Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-14

the obligations OF his official oath, we have seen
I'm denounced as "a traitor TO his pariy," because he
ctused 10 prove rccreant 10 the obligations of the Con.
which he had solemnly sworn 10 support,
protect and defend.
The leaders, who thus trife with the obligations Of
le Constitution, deserve the executions of a free and
intelligent people. They not only claim the ripht TO
exercise the nngranted power of Incorporation, but
ieny to their successors and TO the people the right
10 repeal their acts, in any manner whatsoever and
yet, the very moment that they are defeated by a vital
provision, they come out for a repeal efl
lat constitutional precision
We cordially approve tho sentiment expressed by
hat virtuous and distinguished Statesman, Martin
Van Buren,, late President of the United States, that
The power of the Federal Government to afford relief
70 the people from pecuniary cmbarrassments, sis more
l"n'ted than many seem to suppose and that those
VINO laok Tor such relief, lose sight of the character Of
nat O.vernment. We view with distrust all promises
OF such r1iefb Federal legislation, unless by the re.
pear o. moo''catlon OF laws which operate oppressive
y: euch Peot'ses generally carry with them the sin
- usurpation IN Ne Government, and degradation to
~ peoPe' TOT, AN the resources Of that Government
must oe derived from NE people, and those who call
for such relief by FedelI nower. INNS, asner,I, nh'
tam 1t, u they obtain it at al, at the EXPENSE of others |
The history OF the Tariff, for me relief of mounf,ctu.
rers, ought forever 10 stand as u earning to statesmen
and people. It's IN just and Cypress 30 o,or,,;on nnon
the great mass of the community, VIII wnre mnde ri.
butary to the cupIdity OF a small, but ta,ored norton
of the community, created heart-burnings and len.
lousles amongst our people, arrayed class again, class
and section against section, and even endangered The
existence ofour glorious Union. And we now see, in lo
practical effects and tendencies Of the "reiief' measures
ofthe late extraordinary Session ofCongress, how decep-
tious are the yauntcd promises OF the present dominant
party. Not only are the taxes Of the people increased
10 the amount of many millions, buta National Debt IS
created, and we are assured by the projectors Of those
schemes of "reliJf," that our taxes must be further in
creased, and that debt augmented. And our statute
books are sullied with an odIOus Bankrupt Law, which
breaks through existing contracts, dis,urbs the rela-
lions between debtor and creditor, demoTallzing the
former, and tramplIng upon the rights of the latter
and, in some sections Of the country, has well nigh
destroyed all credit, by breaking the force Of pecuniary
and moral obligations. These are some of the fruits Ut
this odious relief law, ere it goes into legal operation.
What will be the full extent of its practical effects, none
can tell, not even its trainers but, certain it is, that
whilst i { is looked upon with hope, by those who seek
TO free themselves from their debts, without paying
them, it is viewed with distrust and alarm, by those
who respect the obligations of contracts, and favor no.
nesty and fidelity in dealings between man and man.
Those, who thus break through The obligations Of
contracts, who destroy the moral force Of law, and
who avow the design of repeating the veto power, as
conferred by the Constitutions, 10 guard The rights oil
the people against hasty, rash, unjust, and corrupt le-
gislation, offer an insult TO the people, when they seek
to create alarms about the right 10 repeal their acts
Scorning all their threats and alarms, we join our De-
mocratic brethren in other sections of the country, IN
p%roclaiming that REPEAL shall be our motto and rally
ing cry, whenever we find ourselves saddled with laws
which work out in ius,ice and oppression upon the peo-
pie, or corruption in the Government and especially
when such laws arc forced upon US by surprise, and
in disregard of the obligations of the Constitution, as
has been the case with the prominent measures OF the
late Extra Session.
We cannot forbear TO notice with condemnation, the
unjust, and anti Republican gag rules, and other de-
vices, by which a domineering majority at that Extra
Session endeavored TO stihe the voice and trammel the
action of a Republican minority, who were contending
for the rights Of their constituents. The same party,
who but a year or Two ago, when they we're IN The mi
nority, spent whole days and nights in speaking
against time" endcavoring TO sstave oil even the
common appropriation bills, which were indispensable
to the action Of the Government and the interests oil
the people, now deny 10 the minority the right to de-
bate, or even time to consider or investigate measures
Of n most extraordinary character, complex III their
details, ana in their operations vitally affecting the
rights and interests Of the whole community. We So
lemnly protest against their tyrannical and oppressive
gag rules now, as we detested their long and tactous
speeches when they were in the minority and We call
upon our Republican brethren every where, for an
united effort TO save our National Legislature from the
disgrace which must come upon it, if such conduct
continue to characterize its action.
Tic ~disordcred State OF the currency and exchanges
merits TIE deep concern Of Tie people but We protest
against the remedies Of the dominant majority in Con.
gress. We must be allowed TO express our want OF
confidence in any remedy, at the hands Of those who,
whilst claroring about the state of the currency, re-
chartered the Banks of the District of Columbia, au-
thorizing them TO deal in, and make profits upon a de-
preciated and irredeenable paper currency, and that,
toe, after they had shown a contemptucns disregard Of
their former charters.
The evils which we now suffer in the state of the
currency and exchanges, have resulted mainly from
an unsound and unsafe banking system. II is The
business and true policy of the States and Tie people
10 remedy these evils, by unwinding the web IN
which that system has e~ntangled US; by reforming or
putting down the Banks we have, rather than rely
upon other and further experiments in banking upon
our present system and, b. relying upon themselves,
the natural course Of trade, and the specie standard
never tolerating a departure from that standard-for,
unless both Government and People faithfully stand
10 and abide by that, we shall find ourselves utterly des-
titute Of any ''grcat regulator of the currency and
exchanges.
Entertaining these views, we take this occasion TO
applaud the stand taken by Martin Van Buren,, late our
Chief Magistrate, in favor of divorcing the Federal
Government from our paper system. We are firmly
persuaded that the interests and honor Of both Govern
ment and people demand il. We deny, most emphaii-
cally, that the people have ever condemned the pro-
position. For, although many Of our fellow-citizens
may have condemned what is called the 'Sub-Trea-
sury," as nicknamed and misrepresented by its oppo-
nents, yet the great body Of the freemcn OF this coun-
try have never condemned, and we verify believe, they
n ever will condemn the proposition 10 separate the at
fairs of the Federal Government from the affairs OF the
Banks, and 10 protect and secure the revenues OF that
Government, and guard them from being used Tor any
other than the legitimate purposes of the Government;
At q few, and very few points Of the Union, the use OF
the public monies for banking purposes, and Tor the
accommodation Of Bank borrowers, may have been adj
vocated in the hope of enjoying a monopoly in the use
Of them but the leading enemies of the Independent
Treasury System have not dared to stake Their claims
10 popular support upon any such ground, neither have
they dared openly to assail the specie standard. We,
therefore, enter our protest against the unwarranted
that the characteristic principle OF The
Independent Treasury System, have ever been con-
demned by the people, whatever objections may have
been entertained by some 10 the details of the law for
its establishment.
Deeply impressed with the correctness ofthese views,
and huing DESTROYS of laying them before our fellow
citizens throughout the Union, as we'll as before the
National Legislature
Rcsolred, That these proceedings be published in the
Globe, the Enquirer, and the Lynchburg Republican.
Rcsolred, Tha. 4 copy of the sniae be furnished TO
our faithful representative, the Hon. WALTER Coles,
TO be, by him, laid before the House OF representatives,
the United States.
Resolred, That a copy of the same be forwarded TO
The HIM LEVI WooDBURy of .Nen HamDshire, in testi-