Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-28
'E'sc7say dfftEs GosHgresS---:sd scss


in the preamble and one clause OF the Constitution,
vfre sufficiently powerful 10 extend the limited grants
Of power contained in the body OF the instrument and
10 confer upon Congress the authority TO enact any law
they might think proper for the COMMON offence tnd
tie general welfare. This doctrine has "ng since ot en-
cypnded, and not advPred TO By the Senator from
VTgInia. We are informed by the authority, that
another argument used was. that all the State Legsa'
lures had passF" laws for the punishment OF hbels
and That. therefore, the same power belonged 10 The
Government &c the United States. A similar argu.
mcnt cc:d rot he urged by the Senator in support OF
tins bill; because no Stale Legislature ever have ana
vii! venture To say Stale Legislature " i'll pass
such bill that row before the Senate. To what ar
numenl then did The Senator resort; shall endco Yor
to state it fairly. He ASKS IL Judge were To The
freedom Of speech OF The press cdnvassng The me-
rites OF before the people, which It would become
his duty afterwards 10 decide would il he mn abridge.
ment Of Ibis freedom TO punish hm Tor such conduct
] answer, certainly not But dces rot the gentleman
perceive thai the offence in this is substantive and
independent and amounts To toaf violation OF his ohcal
duty for which he ought be mpeac!Pd: The language,
oral printed, which he has used, Is the mere agent
winch he has employed in The commission =" the oHnce
Tbs argument is begging n The que si!nn; i"r II uS
that under The Constitution. Congress possess
the power punish cl'Izen io' persuadIng another
hy fair argument 10 give his vote tor against
tidare fox office This is the very principle 10 Ge rsah
lshrd Agan lie asks suppose one n he officers embraced
by The bill were the rcsdnm aspe'c h or III the pre-
in saying to an eector, If you will give vote for
such candidate will procure you CtHcP, would ~"
such officer be punishable! answer. certainly ne
youI under the State laws bt cause tins ~"ud be
attemp. procure vote by corrupt and improper means
f. Is distinct GiIt CO. the punishment Of which in
maner lnrirIcs with lie liberty I'll speech the press
when exercised to accomplish constitutional purposes -
similar m"ht be gwen 10 his inrfT"gatnry IN
REGARD l. giving i challenge. by word or By writing, 10
inht duri The ast quPsli0n. which capped the eli
max Of his argument. was u man b? guilty OF false
and malicious libel against innocent person. may You
not punish bin, under The Constitution, wrhuut invading
the freedom If srctc the press II 10, the
word liz may use Which you pnnlSh but HE 'nSe
hood o the charge. the evil intention, and The injury IN
R.c,rd: Gsk the Senator it this arguT, is
ufirrriDn o! the Seduon Law. t. the fullest extent:
have taken down Tie Senator'S words, and cannni hr
mistaken IL their m"ar'ng " tat DID he SrGitIon Law
d. clare; nn tie authors Of ''iase, scandaluus and
rini!couS ltrIs, with the evil In'rnnns enumerated
III Tie act should It's penalties II was not the
mere words publ she'd that werr punished, hut !, was
lhr.r iasehrut, their malice, ond Their evil Intention -
TIE cprsllulIoEaity OF the SsGlrIon Law IS Therefore.
enrbfacrd not only wlhn the spirit but wItb. the very
wr-,!. Of tlr Senator'S argument las he not howe
YER uncOusciuusl9 defended thr Seduon Law: This ar
uumrn my knowledge, Fever nrcnrrtd To those VII"
pas 81 that a"; but 1t is whCh. II we'll i"unGrd.
would give the power 10 pass another &c
d!tiun Law
Do Senators perceive tina; the passage Of this b'iI
would utterly tsranchise large ard respectable class
Of our renpIe: Under 1t, wEat w"uId be the con
d!Iiun of all lie editors ri your political journals.
hose business and hose duty rs 20 cueGlsn pubc
opinion regard 10 the merits or drneri,s Il! canG'dais
tor uice, Pass this law, and declare that no edii"
OF public paper OF either parry IS capable or WORTHY
OF hodug ony oil the uTostriGtd oiiIcrS lie must at
either abandon his p8per. and With ii The mean: Of
suppnrling himself and his family ar he must surrender
any little office hch be may bold under tie Govern
Aent.
