Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-19


corporations If associated wealth. and the employees of
private persons, are permitted To- retain the full rights Of
czpns; THIS bill drgrades the right Of suffrage, the
guardian OF all political rights by melting it boon
IN different portions 10 different cliiztn all equally
thy of trust and distinguished by popular avcr and By
placing ii under odious espionage
II surrounds The prescribed officers with body Of
common Iniormers. stimulated by two Of the strongest
incentives 10 constant vigilance hope gain and the
dPsre of oihceto watch their every Tnrd, message,
writing louk action 10 torture il into entravor
PERSUADE or 10 dIssuade elector. in giving his vote
or intermedd!ing IN election BY day and by night,
in public and IN private in the election Of President
a Governor, nf Constable q Pound keeper, the
nlpresent eye of this body Of ia.niars is alike
upon the collector and his cartman, the superintendent
of the public works and the day laborer in his employ
Where is the limit TO be found in this BILL which sepa-
rates freedom OF speech and Of the press from its opera
ton? The open. manly independence of thought and
liberty Of action heretofore justly considered the best pre-
servaVes OF Institutions must perish under the
parasitic embrace OF this bill. ltnot only Furnishes the
freedom of action but Of thought il forbds the gna.
ted person. well from lnlemed dng any Fl dera
State election as ffcm using any with intent 10
control or influence the same; thus introducing new
crime in "nr code ~h"u, precision orttcbEca dehnlon,
broad and comprahe nsve the theatre OF human
rron and expansive as human thought political sub
ecls While it deprIv-s class Of Federal officers vi
portion OF their rights, II bPsuws the lauGIna
upon another class the iarthest removed from
the influence of the people-the judiciary. Them It
Clothes win JURISDICTION 10 CecICe what Is an endeavur
Ia persuade 10 dSSnaGr electOr 10 give his
what is an niermeGdng in an election; and villa, is
nsng any means with intent to influence control the
1t IS stamped with the most odIous and miserable
impress OF tyranny vugueness and uncertainty ltmay
well be doubted WHITTIER the end-the purity and freedom
Of election would justify such means, delegation Of
such uud fined power even 10 the purity Of The sacred
ermnr The history "f other countries foil Vi warning
upon this suhjHct The Spanish lnqnls'tlon, with all
It's terrible atrocities. was reared UPON quite slender
n toun tipcI q rem rpl.
yrn pure and ncnrrnpl; and for that avowed holy pur
pose the most a'itudnarian power given 10 It's mi
sirrs To prevent hrrrsy IN religion, they had u" soon
assumed for that purpose, the power TO punish all per-
sons who rndpa pPrsuIGr 'dIssuidP, Others
or in anywi se " intrrmeddle in matters Of religion
Hence also, they gradually ASSUMED cognzance OF the
Intentions and The thoughts Of II, and the tend
o their words and writings in the streets and in the
sacred privacy OF the closet sub "c OF universal con-
and everlasting interest and subjected them to the
srspIng eye o body "fnnrmrrS under the name
of iamiars The parallel between the bill referred
10 the committee and the origin OF the inQuiSil!On,
is ms striking it is alarming. and differs rss in The
means than the end; the being designed to render
gion pure and ncorrupt and the other 10 preservs
the elective franchise pure and lncorrupt The derga-
ton Of such unlimited power corrupted even the sacred
prize sIIuod and religious heresy became the OF
their power and the terrible instrument Of their malice
or tyranny Are laymen pure safer repositories
Of unlimited secretion, May II not be Justly apprehend
I'd that political herPsy may become in the hands Of the
dlctive instrument of malice or tyranny Conf
drnce is every where the parent of dsspotSm free go.
