Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-04

been opposing candidates in every instance the popu
lar Democratic majority would have been over four
,bousnnd What has become OF your yaunted asstr-
ton, now sir shdt the people Of 'e'o Jersey nt re-
cent elections haze sustained The GOrsrnor and his Con-
cil." These tables show.
Councl-though it better deserves the cognonen OF
pnltry whining, pinng, hypocritieai apology 10 The
community for the fraud he has practsed upon them
II sav in that opiuiom he submits anu answers inc
following proposition But it will be asked with force
and progriey is candidate to lose his seat IN Congress-
because, county clerk docs not make return OF the
votes, Certainly not IT, through inadvertencc or BY
despn any votes have not been returned by the clerks
il is in the power of the House 9t Representatives, IN
their discretion allow those votes, and give The seat
10 the person who with those votes may BE elected,
&c Now. sir. il will he remembered that the Cover
nor in another part of his opinion, says That he can act
only OH the returns that are made IN uHe lie cannot
look behind the clerks returns etc. bnt recommends
the contestors-whom, he admits, nave "a majorHy
Of all the rotes in the State and that he has the returns
before him. which show the fact, but he can only act on
those that have been made in ime-to apply TO the
House of Representatives for relief ETC. Well sir, the
conesors are here, and make the advised application;
and how have they been metz why, sr, the Oppose
ton taknp the cue from the Governor, say we can do
nothing for YOU; we can look behind the Governor
certificate What incompatible stuff: what supeflatye
sophistry The only respect due to II to treat with
the contempt merits and that is silence Sir, think
New Jersey is "soid to The Dutch No, not to the
Dntcb-I wish il was-the Dutch are Democratic
swamped in the vocative Heels over head in the Fe
deral mre! The State dstricted SO as at all times to
secure Federal majority in the Legislature and Coun-
Gil. And now for the powers of the Legislature
What are they: Why, by the Constitution OF New
Jersey the Legislature makes the Governor and to
them alone is he responsible; the Legislature makes
the udciary the Legislature makes the county clerks,
and the Council or many of them as the Governor
may see proper to Select (not less than tnTee) makes
the Governors Privy Council. What prospects have
the Democracy of ever raising their heads, though
their majority at this time of the popular vote perhaps
is not less than four thousand
AFederal Legislature will always make Federal Co
vernon; Federal Governor will always cxpend MS pa
tronaqe on Fedcrasts Federal Governor will always
select Federal Council; Federal Council will always
advise the advancement of Federal men, Federal mea-
sures and Federal institutions; Federal Legislature
will make all their appointments OF Judges and county
clerks from the creatures of their own party, and the
will never fail to carry down the principle to appoint
ments within their gift. What have you leh no'0S
| Why, Won have but one standard around which you
can rally-one loop on which to hang hope-the
name of but State official Democrat to dwell upon
your lips, and that name IS James D. Wescott secet1
nv of Sate and just soon his time expires lie VIII
walk the chalk for he, too elected BY the Legislature
| The only remnant of practical franchise you nave
left is the power you have to elect by general l'ckel
your Representatives TO Congress- But do not b. nat
tered with this hope; il rs an idle dream, VAIN deiu-
son and will avail you nothing; for, If you succred IN
giving your Democratic candidates ga MINORITY q Gt
The p0tes" Federal county clerk will refuse to make
returns in time Federal Governor will, in violation
of law refuse to send for hem and they not being re-
turned in time, he will not act on them Vie cah"ot
look behind e clerks returns He will give the Ger
t6cates to the Federal candidates, who nave minority
of votes returned in time. Your Democratic candidates
who may have "a majority Of all the coss, IN conior-
nifty with yonr constitutional rights, will attend with
certified copies of the poll books showing that they
have been elected by clear and undIsPuted majority
but they will be met at the threshold of this hall, and
told-Gentlemen, 20 home, can do nothing tor you
we cannot look behind the Governors certificate and
the broad seal Democrats of ~ Jersey, have you really
thought Of your situation? If you have not, It time
for you wake up and do yourselves Jnsilce due
to Yourselves that you should do 1t IS due to the
services and memory of your ancestors; but above all
il is due those who will will come after yon that you
transmit to them the freedom of the elective franchise
as pure and unembarrassed as it descended to you
Sir, had | the voice of thunder, would speak IN
peals to the ear of every lover of human liberty IN
Jersey to rally the standard Of his constitutional and
equal right and nerve himself TO the overthrow OF re.
deral despotisn, that overshadowng the free IN
situations of this State, and corruptIng the fountains Of
the elective franchise.
| Sir appeal after appeal and appeals upon appeals
have been made to the State rights party here and they
asked in pretended and hypocrca patriotic tones, u
then will stand by and the 6rond seal OF State mu
tilated, and her sovereignty dishonored The State
Rights party has been vocieratcd already, until It has
become yed phrase. suppose the State Rights
party are to he the jacks upon winch every dcmagog
cal trash i to be packed during this session Sir,
have given some little attention TO the subject OF State
Rights doctrines, and my application has led me 10 The
conclusion,
| / That the Federal Government can exercise liz
power net expressly authorized by the Constitution
@ That the States can do every thing mot morally
wrongly which is not expressly prohibited by the Con
sttutIon.
3. That the Government has no power 10 raise a re
venue 10 the amount of dollar and above wha
is wanted for the support of the Government, IN tho
exercise of the powers for which il was created
a. That the Federal Government was formed for the
purposes of national Defence well to the suppression
of internal discussions foreign invasion, and Tor nc
other
s. That in the formation of laws for the purposes OF
revenue. the srictes principles of equality should Dc
sacredly observed and system should be estaoshec
which would in its operations, benefit one part OF the
Union to the injury OF another.
| 6. That whatever powers the Federal Government
possesses were surrendered by the States and are Il
mited within the latter of the Constitution, which IS the
evidence of that surrender.
| T. That whatever powers were not so expressly sur
rendered. were reserved to the people and The States
{. That violation Of any all Of these principles
| is violation of the ConstItuton-an infringement o
the rights of the people, and s1bversion OF the Tree
institutions and sovereignty of the States Infected by
such violation.
g. That the sovereignty of State consists in the full
endowment OIL the part OF the people of all powers cIv
and religious not surrendered to the Federal Govern
ment and more especially the free exercise and Jul
benefit OF that valuable and sacred OF all principles
the freedom OF the elective franchise.
TO- That, in the constitutional exercise OF power BY
this House, The returns, qualifications, and elec
tons of its members the nvolabc preservation OF free
suffrage should be its first and highest object, as the
only means by which the rights OF the people can be
secured, in the exercise of their sovereignty. And
these sir, are Moses and the ten commandments
which have extracted from the sacred book OF State
rights
Now, Sir, if these are State Rights doctrines am
State Rights man; and hereby attach my HAND and
affx my SEAL and upon the altar to MAINTAIN
them But have yet TO learn that the sovereignty OF
State, and the freedom and independence Of her peo
Pile, have their existence in the certificate ola Governor
which is no more than prima face evidence OF fact
sometimes of falsehood, and his seal, which, only
evidences his official character. This is new and late
addition the doctrine OF State Rights, and under
take to say recognized orthodox by the party
and, Sir calls upon the State Rights party to sustain