And We, this bill is supported hy my friend from Ym.
gmIa who, 70 lis language, has been mbucd
with tie principles ui Democracy, and regard TOT
STATE r ghis from his earliest youth. |! such charge
sbu'd lie made against him hereafter. his speech
aud his vote in favor of this BILL will acqmit INN before
any court 10 Ch:IsteuG"m. where In. tru!h may BE- n
ven in evidence. yet trust that he may never vote of
lis passage.
Every measure of this kind hetrays want Of c"rG.
de nee ia r intelligence aHd patriotism .! The American
trnr,e II is founded 4 disrust Ul their Judgment
and integrity. ID" :0u supP1sP that &" hen man Is APP
pointed collector posIuaS hr acquires any more
Influence the people than he had before: No. S'f
On the contrary. his influence is oi;rr Ci'nnsisG ~
stead uf beirg increased. The people pi this Country
abundany capable al judging whether he is In"st
Influenced by love of country or love OF flee. II lh"r
should determine that h;s motives are purely meicen"'y
10, supporting pollca! party, this will destroy his /"
hucncc. 1t he be noisy, vluent, and meddIng p"!E
can h., viii DO The Administration under which he las
been appointed, much more harm than good. Let III"
assure gentlemen That the people able :" take care 81
themselves They Gu not require the !Herp"sIon Of
Cunrr,sS 10 prevent item from being deceived and IL
as!ay b. the influence Of Office holders Whilst i1s
is NV EAch opinion. | think the number of Federal
sites cf lir GGvtrErmcn Pursue this c"prse, ard.
NV lie tor all lhe lard officers and pGstaSters and
cghers ana gGUac'S which you shah send abroad ov'
the country. Influence the people Ia brIt"y
liei: C"n For my own part. entertain ~"
,st perfect co'tcncr III their intelligence as well Us
integrity.
That o!ice holders possess comparatively hut little IN
iuence ovsr tie people, viii c"ncuavrly appear rom
The brief history OF the last yeats, the period during
which this dreaded man. Mr.. Van Buren,, has been IN
,.,L al. i'm nj I:upi q
flee hooters IL c;,d al the only uns where they are
to be- found III any consicr rGbe number In the city
Of Philadelphia, notwithstanding all The lEiushcr al H."
custom h"use, the post rce, and the mint, Tie majority
al the las. election against The hdniniSl3 alton tie
trcmduu>. being, believe, upwards oil four th"usanh
The T. a.iorian guards, liry have been called per.
formed bet lIttlr That Gay IN that city Oh
lla other h. nd look the interior of Pennsy i"ania
There the Governor whose patronage within tn limits
rf The STATE was great under The cd CUEsi;uiIun
as that Of The King Of Ergand, had flied every uiff
with enemies of The present Administration. Oi tins
do not complain; for, whether r!g. wrong, II has been
toe lunG.csnbshed practice Of both political parties
T. !, tu. lha, many I'll Tie posmasies friendly to
n" Administrator but IL is equally certain: that
LARGE proportion ui "n warmly eSp"ns~d The cause "i
the OpuasIiion What was the result? Those Weld
inv THIS patronage were entirely routed, notwih
Standing the ex,itlons Of The Office holders Gentle
rp ina qnet their alarms and hc assured that the pPO
pie canrul be persua, Ia abandon her principles 10y
The Influence ct men III othce
anar,: let US look al he State IF New York for
lh.r example There the Albany Regency were sCaut
in power The Democ'a'ic patty vel! drilled All
the office holders OF the Stale and of the city friendly
10 the Administration. Besides. in my opinion. they
fuuuhl the righteous rau'" and this same abused Al
bany Regency. who tEPT leaders. was conpnsed
rs able nd as honest men ever al the head u
anv STATE Government. What the result there
" ilh all hs official power ana patronage, both OF the
Stale and Federal Governments, beatrn horse,
foot aud There is not the least necessity tor
nassnp an unconstitutional law, the people lrom
The jufiut nee Of The Office hoCcrs.
Have We not been bf1,en in all the large cities OF the
Union where only there Federal officers IN any con
siderable number, What has been cnr !a;. =: y foR,
ririadspnln Boston, Baltimore. and New OrIeans:-
We have been vanQulsIed in all of them he noogoo
Inns and cbimeras dire respecting the influence of office
holders which erry gentlemen exist only l" lher own
;.;v,,;,n Tn. penpie Of this country are not the