Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-09

0!dN-lSte NlIeS NGlsteI, vol X, page 20
According 10 the provisions OF this BILL the fund 50
set apart cuuld not be employed except with the assent
of the State in which il to be expended, thereby
seeking protect itself against the charge of uncons
tulionalily 10 which II would have been otherwise Oh
noxious. The miserable suberuge Of this provision, is
thus met and exposed by Mr. Madison in his veto: Ii
general power to consiruc, roads and canals aud 10
improve the navigation of water courses with the train
of powers incGen; thereto, be not proposed by Con
gless, THE ASSENT OF THE STATES in the mode pruvd
/" ed by the bill, cannot confer The power The only
cas-, in which the consent and ccsson of particular
&" States extend the power of Congress, those
specified provided for in the Constitution" Mr.
Monroe in his frs, annual Message 10 Congress- formal.
" gave his sanction to the doctrine Of Mr. Madison We.
TO- and declared "lha The result Of The most deliberate
investigation settled conviction, in his mind that
Congress does possess The right In establish System
of internal improvements. See Niles Reg, vol H. p
239
This doctrine, thus asserted by MIR Madison and en-
dorsed by Mr. Monroe, has always been test Of
Republican taa in Virginia. Let us see how far Mr.
Tucker comes up to the measu;e-Thal part OF Mr.
Mouroe's message 10 which have aGvertcd relating
the subject of Internal improvements, referred TO
committee Of the House OF Representatives of which
MIR. Tucker Chairman. On The 10Th Of December,
1917, FIR. Tucker, from that committee made elGbo
rate and ingenious report, combating The doctrines OF
MIR. Madisons veto message-sus,aining the power of
the Federal Government 10 construct roads and canals
within the limits OF the States with the assent Of The
States, and urging the proprely Of setting apart the
men,s. The lepoI concludes with the following Ecso'
luton:
sRcsoired That in order promote and give security
to the internal commerce among the several Stalcs 10
facilitate the safe and expeditions transportation OF The
mails by Improvement Of post roads, with the assent OF
tho respective States; 10 render more easy ana less fX'
rensvr the means and provisions necessary for the con
mon defence by the construction Of military roads, with
the like assent Of the respective States and Tor such
other Internal improvements may be within The con-
sl,uioua powers OF The General Government 1t is ex-
peden that the 10 be paid 10 the United States by
the 2Oh section Of the to Incorporate The subscribers
10 the Bank Of the u S. and the dividends which shall
arise from their in It's capital stock be conSlut
ed us Il fund for Internal Improvement. L See Niles
Register. vol. -, page 2c3
The Constitution has either conferred upon the Fcde'
raj Government the power 10 prosecute system oil III
,ernal Improvements wilhn!he limits Of the States, or 1t
has not II it has, them the assent OF the States is not
necessary lis exercise if il has not! then the assent OF
the States cannot confer IT; new power can be confer
red the Federal Government except in the mode pre-
scented BY the Constitution. 1t is not my purpose now,
to canvass the enormy and danger OF the principles Of
this report; my ouy object is 10 expose facts
Conifesl The opinions Of Mr. Rives with these Of MIR.
Tucker upon these TWO important and now vital ques-
lions and see which is most entitled TO the confluence
ard support Of these who Republicans, not IN name
ouig bu, upon principle MIR. Rives has, ever since he
entered into public life, been firm, consistent and uni
form opponent Of both, National Bank and system Of
internal improve mens by the Federal Government, Ell
Their with without The assent OF the States. lie de-
MES 10 Congress the constitutional power TO establish
either. and measures OF policy regards 'nem as mex
redrent aud dangerous; and could not under any ccu
stances be brought to sanction either. upon TIE SUP
iecl of iRerna improvements, reier 10 speech Gel!
yeIed by Mr. Riyes in The ouse Of Representatives OF
the Uniied Sla,es on the Sd Of February 1924, and
ported in the National lntegeucer of the 2oh Of the
same month, in which, in the most able and conclusive
arguments delivered in that body he overthrow,
WIKI giant strength, the strong defences with which
The friends OF this system had surrounded It, and demo-
llSed the whole citadel In this speech, Mr. Rycs with
manly frmness and intellectual force rarely equal
led successfully encountered SIR Clay, the great cham
p0n Q! this system, and maintained IN their purity the
true doctrines Of Repubcanism. | make no extracts
ircm this speech because should thereby weaken its
power and strength refer to the speech itself us
fyng all that have said of it.
