Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-04-30
TO TIE EDITOR of TIE F.vQUIRER.


TO TIE EDITOR of TIE F.vQUIRER
.Nr. BLCHA.Ni.Not TrnMShir0nia
The suhjrct OF tins article (hlr Buchanan o. S Sc.
or from Pennsylvania has frequently been char.
ed b. the Opposition presses of the = with being
blue lighI Federais &c, &c that. doubtless. yery
many without the data at hand To the euor not
only believe ItTur, but attach To MIR very undesery.
ed odium, account Of such dcsign ion The same
charge hos been made against of the other disrn.
guiSied supporters of The National Administrations
aud for aught know, equally uniounded. But nv
present purpose is 10 respectfully usk the favor of
small space in your journal Tor very brief statement
n official facts, taken from the record which can mis-.
lead In Pennsylvania. where Mr. Buchanan
i.Proprly appreciated and his elevated character just
y cherished any notice of this kind wout be supprlu.
II is just TO hin however, that he should be re-.
presented fairly every where
But 10 The point According 10 my understanding Of
the term Federalism il lalltudnnus cOnsi rue.
of the Constitution OF the States in coniradis.
fiction 10 rigid. liberal construction of commended
for by tie - Republicans, To which stock | claim 10
belong Nav, let Try Nj B by this test, and exam.
Inc his whole official lille. and cunfde ny submit the
result of that trial To the Judgment Of my country men,
Mr. entered the House Of Representatives in IS2l,
and retIr, from il in 1881. On the 18Th of February
$50 he made the first fort that made In have the
Cumberland Road ceded to tie SIates (SeP PAGE 237
of the Journal) In the speech he made on that occa-
sion, lie ably sustained the views of President Monroe
his veto The Bill 10 place toll gates the road -
Iis true this first efT was unsuccessiu for, after
able debate, on n call Of the ayes and noes il wss de.
eaed. (I5 TO c5, Mr.. b voting FIR il. (See Journal
page 2i3 Several unsuccessful efforts were made by
Nj b. through ser,rs Of SIX consecutive sessions until
in o2 lie and the Strict Con>ir3ctCnstS, succeeGrd IN
cedlug IL 10 he'Stales. Mr. Is made two able and elo
QueI speeches This subject VIZ: one on the I9,h Of
January. le29, Inch is 10 be- found in ertnso IN the
s Telegraph. Of The Sd Of February, leg: and the
other the l2th Of February lc29 which re- animal.
ed the stIcl Consrucimnsts, and was considered Ivy
his friends the ablest fort yer made BY bm THIS
vDu m Ip MAJ Info
well as the U Telegraph, reporl in full and for
which he was denounced by the Improvement members
amongst The rest. by Mr.. Buckner of Kentucky who,
IN the remarks he made in opposition 10 Mr.. b., boldly
proclaimed that il his proposition succeeded il might
be considered forever settling the question Of the
sttuona power Of the General Government, TO con.
sruct Improvements of any kind So far for The action
# Mr.. on this subject; and may | not respectfully
submit, whether public men should not be judged by
their actions rather than by professions His whole
Legislative course has been in accordance with his &C.
ton in this particular case.
As to the Tariif-Whpn Mr. b was elected to Com
gress, in lo2 few men in Penney Ivana of any party
would have hs2arded their reputation for sanity much
less their political popularity, by doubling that Tariff
for protection was panacea for all eviis-pnIca as
well physical. Yet, Mr. Buchanan jeopardcd both,
by voting for the postpoDem OF the celebrated WOOL
BILL was called III the session Of 2G-27 for
which he was denounced throughout Pennsylvania and
in Of The adjoining States, only for voting for
the osponement himself, but having The influence TO
carry four FIVE OF the votes from Pennsylvania with
hm. You will find the remarks made by him, in the
u Telegraph Of 18Th April 1923 and in the Nation.
nj Inteysncrr few DAYS afterwards. IL is true, be
finally voted for the Tariff Bill Of lS2S, but then
more accordance with the known wish of his const-
tnenis than his convection Of lis being sound national
policy His opinion then what il Is now VIZ: that
pote should be incidental; that for
liuna purposes must be collected il would be wise TO
collect il from articles OF commerce. coming in compPti
ton with our productions; and surely no State
| R,rht yrIl NH IN
able speeches on the subject Of the Tariff whilst he
in the House of Representatives, which il you could
find to repubIlsh, would furnish for that purpose;
as we'll as the Speech made by him, on the motion of
Col Benton 10 enquire into The expedency Of abolish
ing the bounty draw back sat To fishing vessels
Mr.. b also made some incidental remarks on the sub
ect Of the Tariff, when discussing tie subjec, of Tho
Independent Treasury, at the extra session Septem
Der. 1887 in which remarks, he exhibited in mastery
manner the connection, or rather should say, how de-
pendent the manufacturing interest particular
manage OF the currency. These rrTurks were
made after he had been in Congress - years, and
perfect accordance with his entire ot action upon
this point oi national polIcv By reference his Speech
IN Sept 1897 published in the lobe and National In
tegencpr which hope all State Rights men will care
fully reperuse Mr. views The subject Of The la.
riff are briefly exhibited, and which, BY reference 10
Speech of the Hon VIM Potter, of the most ortho.
dnx Republicans of Pennsy lvania it will be seen that
he has been correct exponent Of the views OF the lie.
publican party Of that State.
OF the Bank Of the U lis il not just 10 suppose,
Mir 3 S course in relation 10 the Bank OF the U. 81 in
the Senate, manests truly his views on THIS SUBJECT
and that he has undergone no change OF sentiment IN
relation 10 il? He never voted Tor Inc Bank oil The u
s. and all his Speeches well as his votes, since he
has been member Of The Senate ot the U 81 period
or 20 wears have denied the constitutional power of
C,onrrsss 10 charter National Bark. II regard his
nnhIc action therefore, which hunby submit. is the
iv correc, test by which 10 judge him. boldly proclaim
,, ko an Orthodox Republican of the sraitest sect.
Indeed amongst his personal rIencs, only objection
hey have to his public course, is that be sa always
construed the Constitution too And he carries
Ibis feeling into bis pleadngs before The Cours rather
he did so, phen he in the practice Of The profess
sion As an illustration, | will the argument he
made, - Chairman Of the Committee on the Judci.
ary. beore the Senate of the STATES, the trial of
Judge Peck, in which he has gwen Us his views OF
that instrument, with consummate ability. And pray
you consider his action on that occasion a
/ trial in debate 1t law argument which he
slakrd his professional repn'ainn and noby did be
| tam himself Being the Chairman of the Committee
he coseu The argument. Eight gentlemen selected as
amoppst The abesl the county, had preceded
him and had exeried their utmost ingenuity and legal
ncumen for and against the accused The patience Of The
Senate nsary exhausted and vet never did that dig
fled body listen with profound attention. than 10
Mr. 3 and oil who heard him, united in The CONNIE n
datlon that his second TO that had it
as a sound, constitutional law argument That argu
ment was the legal opinion Of Mr.. b on the Constilu