Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-04-05
COMMUNICATIONS.
CO-WHCHIC-7lED.
To the Peoulc of I0uisa

To the People of Louisa
Fellow Citizens standing before you ms candl-
date 70! your sufages, for seat in the next Legsla
ture of Virginia, Ieel incumbent upon make
known my political opinions upon the prominent mea
sures oil public policy before the country AS no
man can be called Christian, who can give other
reason for the "faith that in him. but the fact of
being associated with particular church 80 lie
does not deserve 10 be clothed with the high and re-
sponsIbie trusts of Representative, whose opinions
and principles are based upon frmer foundation
than his connection with political party In the first
place. consider the Constitution of the United States
a compact between sovereign and independent States
and that the Government which it has called into exist
ence, ~ Government of limited and delegated powers.
1t was made by TIE States in their sovereign capacity
each State having vote in the Convention which
framed it. 1t was ratified by the States in the same
capacity each State separately ratfying for ITSELF and
binding itself by its own ratification. Clothed with
powers OF general character I'm the exercise OF which
all the 5 rs have equal interest,) but ccully
enumerated in the Constitution il should
else any not conferred upon it, not fairly and plainly
incident 10 such conferred To give any OF lis
departments the right TO exercise powers not granted
destroys at once the limitations of the Constitution,
and makes the enumeration Of powers contained in it
an idle mockery.
Upon the strong foundation of strict construction,
rest the principles of the Democratic party and, BY
that alone, can they be supported. conscientlousy
believe, that they the only principles which can
preserve our beautiful Federal system from The dangers
of disunion the hand, and consolidation on the
other. 1t will be by adhering strictly To them, that the
stronger interests will be prevented from depressing
and plundcrlng the weaker; which, in all ages, has
been the fruitful Of national degradation or
bloody revolutions and against the dangers Of which,
foreiatEes intended to erect barrier by the ml-
ta.ons Of Il acHttea Constitution.
Entertaining these opinions, with regard to The Con
sttuon, am opposed to the establishment OF Ma
tional Bank Ly Congress because the power to make
nat Arrcdu a auIh
the proposition to clohe Congress with the power was
twice introduced into the Convention which framed
the Constitution, and twice rejected winch certainly
is the strongest and most unanswerabe evidence, that
the power is not granted incidental to any oil the
powers which are. The erection of such an Institu
ton besides being violation Of the Constitution,
winch is insuperable objection TO H. consider 1t al
war with tie free spirit Of our instuons-embody wing
in itself Tie fearful aud almost despo;ic power OF WELD
ding for private interest the credit and revenues OF The
whole country-havInI its notes made the money OF
the county-possessng an almost unlimited control
over the property Ct The people, by raising and depess
inn It's pr ce pleasure 1t is the natural ally OF the
Government 10 which it its existence and always
the friend of eSorbtant taxation upon the people, De-
cause il has the use of the money, between the time
Of collection and disbursement.
1t is therefore, the ally always of high Protective
Tariff To this, also, which is but another part OF the
system falsely called the American system, am as
strongly opposed. ! consider that Congress has no
right TO egslac for private interests and foster by par
tial laws any branch of industry at the expense oil
others We are an agricultural and planting people,
nor can we cease be, until the vast forests oil The
West and South shall become the abode OF dense
population. Government cannot change US IN TINS re-
spect BY giving monopoes to manufactures nor Is IL
wise that il should since individuals are always better
indrcs of the most advantageous mode Of employing
their labor and capital than any government can be.
Protective Tariff raises the price of those articles
which the farmer often obliged to buy, by destroying
competition in the markell and forcing him to resort
dear market when in the absence of high dntes he
would have cheap one 1t is thus plainly, lax upon
the consumer 70 the amount of the duty imposed when
is pockeied b. those who the favored objects oil Inc
monopoly | think, therefore, that the Compromise
Act which limits the duties to twenty per cenum Tor
revenue, and rejects The principle oil Prolecoh, shouu
be preserved lnylc!atr.
an, in favor still of the Independent Treasury, be
cause believe it is the safest wiscst, and only const
,utiona mode of collecting and discussing the federal
revenues.
utterly opposed believe, that Congress has no con-
s,itu,onal power appropriate the money arising from
he sales of the public lands any more than that arls
no from CUSTOMS any other objects than those spe
Gifted in the Constitution, to wit "Io pay the deots
nd proyide for the common defence and general vel
fare The principle of distribution, if once esta
blished must work entire change IN our system OF
government. 1t gives the power OF taxation 10 one
government, and the power of appropriation 10 ano
iher; thus breaking down the responsibility VI III.
State Legislatures their constituents the most pow
erul check to corrupt and extravagant appropriations
This act if not repealed will furnish excnse Tor The
friends of the protective syslen to saddle It's oppTes
siye exactons again upon the country; attended ~
enormous surplusses, to corrupt and demorniIze 'he
neople; extravaganza and unconstitutional expenditures;
corrupton nd overacon in every department oil ,'o
ve,nmeut, State and Federal revival OF the strong
feelings OF sectional dstrus TO end, perhaps, in resist
ance and another pros,raon of the system or disso
luton of the Union | am opposed to the Bankrupt
Ac and think that it ought to be repealed with re-
card TO our State Banks, am in favor OF speedy re-
sumption of specie payments. No one regrets more
han do the load of debt under which Virginia IS In.
but the faith Of The State should be preserved
r;na,e and feel conscious, that there is patriotism
enono IN the people sustain the Legislature IN any
met measures II may adopt, 10 pay the debt and project
Tho honor of the Commonwealth.
have thus fellow citizens, given you br'ei sy
rons;s of nv opinions trust that it will demonstrate
- ali that am Democrat, and that shall continue
,ct with those whose object it is to repeal the mea
srss of The Extra Session; TO economse the expenu
,cs If the Government, and bring It's administration
hac 10 the sphere ofthe delegated powers IRON which
!, has lately so widely departed.
Respectfully, ,,,,o