Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-08-27
PUBIC MEETING * pETERsHI'EG

TUWWUNfT.
In my next, shall take lie liberty enquire whe-
ther tins be So A STATE RIGHTS MAN.
PupL!c MEETING * PETERSBURG.
AZ meeting OF The Democratic State Rights Rapub-
lean party OF Petersburg held at Friends Hotel, On
Friday evening, the 10Th August, lS4I, Gen. Daniel
y. hn,ts took The Char, and Chasies Campbell acted
rs Secretary.
The "hlrcss of The meeting were explained by the
Chairman IN an appropriate address of some length
after which, on motion nj Capt David H. Branch il was
ReSo'esa' That the Chair appoint committee Of
seven 10 draft preamble and resolutions for the con-
sideration and npprova! Of the meeting.
The committee appointed, were Messrs. HUGH A
Garland David II. Branch, Jos. L. Cox Jas Alfred
Jones, John Pollard, Nathaniel nj. Martin, and H. B.
Gaines.
The committee retired, and on returning, Hugh A.
Garland, chairman, presented the following
Preamble and Resolutions.
"When old political land marks have been obiiterated
ny long disnse, when weIl-estabshed party dlsnc.
IONS have been comfounded by series Of shiiinss
Teyoutions-heiievng that, in such crisis it behoves
Tree people, for their safe guidance, and FOR the
preservation of their Liberties TO recur 10 first pnci-
pies, and TO reestablish and affirm these doctrines BY
"hch ihry interpret the Constitution, and Judge o:
men and their measures: We, portion of the citi-
zens OF this Common wealth CONSISTING of the De-
inocraiic State Rights Republican Party of Peters
| burg, do hereby affirm, that we hold the Consti.
tuition OF the United States to be an in,rument Of
Iimhed powers, delegated by the people Of the
/ ",
he'd purposes all others, not specifically granted
are reserved tn the States TO the people of the
States respectvely;and the powers delrgat.d are Of
general nature, FER the common good the seneral vel
!ae, and 10 harmonse the diversified interests Of every
section and every CLINE That night be embraced with
in the sphere Of the Federal Government gu; he
experience OF fifty years has proven, tina. the tendency
If the Federal Government is to cncroac on The ruh,s
Of The Statcsio exercise those powers which must re-
ccssariiy be local and partial in their operationand
and
powers aud become omnpotent like The British Parla
men with other rule Tor lts guidance than lis own
sovereign will
rhe bane Of al Republics has been excessive leris.
la;ion the danger in not only Of excessive le-
gis!ution, but oi legislation those subjects
toned by ,,r Constitution The only safe and wise
rule, therefore, is abstain from the exercise of all
doubtful powers, however beneficial in respects
the exercise might be Better ioLear portion OF our
Just rights than crcroach those Of others.
"Cnngress has power 10 lay and collect du'ies, 10
pay the debts and provide for the common defence and
general welfare Of the U. S.,-but when, under the
-rtcAt of this authority, they undertake 10 lay diS
inaiRS dnii,s for the purpose Of projecting and ius
tcrng certain local and individual interests al the
pcnsc Of the great agricultural and commercial inter
css OF the whole Union The act thereby becomes par
tia unjust oppressive tyranncsl and unconstitutional
sCangs"ss has right 10 build Notifications, open
hsrhors, ard construct military roads for national de-
but il total peryersnn Of this authority IL
project system Of internal Improvements winch will
eA'''' 'se'' oNei '"e t'''s o""' side '''"'s','
ton, and only lie conducted ~ partial and raudu-
lent lrgslaion-hy cousnns and combinations Of IN
erssts corrup:inn HE people, brbng their representa-
u'es, ehG'"e u is ~ ,.'' "' 80 y 'io IN"
spectators and in total less 10 the community.
"e ~ eoui>e - ""s'"' ~. i'"'s"e 'e6''
iali"h states ''o'e "e' n,o'Vea =, "'o', ""es'5 ~
qnIr'S thai ie debt should nc pa;d " ~ imposition OF
taScs on !''i own Pe'i'"' ou' sh""'a '''e e"ses :"
the . n"aritaAt 10 pay '"'' e''Hcf " G'lsct IS
sumption or indirectly ny an appropriation 81 'ne ha
tonal revenues i"r mat purpose, from whatsoever
source def'"ed-snch an ac' "oi" ue l!e most migrant
violation Of the constitution ever pefP"tsacG-ho'
on'y so, ont u would u hr means " screening rom
detection AMI punishment those Pr'iSa'c legislators
who au inp"s'a on ''c'' l''Pec'''p 'e''tes - "nu'"
he o!ertna d h"uh'y 70 eNraVasahc' '"u f,"o.a''!,
and would hr 'hr snf'st means 81 o'oins Tue S'aes
rojbing 'hem OF 'n',r ''orp' hue"S'' 40 ',"1s,'2
Them mere Frf'ch"a provinces "'P'"e"' io' '''eii
existence on me o"'h'y ." n'Ee'h""' "'''" 80
originally tue c''aiu'' VI 'he ""' ~, -.
"t1ngress ia5 power ~ Great" ise"i h@eh' :"
coircf, sale K'ef' ana u'sonise we p'"c
but I; IS plainly gross us"fia'"H uhaef cover 81 s
authority, 10 create c"fpolat"h-'"Picssy P'"i''"s
ed by the Convention that iraitd The l"hsutatoh-
And 10 confer on that corporation exclusive rights and
heh sovereign prcrosatlvcs which cannot be taken
frn il ,:u.i:.g The term oils existence reached By
any Kind .! cgisla.ion-p"wers, i"" that have no re-
disbursement Of tie rrvenue' but look solely 10 the
benefit OF the corporaoTs, vino make Use OF the p""!ic
funds aud traffic Oh 'ic credt OF the government i'
their exclusive gam "ho nave absolute G"n''
over the money Concerns u the country anu iseFeoF
over the fortunes and tie iho';es .! the people, and
10 exercise their pTcroGa;rrs Tor the advancement oil
those political doctrines that coincide "h Their vews
and the support Of those prbiic men VINO are suasef-
Went 10 TIER interests; E"n'cd corporation iha'
controls the re'"naFy interests ." ''G psopr' mus.
soon overshadow the Constitution ilsc!l and become
sole Dictator Of the country
1--WE hold he5fSsT tina, saod Of ali Pl""cye T
riffs National Banks, aud schemes Of Internal improve
ment-aI Distribution Of National revenues ma among III
the States from whatever source de'Veu-ahd al 81
necurcs, pension rolls, ana donations % puoc money
vice their country These doctrines may be denounced
as impracticabe and ridiculous hbs'ractans-so may
all rules of moral,y-but we regard them as the v,'n
principles Of the Consultation, without which II would
be dead letter, or plant instrument IN 'ie hahoS
majority, to subscrve Their temporary pa'P"s' on'
mere British Constitution %le" - make H. and winch
n'po'eh' 1r;ndug IMPRESSION 10 ninc-
has become an od'"as ana s''"''s 'Fr''S''