Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-11-20

I WH.Ist
no recommend an in csIa,ion guided by the c"oiness
If wisdom and decision bo,lomed on hrmnrss, but
tempered with moderation -, ,
II would be perfidous in those entrusted with The
GUARDIANSHIP OF The STATE SOY I'll FL ~
TY and acting under the solemn obligation OF the FOL
LOWING oath: do swear that Will support the Con
s,uion of the United States, not To warn you oil
cncroachmcnts, which though clothed with the preeat
OF necessity, disguised by arguments Of
NAV vet establish preccdcnts which may ultimately de-
vote generous aud unsuspciou people to all the con-
sequences of usurpcd power
Encroachncnts sprnging from government, whose
ORGANIZATION CANNOT BIZ MAINTAINED
! WITHOUT THE COOPERATION OF THE
STATES furnish the strongest cxcitemens upon Tie
State Legislatures 10 waichiulncss, and impose upon
them the strongest obligation, TO PRESERVE w
IMPAIRED THE LINE OF PARTITION
The acquiescencc of tho States under lnractions OF
the Federal Compact would either beget speedy
sclidation by prccptating the State Governments into
mpocncy and contempt, or prepare the way Tor revo-
luton, by repetition of these nractIons until the
people aroused appear in the majesty of their
strength 1t is to avoid these calamtes that we exhl-
bit the people, the nomentous question, whether the
Constitution of the United States shall yield to
siruc,ion, which dees every restraint and overwhclms
the hest hopes Of republcanlsrn.
Exhortatons disregard domestic usurpation, until
foreign danger shall have past, is an arice which may
be forever used because the possessos OF power, who
are the advocates for its exension create
tioual cmbarassmcnts, 10 be successfully employed to
f ling, silently secretly and fatally Of the same cha
racter insnnaons of foreign influence which
seize upon audabe enthusiasm against danger from
abroad, and dlstort by unnatural application
10 blind your eyes against danger at home
:, The Scditiun act presents which was never
expected by the early friends Of the Constitution 1t
then admitted, that the State soveregniics were
only d.inished BY powers spsc,ncally enumerated, or
Federal authority is deduccd from implication, and
from the existence Of State law is inferred, that Con-
gress possesses similar power Of legislation whence
Congress will be endowed with power Of legislation,
in all whatsoever, and the States will be strip ol
every right reserved by concurrent claims Of para
mount Legislature.
The Sedition act is the offspring Of these tremendous
pretensons, which nilict wound the
e reignty of the States.
For the honor of American understanding will not
believe, that the people have been aured into the adop
ton Of the Constitution, by aecatIon of defining
powers, willis, the preamble would admit construc-
ton, which would erect the will of Congress into !
power paramount in all cases, and therefore limited in
none On the contrary, II Is evident that the objects
fer which the Constitution formed deemed at
tanablc only hy particular enumeration and speciica-
ton Of each power granted the Federal Government;
reseving all others TO the people, TO the States nd
yet in vain search for any specified power
bracng the right Of legislation against the freedom OF
II the press.
Had the States been despoiled ofter sovereignty b.
the generality OF the preamble, and had the Federal
Government peen endowed Win Whatever tney should
Judge TO be instrumental towards the union justice,
tranquility, common defence, general welfare and the
preservation Of liberty, nothing could have been
:, frivolous than an enumeration of powers.
: All the preceding arguments arising from a def
1f cheney Of constitutional power IN Congress, apply to
the Alien act, and this act is liable TO other objections
peculiar TO itself If suspicion that aliens dam
gerous, constitute the justification OF that power eScr
c csei them by Congress- then similar suspicion
w justify the of similar power natives
III Because there is nothing in the Constitution distn
gushing between the power OF State 10 permit the re
sdence of natives and aliens. 1t s, therefore, right
If originally possessed and surrendered by the
spectivc States and which rendered dear and valua-
4 Bile 10 Virginia. because is ussaed through the bo-
som Of the Constitution, and because her peculiar 81
tuaton renders the easy admission OF artzans and la
e borers an interest of vast importance.
But this bill contains other features still more alarm
Ing and dangerous 1t dspenses with the trial by jury;
it violates the judicial system; contounds Legislative,
executive, and judicial powers; it Furnishes without
ral and Il hcstows upon the President despotIc power
10 over numerous class OF men Are such measures
lie con stent with constitutional principles: And
ID will accumulation OF power extensive, in the
hands Of The Executive, over aliens, secure TO natives
The blessings Of Republican liberty;
4, if measures mould Governments, and if an I'M
~ controlled power of construction surrendered To
~ those who administer them their progress may be
~ SLY foeseen and their end easily foretold. lover
~ # monarchy, who opens the treasures of corruption
6 y distributing emolument among devoted partzans
III eeludng the people with professions Of Republcans
IN lie may confound Monarchy and Republcansm by
the art of definition lie may varnsh the deytc
IN which ambition fails display, with the
Oh Tliancy oflanguagc the seduction Of expediency
IN tie prejudiccs of the times And lie may come at
hngih 10 avow, that 50 extensive territory that Of
iy tie L. s., only be governed by the energies Of
o. monarchy; that cannot be defended except by stand
NC ig and that cannot be united except by
n slidatIon.
as Measures have already been adopted, which may
Us lad Ia these consequences. They consist
e In fiscal systems and arrangements, which keep al
" pst Of commercial and wealthy individuals, embodied
no and obedent 10 the mandates of the Treasury
y In armies and navics, which will, on the one hand
ne est the tendency of to pay homage 10 his fellow
Is, cnature who feed honor him; and the other
W. employ the principle Of fear, by furnishing imaginary
ep murrccons, under the preteNt of preventive justice
a. In swarms Of officers, civil and military who in
" cucae political enes tending to consolidation and
II mnachy, both by inulgenees and seventies, and
p at spies the free exercise of human
IS In restraining the freedom Of the press, and invest
20 in, the Executive with legislative executive, and judi.
~ cnl powers over numerous body OF men.
~ And, that may shorten the catalogue, establish
~ ng BY successive prccedcns such mode Of
a. n the Constitution, will rapidly every re-
$, stalnt upon Federal power
u Let history be consulicd let the of experience
III reject nay, let the ariccrs of monarchy be asked
O. what farther materials they need for building up
ther iavore system:
81 These solemn, but painful truths; and yet we
re recommend it TO you, not TO forget the possibility Of
ID dagger from without, although danger threatens US
:; from within. Csurpaton is indeed dreadful but
against foreign invasion, If that should happen, let
I with hearts and hands united, and repe the at
u tack with the zeal Of freemen, who wall strengthen
D. Their tile to examine and correct domestic measures,
= BY having defended their country against foreign ag-
e erosion.
r Pledged are fellow Citizens, to these sacred
engagements, yet humby fervcntly mp!ore the AL
J. mighty Dsposcr OF events to avert from our land war
r and usnpalion, The scourges of mankind 10 permit
Il fields 10 be cultivated in peace 10 ns into nations
the love Of friendly intercourse to suffer youth to
be educated in virtue and to preserve morality from
l. the pollution, invariably incident to habits Of
prevent the labnrer and husbandman from being har.
raised by taxes md mpos.s to from ambition
l. the means of disturbing the Commonwealth ami.
hlate all pretexs FOR power afforded by war; to main.
!. tain the CONSTITUTIONS and, 10 bless nation with