grand personalities of human bery-when they deaen
crate into mere struggle for men, they become the bane
OF freedom, and the instruments for the establishment Of
tyranny.
The history of the English government :, re,e,o ;,h
instructive informnon to the operation of those rival
principles in the struggles of the Wings and Tories
inc 9 eon'endng for the enlargement of the powers of
he hing, snd the other maintaining the necessity of H.
miting his prerogaive and distributing additional pow
ers among the people At every period of our own go
full ygor-Whaever names the npr,iss i; o IN
We ut have at different times assumed the objects which
they nave lsboyed 10 accomplish have ever been the
same: Our separation from the Government of Grent
Britain was produced by the operation of the prin
II was not the imposition of small tax upon our ia
theirs that induced them renounce their aliepance Z,
George ~, and dissolve the bonds which had united
uein with ther mother landt not simpv The min
cpe oi representation that mpelled them to that hold
and Soaardoes course; but il attempt of the Ri;
sh mononrh TO enlarge his powers to usur the rights f
MS oyai SUBJECTS and concentrate them in the govern
Aent or gsSs1nd sat impced fathers TO assert their
ghts' and resist the entertainments and usurpaon of
u'e Nfown During our revolutionary struggle when
our had pledged their fortunes their lives and
Their honor, in defence of limitation ana distribution of
power, 'ere were some who dared espouse the royal
cause and contend for The opposite principle The former
were the Wings the latter the Tories of the revol
uoh-the former by their valor and their devotion to
e eause OF hnman liberty, have secured npersha-
Die renownthe StteT by advocating the cause Of dos
Polsm nave placid their names high the pillar of in
fanny In the deliberations of the Convention which
framed the Constitution Of the u. States these antago
INST principles operated with such force that they had
well nigh dissolved the convention defeated all the
benefits which secured by seven wears war In
the convention there who doubted the capaciv
OF the people for sefgovernnpnt and therefore con-
loaded ior tic concentration of large powers in the Fe
deral Govern nent. On the other band theye wore
others who Maintained that the State Governrne,s o
me people themselves entirely adequate to exercise
all powers; and therefore, they conended for niserlv
ea rig'@ lInisaSoY OF Federal powers The difficulty
was hiaiy settled by mutual concession-both parties
yielded a portion OF their principles and COMPROMISED
liberty ''e great pai'aa'0m Oh
The principles which had divided The Convcu-
uon, produced contending parties, when the Consttu
on was submitted Tor ratification TO the people of the
states During uie first administration of the Govern
nent, the inansnne of the name of GEORGE Washing
aon cabed and restrained, great extent the opera
uon OF t'cse rival principles; but they did not cease TO
sTIst IN The administration of John Adams they dis
played themselves 10 Tnoss dangerous and alarming
eSent La that great struggle for prncipe nd for The
preservation of the Constitution dnrino that ad,nias
tHationy powers claimed for the Federal Govern
meht wheh were unauthorized by the Constitution and
inc granting oh which would have been virtual recon-
niiion OF tho establishment of MONARCHY mon lie
rams of the Ecpubc- The people their strength
whiea has ever since been regarded us most sqna tr
unBh over arbitrary power
Daring The three successive administrations of Jear
soa Sadson and MeaSoe, the federal government was
conducted with few exceptions upon the principles of
me great Republican party which had trumphcd in the
uowhiA oil Jobn Adams But the lines of division still
EXISTED and the nosess spirit power was still active
preparing to ss'a the fsst opportunity again TO take the
hed IN open hight AT the close of Mr. Monroe < admi
station, tins opportunity presented itself this per
mod III our history, beg leave to pause for moment and
examine the situation parties la the Presidentiacon
u CT of 1 q
HSPieso me strong government party obtained tire as
aiti'ugh their advocates in decided mi
hoFtY The meansby which this trumph of the Federal
party was secured should be vcr cnprayen non The me-
mory OF those who desire the perpetuy of constitutional
liberty There were four candidates competing for the
ADAMS, OF The North, entertaining all the
oaious and dangerous principles Of the Federal party
" NaloIn' ot the south recognised and esteemed
tePubiica'-hr Clay, OF the West, until that period
recognised Hdherng member of the RepnbI;can
PaIiyIand General Jackson, also of the West known
unu ackho~iedged as true Republican. When the
elecuon came on, the friends OF each of the Repub
ican candidates adhered to their FIRST choice and
thereby created such division in the ranks Thai pe;
Their eandidae received majority of the electoral votes
as necessary consequence the election devoyed nnon
the House of Repre- sentatives OF Congress M d
Mr. Crawford, and Gen. Jackson were returned TO tbe
House The vote then be taken by States each
State having one vote-the Republican States were in
'ns majority; but when the vote taken, the vote oc
one republican State for Mr.. AdaIxe ryAieh
secured his election. M Clay wac then in the House
ct Representatives, and had unbounded control over
melpmly OF the delegation from Kcntucky-he exer-
csed tha CONTROL contrary the express will of his con
slucnts, aHd thereby the of Kentucky for Mr.
ADAMS Nh Clay rewarded by the first Office within
me Executive gift. General Jackson was i'm this wav
defeated, although he had received majority of the
Tos OF Hc people, and Federal President was imposed
upon TIE country against its will. Here was SIGNAL
tfiumgh To- the principles of Federalsm-and il shond
nfVer De oHgoR that this disastrous defeat of Repu
pcan principles, produced by division Of the Re.
publican party, and by "bargain aud intrigue" in the
House of Representatives During the adm;nistro
u0n OF Mr.. Adams, the country aud partcularlv ne
friends OF Republican principles, were sorelv p9nish
ca Tor suffering the election TO 90 10 the oe az Re-
representatives., through their divisions and adherence
TO PffsonAh preferences The abuse Of federal po,yer
a@9nsed spirit of indignation fIom one end of tho
t"ion TO the other There claim Of power so ex
b@Vagant-no construction Of the Constitution so broa
no measure SO dangerous not to the appreciation
o. the treSldent The people were oppressed bV byh
protective 1arh--the Treasury was exhausted Be-
cmericai missions and splendid schemes of internal
Experimentation was the doctrine boldly proclaimed
that national debt national bessins ard t,at
Other doctrine less odious and dangerous fhat Tic
representative should be palsed by the will Of HE
constituents During that administration our Govern
ment was rapidly verging towards eonsodation-.tbs
sure tendency o. which must be towards a monarchv
no" appeal to this House 10 know if these disastrous
consequences OF division in ranks do not impose mn
on US solemn obligation to avoid a recurrence Of simi
lar abuses So deeply sensible was the Legislature of
TINS state in 1877 Of the dangers Of an election by tho
House Of Representatives that they socInny dcno1uced
the proceeding by which General Jackson bad been de-
iratcd aud recommended amendment of the United
States Constitution 10 avoid similar occurrence
But was not IN Tennessee alone that this proceeding
was condemned and denounced-Thr nhont the whole
Union, the people reused from hciy lsthargv and
rushed 10 the rescue OF those publican principles which