vernment is fnunird 10 jealousy, not confidence. il is
JEALOUSY, conide nee, which prescrbes limited Con-
sliiurinms 10 bind down these whom obliged 10
trust with power"
The committee believe that the spirit of our nstu
tons onward; and that is consistent with that
spirit tn lOk upon the runs of the inqnisluUn which
has fallen before IN" progress OF human liberty as mo-
numents OF us riunphs, than TO find materials Is recon-
:
ptibie rights OF
The ma gnilude Of the discretionary power committed
by this bl! To hr judiciary, has tendency 10 convert
form of Government into judicial desp"lism quite
ntoIerabe free people, and equally odInus any
other The history Of The star chamber. like that Of the
uquisilion proves that class however yrnrIaed and
elevated the STE depository of unlimited dscretOna
ry power even for the most molly and snlUtary ends
The dangerous and destructive assaults upon hu
rights have been made from ortresses erected for
their defence Ii deserves serious consderaiion whe
ther law like this bill could ever be carried into
this day. and under free insiitutIonsG law
Ich prns;raes the freedom of thought of action, of
speech, and OF the press tar respects large portion
Of the most intelligent respected and merorlnus OF our
citizens The great body Of the functI"naTies hnm this
bill would affect have been honored by the selection Of
the people 10 discharge responsible duties, for their ho
nesy, capacity, ard fidelity 10 the Constitution. The
habIlua evi"r Of Republican institutions and OF the
capacity OF the people for self government may IN VAIN
attempt fix q stigma upon all officers who derive their
gradually rnde running their confidence IN the Govern
of ber choice but the people will always be found
themselves and will never submit 10 the exrcu
ton of law which dPprIVrs their itUw-clIzcn oil his
inherent common, and equal rights, simply because
they had distinguished him by their nvur and Preference
In the opinion Of the committee, this bill would arm
body of inIormers with dangerous powers In The
of paesii may happen That the State inncllonures
unite with the corporations OF associated wealth. IN
party struggle to obtain the power Of The Federal Govern
men armed with the tremendous engInery CT this law
-nctInns of debt. bill, plan in any district or cir
cut court of the United States and penalty and COSTS
there 10 fear that II would b. used with
nous effect against such Of the prescribed officers.
would not 1.-THE great powers given 10 The officers
of the Federal Government to promote the views oil The
Office seekers, On the other hand, would it not enable
corrupt Administration IN hike manner, 10 punish them
for an indr pr ndent exercise OF their Judgment?
The committee will only advert TO one other objection
10 the policy OF this bill lis obvious tendency is 10
alternate the people from the Federal GOVERNMENT by
nusng jealousy of its powers and its officers, by I'M
Just Determinations between the two sells OF iuncuons.
chnsen by the people, TO carry the two co.nrd
d. parmans Of The single and integral Govern
ment imed by the compact n the Safes TO array lie
State Governments and II iunctoDates againS! Inc re-
d-raI Government and It's tnnctfonaries, ana mus gfa
duaIIy undermine weaken IT, by treating as aliens
in the State Governments those who accept ONCE under
the Federal Government In short It's tendency would
be-, 10 ALLEVIATE portion oil the country nom the
rest and 10 enieebIe the sacred ties which now link
Ioyelhrr hp yaruns paris, and therefore, IN the OPT
MON of the COMMITTEE ought to be resisted in the be-
ginning
The committee are aware that precedent may be
found for the principles Of this BILL ard almost it's lam
ouage in the legislation Of England So also may
be found precedent for The total dsa nchisement Of
The officers Uf the customs, excise, duties, and post
Office while holding Office. Such plant may be midi
crnous in such soil Here must ever be an exotic,
rom the essential difference between The Govern
m-nts In the British Government, the Jealousy of
cronchnent on the rights of the people confirmed by
the King The representatives OF the people cons.
dered not only exempt themselves from dstrus', but
likewise the guardians Of the people against such en-
croachmPn's Hence there, it is principle that Far
lament is nmnpoten'; and all barriers are raised not
against the Parliament but the prerogatve of the King
Here all power emanaies from the people; and the Con-
sritu,ion which paramount TO all laws, secures them,
as we'll against legislative as executive usurpaon The
committee prepared 10 yield TO the policy of i'm
porting The chains and gags Of the legislation Of Great