Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-14


ca exercise OF 1t, but had idea of prosecuting the
south Caroiinons on that account" Was there any
tng IN these principles he would ask that proved MIR
heiigh IN the estimation of Virginia, Federaist?
Doubts had been expressed of The sincerity of Mr. LIS
opposition 10 National Bank, and the country had
Va:cnc1 WIN glamour on the subject but with what
justice, let few "reminiscences show The Report of
oi above referred to, drawn forth by the opposition to
he National Bank, affirmed the unconsut ;onality of
sucn an institution. In his address the citizens of
Richmond, in 1924, the subject of u Convention he
alluded 10 the hesitation and dstrust with which Vir-
gina, much IN the in that respect of other States
nad, IN lo04, introduced the banking system into the
St''e ny Incorporating the Virginia Bank, and lamcned
tne evils which he apprchended from paper money
When elected to the Senate, of his friends de-
clared in The debate, under the authority of re-
cent conversation with him. that he had always bclev-
I a., Nau9na Bank unconstitutional. He (Mir. b
had ayowed on the occasion, that he rave his
VOC iJr nir Leigh from confident belief that he
wouiu De ready at all times, to oppose the establish
ment OF the present, any other national Bank -
put there was declaration by Mr.. Leigh HIMSELF in
inc Senate OF the United States, made in the of
debate on Mr.. Wcbsters bill for extending the bank
charter which of itself placed the matter beyond all
doubt. IL read rs follows - Knowing what was ex-
pected of me when was elected representing the So
vercgnty of the State and informed as am of her opi
Mon and her WILL even if entertained n different op
hoh should be incapable of 80 far her,
as to vote Tor recharter of the Bank of the U States
Tor any length of time, however short, or with any
nodhcation whatever. But in truth, concur in the
opinion OF my constituents the constitutional ques-
ton, and that entirely and exactly" Here was an
ay9wal so explicit complete, leave nothing be
added and nothing TO be explained away. He would
confidently submit IT to the candid TO say whether il was
susceptible OF any possible qualification that would
make ii reconciabc with Mr.. Leighs integrity and
honour, which would call in question to vote for
re-charter ofthe Bank lie knew that Mr. L. in spirit
oiprophecy had INDUCED in speculatons to the proba-
BILE course of things in relation National Bank and
his remarks had been seized upon by partisans as the
means of throwing a shadow of doubt over his inten
tons But was he to be denounced for predicting evil?
Who, that loved his country had not at times felt
painful forebodings in regard to the future Who
mat remembered the long duration fte Roman Repub-
lie, that of Venice with the SHOWS ola thousand win
tiers her head and then looked rapid progress of
our own Government i'll prodigality and corruption did
not tremhie for the fate of this beautiful fabric which
we had fondy hoped would prove imperisliablc? And
should IT be said that lie who oretod evil had thereby
contributed TO produce it? On the contrary We're not
the rights OF the people least exposed when their vigil
lance was aroused by the prospect of an attack And,
did he not better deserve their confidence who seeing
danger approaching warned them of the unyvelcome
truth, than he who should lul them into false security
and treacherousy minislcrng TO their hopes proclaim
''aii $ well, when the assassin at hand.
charge, he said had been extensively circulated.
that Mr. Leigh in letter. written years ago and
lately brought to light had declared his approval of the
Alien Laws OF 9o, and was thus obnoxious the sin
! of Federalism. That charge however, was much too
broad for the fact. 1t well known that the repub-
ican party opposed that law various grounds and
upon none streuously the consideration that in
its details il clothed the Executive with powers da nGer-
by iary the rights of the States and the
| hberirs Of the citizen. That the President should
have the power to decide who was an alien and who
cit7enwho was dsatlccted TO the government and who
loya-to convict his own suspicion merely and
nct the punishment of exile his will and pleasure
thus uniting in his person legislative judicial and execu,
eu an indignant spirit OF opposition But it should be
observed that To these details all the provisions of
that particular act, Mr. Leigh had expressly withe! his
assent and had merely declared his opinion i'm favor of
the general principle ti every government must have
the powcr to protect itsef against the Vaccinations of
aens, wIei belonging TO friendly hostile nations
Fhe republican party admitted such power in relation
to alien enemies, incident of the war power-and
it did appear that they would not have admitted spc
power in either the federal government in re-
gard TO aliens belonging friendly nations provided il
were to have been enforced in constitutional manner
/ 10 Tho nnhQt IL
That Mr. L. would have enforced it in any other wav
tsrc was not the slightest believes and The on
y question left for doubt was where he considered the
power TO have been lodged-whether in the or Fe
deral Government
Mr. b. said, an attempt had been made to create an
impression among Western Vroiuians that Mr. 10,
nnfrirDdly to them, and in one of his speeches in The
Convention had used insulting language resnccting
them SO far as this idea countonanccd by his course
IN the Convention, it only necessary to remind
| the West, that he faithfully representing the
opinions Of his constituents; and had he done other
! wise, he would much have deserved and received
lheif apprehension, as would Western delegate for
| supporting the mixed basis. The inputation of his
having compared the day Iaborers of the West 10
the slaves OF Eastern Virginia. had been directly
met and triumphantly refuted by the gentleman
from Anguish (S'r Craig) that it useless for him
to owen upon 1t. 1t was an imputation so unust
and absurd that hut for the distorted medium through
which the remark was viewed, in consequence of the
excitement which prevailed at the time he wac conn
ced 1T never would have been noticed Although now
revived for party purposes, the people of the West can
into the truth and not allow themselves to be BETRAYED
by demagogues into an act ofinustce They would find
that MIR. Leigh dealing in abstract specuations-
illustrating theory in political economy; and lest
/ he should be misapprehended careful enough TO
add, Slaves indeed, not, and never will be
comparable with the hardy peasantry Of the noun,
| tuns, IN intellectual powers in moral worth i'm an
that determines mans degree in the moral scale
&c In what then did he think them comparable
Why only in ths-that % in every civilized com
try under the sun, there be who labor for
their dny bread and in Eastern Virginia slaves sun
Piled that labor which was elsewhere done bv the nep
sanry day labocrs of whom there were "some" (onv
s0mcJ beyond the mountains. If he wronoed them In
saying that constant toll prevented them from entering
into political Affairs, he did himself equal iniustice for
be added that he the slave Of his profession the
drudgeTy Of which bad in like manner untitled him,
Tor Stunning his mind 20 the duties Of the statesman
As further evidence that lac no disrcspect he
said 81 have sincere feelings of regard for that people
as any man who lives among them lie found an early
opportunity Of attesng his sincerity; for coming into
the House of Delegates at the first session under the
new Constitution be the evils the West were suffer
ing from the unsettled condition Of The titles to lands
and applied himsclfat for their relief lie declared
that they ought not TO submit to such state of things
in such case he would fight for them lie did not
conine himself TO empty professions, but DEVISED with
great labor, system by which, through the reinuuish-
mcnt Of delinquent lands forfeited to the State the III
tics Of junior patentccs might be confirmed lie did
what was OF more importance still, in carrying through
the House. by his influence wha had often been vainy
attempted by the West, law reducing the period Of
limitations Of real actions mcaeure Of more value
10 that people, than perhaps al other acts Of The cgsa-
ture passed, and which Of itself constituted him
their greatest bcnefacor n his Mecklcnburg CORES.