Has Mr. Tucker abandoned The doctrines, upon these
subjects, which he hers toiore maintained and which
alone distinguish his political career: Has he repud
aed that RUE Of lauudincus construction by which he
derived from the Constitution, these extraordinary and
dangerous powers. and by which other powers OF like
character may he derived: If he has, when nd where
For what, then, is Mr.. Rvcs TO be sacrificed by that
patty which claims to be Republican, Is il because he
has changed any principle has the party itself changed
rs principles: This is question which should like 10
aESwered-not by mere assertion, but by reference
TO facts. Is AIR. Rves opposed TO The Sub Treasury
scheme, that favored Of the Administration:
So s Virginia and is her present Legislature Has
Mr.. Rves charged upon this question: No; but the
party itself has changed and this is the sin for which
MIR Rves is not be forgiven Every objection urged
by Mr.. Rives TO the Sublreasury SYSTEM and every ar
gument III favor Of the Stale Bank system urged
by the Republican party when he last elected TO the
Senate. Ihsn the Stale Bank system was the very
seace of RepubIcansm and the Sub Treasury the very
Of .IOnarchyNo,c presto quick The Slate Bank
system is the very Of Monarchy, and the Sub
Treasury the very Of Democracy How strangely
cGprcious is the human midland by what an alenu-
atsd thread hangs The destiny of faithful public men!
Some say that this is the only ground of their OBJ
lection to Mr. Rives--ihat they could have overlooked
his opposition the Sub Treasury scheme, but he has
nssailed the Administration Aye, here lies the rub
here be lurking that fatal principle OF blind de-
vo,ion TO men, which subjects principle TO its control
and that influence of party discipline, which demands
unqualified surrender Of conscience and Of judgment
its dica,ion. MIR Rves has assailed what he regards
the errors Of the AdmnIsration-he has questioned Mr.
Van Burens inaIlib,y-anG he has dared to hold
his head that responsibility for persisng IN error, which
alone is in system of government, effective in
checking it. What would the most iaslidous Of our
democratic friend, have had MIR. Rives 10 do? Would
they have had him. al the close of every period of his
argument in opposition 10 the SubTreusury system, 10
have given assurance Of fidelity 10 Mr.. Van Buren,?
Would they have had him, while he denouncing
the measure, by way of checking lis progress 10 have
Numbered in the Of the Administration his unquu
fed adhesion: Should he have said to the Pre"Ident
Your proposed measure is neS Pedent and dangerous
do persevcre H. but you do will not desert you
will draw tighter the cords Of my allegiance :-Surely
surely, if he had done this, Virgnian would have
sustained such serv,y and degradation! Every man,
woman and child in The State, would have dsspised and
condemned him, they ought to have done. Yet it's
effect for not doing this, that he is prescribed and con-
demned is because he has found his support OF tins
incompatible with his duty to his country, that
he has to be struck by the cors axe of party dIsc
pne What is the great and effective check in our sys-
TEN upon Executive errors?-Responslbiy TO The Peo
pie! Yet representative of sovereign State is 10 be
prescribed and executed for having The andacy to ind
cate that the President might possibly incur the erors
Of this responsibility. o Virginia, Virginia. how viii,
thou have faenhow deep wilt thou have sunk into The
mre of servily if you submit to this spirit !! Repub
licansm, what daring deeds of despotism will not have
been perpe,ra'ed in Thy holy, thy sacred name =!
But, say SEINE he has gene over 10 the Opposition
he has identified himself with the Wings What evi
dence is there of this, In what act declaration is il
to be found In neither the assertion is unfounded,