Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-23
ADD sS ESS
OF THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION,
TO TIE pEnEIE OLE VIRGINIA

TO THE PEOFLE OF VIRGINIA.
Fellow CITIZENS On the 29lh Of January last. the
Republican members of the Legislature friendly to the
presn, administration Of the General Government, he Id
meeting at which they recommended to their polilica
'rculs throughout The Stale the appointment OF Dele
gacs,io unite with them in forming Convention, TO
be hnlien in The city Of Richmond on the Sd Monday in
March. The crisis was deemed 10 be an important one
and reference TO certain differences OF opinion in our
own paty, which might prevent mutual cooperation IN
the Approaching elections if not amicahy adjusted; one
OF the objects they had in view was declared 10 be- lo
consider the best TO restore our ancient harmo
n.y. and toadvnnce the great principles OF free Govern
ment" Mother object was 10 unite all the old Demo.
cratic Republicans in common fort In maintain their
pCculInr tGirnes. 1t believed that many persons
who belonged 10 the Virginia School OF 19S and lSO0,
but had sepaaed from majority Gf their friends in con
sequence OF certain OF the late Administration,
tending, hs Hey thought 10 too great concentration
Of power in he Executive head would be disposed to
rrion their stan dards under different auspices and IN an
emergency well calculated 10 excite their Tears "r
the permanenc, Of The glorious principles they po'essrd
and that other, who had more recently condemned a
single measure the present Administration, would, by
free comparsoa nd interchange Of opinions, be induced
confne their opposition 10 that measure and TO coope-
rate with their political brethren in the reelection OF
Chief Magistrate, whose known opinions so nearly con
! form TO their own. Accordingly we who now address
you. having b.Cnpcminaed TO represent Them by por.
tons of the pcopcin their primary assemblies. or being
Republican membes Of The Gene raj Assembly, referred
in The second resolution calling IT, have met in Con
venon, and would most respectfully invite your serious
atte non the considerations about TO submit
with sincere hope hal they may tend TO heal our un.
natural divisions antassst you in coming TO an impair
al decision ni The numcnlous quPs tons you VIII soon
be called upon 10 determine. By union aud concert Of
action may avert he evils we have loo much cause
TO apprehend from The election OF Federal wing 10 the
Presidency; we may nIelbIy impress upon our system
the doctrines Of the Slae Rights Republican school, ard
we may bring back the Government. in all It's depart
mens, 10 the principIesassered by Tay in his Rcso
I u,icns, and by MadIs"nn his Report
frequent Tecurrence,o first principles is recommend
ed as essary meanslo preserve our Institutions in
their purify. less ESSENTIAL is il 10 wise and prudent
action, rev occasionally the past history OF The two
great opposing parties anil learn from it, what
right TO expect from the ulure ascendancy Of The one
/ or the other.
| Soon after the operation; Of the General Government
commenced in l7e9 Two plcal sects arose, entertain
ing very different views otis constitutional powers and
duties The one, at The bad OF which stood Hamilton
believing the Federal Government TO be tou wenk in lie
organization to answer the purposes OF lis founders
sought enlarge its powersand patronage, by resoring
10 broad and Iatiludinarlar constructions For this
pur pose he and his fopwes pressed into their service
that clause of the instrument which speaks of "the
general welfare and anoller comforting IN Congress
The power make all laws which shall be necessary
and proper for carrying into eecuon The foregoing pow
ers aud all other powers vc,ed by The Constitution in
the Government of the Suites, or in any DEPARTING NJ
or officer thereof" The frstcause as they commended
authorized Congress lr public money for any pur
pose calculated IN thar npnOn, to promote the general
welfare whether the objects TO which il was 10 be up
piled were enumerated in the express grants Of power
or not and The last 10 make any low having tendency
only TO promote object for hch they had authority
10 provide; useful Convenient for that pupose I'm.
der this fced and loose construction. they proceeded To
establish the Funding System; TO create National Bank;
to enact an Alien and SediIon Law; convert the tax
ing power granted for the purpose Of raising revenue
for specific Objects into protective power for the en-
courngement Of manufactures and 10 project and partly
10 execute magnificent system of Internal Improve
ments, involving expenditures, under The d.
rec,ion and control of Federal agents. by which sectional
interests might be Cd and States themselves be pur
chased They said, indeed that there was 'no room iol
doubt that whatever concerns the general interests o
learning, of agriculture Of manufactures and OF com
merce within the sphere OF the national councils as
far as regards application Of money! and GONE OF
their leaders have gone far assert that he worcs
of the Preamble the Constitution justified still larger
grant Of powers and authorized every measure reauhe
10 lie common defence and general welfare, "he,hei
through The application of money, or Otherwise linus
The Charter Of Rights and Liberties vas IN danger
of Welding constructions founded the doctrines OF
implication and rxpedency, which "dehed oil restraints
and overwhelmed The best hopes of Repubcanism;
The principles Of the other party are TO be iouno en-
bodied in the Resolutions of Kentucky and Virginia II
1893 and the Report Of The Committee of The Legisa
,nre Of the latter State, adopted by the General Ass
by in 1900 We refer TO these noble documents, as X
planaory of the creed still proudto ackno"ieoet
We refer 10 them the opponents OF our Poh.ica
faith rendered doubly dear 10 us by the ins'tucu,
lessons of expe rence-And we place them prominent
ly before you, presenting the common giounus up
See ReuoIi OF the Secretary the Treasury 5'h pee s
! and Of a Committee Of Congress 10 January, 1877.