Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-07-24

g ,aas tho HIM John M Miles, of Connecticut, and the
HIM Charles E. Haynes, OF Georgia being Cha!rmeh !,
md ,be, Hon George NJ krim, OF PennsylVania, ana
the Hon H. l. Turney OF p @ ,h sen nes States
- co;yed and further considered; whereupon, on
motion of the Hon Hiram Gray, OF New York, 1t was
Resojnsd Tba, the address be signed and published
by The committee who have prepared II IN oeha Oh Vie
Republican members OF Congress:
JOHN NJ. NILES, and Cha;,meu,
CHARLES E. HAYNES,
GEO. NJ. klein, and Secretaries.
HOPKINS l.. TUKNEY, }
ADDRESS TO TIE PEOPLE OF THE cNlTED STATES.
In country advancing with the rapidly of ours great
Lo having n powerful control its political re-
alions and future destiny, must mol unifequenty occur
which may make /, The cuy OF those entrusted, ior lEe
lime with the management OF public Affairs IN ocrr l"
ynid sapprehenson publish an exposition OF their
;o;nIes and ouroosrs Such the changes which
h,vs taken place within the las! few years, and which
have already had great effect on the poca condition
NJ the country, and destined Sill 10 nave much
,rea,er hereafter Among these may be enumerated The
final m men OF the public debt; The expiration OF the
charter of the United States Bank, without renewal;
the fall of the misnaned American system; The iisc and
propress of Alb on; and finally the stoppaec OF pay.
me Mt by the Banks with the consequent Embarrassment
n The cnmmnn,v and in the fiscal action OF the Go.
ra,npent Never IN so short period, since the com
nencement Of the Government, have so many events,
destined To- effect mighty change in our political cnn-
d;,ion occurred That their first effect would he tn un-
La nubllc
,cIv there never was time, when the political ele
mens of the country were in state OF greater con!u-
son and when it more important that those who are
entrusted with the management Of public affairs, shou ID
recur to FIRST principles, and give iuil and explicit ex
position of their views.
Ac,ua,ed By these considerations, the Republican
hers ST Congress- about return 10 their constituents,
propose lay before them brIe exposition o' Inc 'n'
cps by which they have been guided and intend here
after To be governed, some Of the most important
t,l IN ha lodi
in the councils Of the General Government.
We are deeply sensible that too much has been eX-
pec,ed from the deliberations Of Congress numerous
and powerful party has induced large portion OF The
people to look alone to the Congress OF The D Tor re-
lief They taught to believe, that from thence alone
can emanae the required to restore the country
to peace quiet and happiness unmndtnl that we have
a written Constitution 10 control those who administer
the various departments Of the General Government
Many appear think that Congress can do any and every
,hinG called for al this novel crisis in the affairs of Tie
country To guard against the further progress OF this
fatal delusIou and to exnDcrate ourselves from unIPa
sonable responsibility, propose, at the threshold oil
this address TO present concise history touching the
character Of the Federal Constitution, and the origin of
the two grea, political parties which have divided, and
will probably forever divide, the American people.
There radical differences of opinion IN The con
venon which formed the Constitution. They loid the
foundation Of those parties which have at intervals ever
sloce agaled and at this moment deeply ag'tac, The
whole country.
4 portion of the convention, from strong parality
for the British form of Government desired 10 approx.
mate that system as public opinion IN AmcT'ca
would allow From them came propositions tor Ere.
sdenl and Senate for e elections far long terms aud
other fundamental arrangements. which should remove
the Government far possible !rnm popular control
Another portion, having more confidence IN The inieill'
g"nce and virtue of the people advocated The principle
of making lhe executive and legislative branches elective
for short terms After the Constitution was formed,
those two parties differed widely in the views they took
OF the tendency Of the Governments; the one believing
that it was towards constellation and the other 10 dis
union; and the enc accordingly believing that the dan
ger desposm in the head and the other anarchy IN
the members Hence the different light in which The
two parties viewed the character of the system The
Republican party held il TO he ederave in lis character
and formed by the States in their sovereign capacity
and adopted for their mutual security and happiness:
while many Of their anvcrsariPs regarded It as great
national Republic, formed by the American people IN the
aggregate. TO promote the interest of the majority, IN
stead Of the several States Composing it,
When the Government was put in operation under
the Constitution, each party adopted rules n con.
sructon calculated 10 their peculiar objects, and
advance their cherished principles in It's practical oPe-
| ration.
Unfortunately the execution of certain vital parts OF
the system was entrusted 10 men who had no faith in
,s stability without essential changes removing fur
Their from the influence Of the people and the States
and they Immediately set themselves 10 work to accom-
plisb by broad construction that which was, IN Their
|
yernncn, but unalainable through direct appeal
to the States and people for amendments TO the C"nsti
tnlion Dat of this design grew the funding system
of The first Secretary of the Treasury, and other mea
sures intended 10 create Improper action oil the TO-
! vernmrnt.
The other party maintaining their faith in the Cons
tuition as it u.s. insisted that the Constitution should be
construed strictly, according 10 lis honest meaning as
adopted by The States and that changes in the system
when found necessary should be sought through app
| EIra MI her
and laudinons constructions which, in effect, would
accumulate unlimited powers in Government n"t"I
ously limited by those who had created It, The RAPID
and resulue encToachmens Of few years greatly alarm
ed aud reused 10 energetic action the friends Of Limited
pure Government controlled by the public Will lhey
organized themselves for constitutional resistance, pr"
porlinnPd TO The character and extent OF actual nnf
threatened usurPalions, and threw out from the abics
pens OF that day luminous eSpnsllons Of the real "9n
true character. and ultimate OBJ ecs OF our Constitution
After fearful struggle, crowned their Efforts
the Government was wresed from the hands oil thos'
whose principles lHonarchIcal and afstocracai
the letter o;tie Constitution, and the honest meaning
those who adopted il, became the practical rule oi con
sruclun; and public opinion expressed by the unbiased
representatives. of the people and the States through lh
different branches OF The Government, recognised
the only legitimate governing power.
We adhere To the constitutional doctrines OF The lie
publican party Of 1899 adopt The rule Of stc! con
struction they maintained the only true and sale one
applicable to Consttulion we reject the Assumption
that the people have not the requisite intelligence an'
virtue to choose competent managers Of public affairs
and direct them when necessary.
THESE The principles upon which we would haV
| our Government administered and reference TO 90
views upon the great and agnting topics OF the day
WILL trust, show that we are disguised 10 carry Ines
principles into Practice by our public acts.
| The leading question which now divides the twn par
ties Of the country is the re-esahlshnent of Bank
the United States. The first bank was measure o
that party, which deemed il necessary TO devise ohe
than public opinion and the suages oi the peo
pie, 10 a stable Government 1t was condemned
by the people. aud required 10 wind up, after LIVING
out lis chartered existence Far dpren! were the con
sderalions which led 10 the establishment Of secon
bank. it thought to be necessary perhaps, ir"I
conclusions hastily drawn, instrument TO con;
pei the State banks to resume specie payments; and as
Z. E.Err DI, lnIIn