Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-14
(From The Baltimore -9rgas:l

We notice that several of the Democratic States Of
the South taking steps IN relation 10 ls
but important measure; important, nasmuch rs IL Is
directly counter the Constitution and as no autho
ritv can be found for this high handed Federal act
in the deeds of cession We regard 1t not only as
an exercise of power inconsistent WIN law ana JUS
tice and bait thrown out by the Wing party Tor ,he
smnle purpose of augmenting their popularity, but
az iampernr with the happiness of the great Ame-
rican People Resolutions have already been IN
troduced into the Legislatures of South Carolina
and Alabama on the recommendation Of their res
pectye Governors, TO eject their share IN the u.s.
trihn,on of the proceeds of The Public Lands
How many of the States may follow in their steps,
we are unable to conjecture; but the Governors OF
these States having, in common with tie Chiei Ma
pstraes of the several States which compose TINS oon
Iederacy sworn respect the laws and Constitution
If The T. S. as we'll as of their respective States, II
bchooyes them 10 do their duty. They have done it.
They have acted from high considerations, and with
becoming rerard to conscience The General Govern
me nj is no more the particular guardian OF States IN
terest than the States have right, through their lie
gislatures, to pass laws LOT the SeHe'ai ~ Viz O
Contcderacy.
THOUGH the States are recognized, one as much as
another by the Constitution, as beng component
parts of the coniedcracy yet there nothing That gives
to the parent the right OF assuming .ne aeos ., ny
State much less all the States, its otfsprng on the
contrary Congress is under the Constitution, bound
IN nrovide WAYS and means for the collection SAFE
Keeping and discussing of the public MONIES Tor ma
tona 5urposes and none other. There IS nothing IN
the Constitution that requires it TO eSpend its syinpa-
Inv mon cornornons at the expense of the poor man $
nocket We will freely admit that the General Co.
yernment is bound to pay proper respect TO STATE
laws otherwise how is the vast machine to WORK. IL
is with the General Government Just as 1t is win our
i printing press if we apply too much power us eie-
mens become deranged and we make bad Joo OF H.
Tho General Government is bound to project State
from INVASION whether it be BY foreign Toe or sister
State nd The States in the formation OF their respec-
tive constitutions, are 10 pay due regar 10 '. VI 'he
Federal Government. The General Government may
be regarded the guardian OF the people, IN COME
derated capacity, and none other we VIII asa, what
il to be the effects of this bill if suffered to go into ope
ration and answer with the same BREATH that u VIII
lessen the public revenue millions yearly anu that
will require an additional tax TO meet the expenses OF
the General Government or oil systems oil 'a9auon'
that ortaxinp the people indirectly the most odous
/ We regard the land bill as measure fraught win
more evil than the odious bank bill itself. The latter
has been sent TO the tombs by conscientious wing
President as unconstitutional and tramping upon State
rights So Likewise, is this bill unconsttutionai mas
mnch as il is an assumption of State debts moreover
il is uncalled for by the States themselves and WILL nc
doubt, be shortly repudated By at least t:o OF Them
Keen it before the people, that the Democracy OF the
South is not to be bribed by MIR. Clays land bill We
know of no measure that has ever passed Congress SC
we'll calculated TO change the phaVe oour political ns
tutions as this same BILL South Carolina and Alabama
to their eternal praise have hailed the measure IN the
right spirit-they have hailed it as libel upon the cha
.ccer Of our political Institutions and as counter to al
Justice and to all ia In the language OF the editor
the Albany Atlas, It is measure that IN Its best as
meet and under its most favorable auspices, only
rob the people with one hand, that it may bride then
, with the other
If certain States have, through the improvidency
their Legislatures, holding Wing majorltles 6ecom
largely indebted to European capitalists, what ialrnes
is there in extracting from the poor man POCKET Int
means of relieving them from bankruptcy; for this &C
is nothing more nor nothing less. And do not the poo
o of those States tina. have not thus headlong ant
thong htlessly into this system Of internal improvement
suffer sausy with those Of the Indebted S'aiss Ger