Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-05

their exclusive control The former scheme was inn
practicable IN snch country as the u. States; for m
any particular section or interest given the msdri-
y, to protect itself in the general legislature enabd
1t to legisate for itself at the expense of others Thus
10 be free, it ensaved others The latter scheme was
adopted in the Constitution of the United States-the
only ore consistent, with self government and liberty
All general interests and all powers which it sup
posed must bear equally in their exercise all portons
OF The Con'edrracy were Entrusted to the General Co.
vernment; the rest reserved the States within
whose narrower boundaries, all local and sectional n
teresis were supposed 10 be identical, and therefore,
safe. Now, abolish the limitations in the Constitution;
extend the legislation OF The General Government over
sectional and local inteests-and what is the practical
Government il viii establish? The Government Of
majority, irresponsible TO minority despo;ism,
where representation is mockery, and oppression will
be patriotism SIR, show any legislation of this CO.
vernmen which is partial and sectional in its bearing
and Will show you an unconstitutional law II must
be so, or there is no justice Liberty secured by ts
provisions.
Mr. Speaker it may be the necessary efec, of posi-
lion or oil an inevitable hypocrsy-hut, at oil times
there have been found who vii! in the hap
py oelnson, or VAN assertion that their party the
country, and their voice, the voice Of the people
Take the very bill we considering 10 which
the President has refused his assent and for which
act, gentlemen threaten revolution by violence. Ii
passed Tins House ny seven votes and, in the Senate
escaped BY tie vote. Yet gentlemen discourse elo-
quenly OF lis being The mighty mandate of the peo-
I IL iT.
# they did speak The voice Of unqucstionabe ma.
ory Of the people of the United States, it would not
follow, that their would be jusiiablr The Com
sttution OF the United States not framed TO enforce
the viii OF majority merely. IL aims far higher in
its prctrnsions Its object is TO enable The WHOLE of
The people Of The United Stales-not PART only-to
rule thense lves-and it accomplishes tins end by TIE
checks and vetoes it has provided. Every cons,i:u-
tona limitation in popular Government, is q Itmita.
lion on the majority, but Enlargement of the power
OF ALL Even IN matter clearly constitutional, mark
in how many ways the Constitution requires the sense
Of The people to lie taken order that law should be
The law 81 all. FIRST the assent OF this lousc he
obtained, where the people represented pnrts and
frequent elections bring to the people; next,
the assent OF the people must be maintained in the Sc
nate, where by different fora Of representation and
4 longer term OF service, large number Of wills are
brought 10 the assent Of of the law ard lastly the Pre-
sccn, representing the people in another form being
elected by them aggregatelv, must approve. !. is
TINS by taking the Of the people of the Uni
led States IN various ways, requiring at each sep
an accumulation Of wills to carry il into effect that
a constitutional measCre, when passed into law is,
consuona!y speaking, net the will Of majority,
but the presumed will OF all the people All rule them.
selves in its enactment, and all therefore free under
lis operation. But when laws ks: which have
not obtained our assent, express or imfed-so far
we are concerned, we political slaves, whether
they are passed by one man or ten millions. There
may be no oppression; but there can be no liberty,
to those who do not practically govern themselves.
u
ages have struggled; and the tIroes of revolutions.
and the slaughter Of millions, attest the mighty difficult
ty oil obtaining II. II IS, indeed, tie contamination Of
man highest wisdom to originate and of mans high
est virtue to MAINTAIN, just and equal government Of
the people. Many, by the power of numbers; or ono
man, by the combination OF vicious Instruments NAV
make their will the law. But IN make the will of oil
the law-by constitutional arragnments 10 protect tho
weak, and enable the weak well us the sttong to
rule themselves, and thus 10 secure the blessing OF
q fhp 9TH
problem which has puzzled the statesmen and patriots
of all ages, and which has, al last been so wonder
fully solved in Constitution. This Constitution was
the result OF long tram of evenisoi peculiar times
and circumstances, and Sdom and virtue Quickened
by the ntensest thought and matured by the sternest
trials. Gentlemen may succeed IN overihrowing it
for there is no blessing is not capable of despising
and abusng-but IL: them not indulge the vain hope,
that when overthrown they re.eslablish it. Gem
turtles rolled over, before the birth of this Consu-
ton and It may take as many more to find peo-
pie, citler capable of approaching administering
such Constitution. Once iul!en like the decay
ed cities ,of the Old World, standing amidst ruins
and deserts, il viii he fallen forever. If The Union
dissolved tomorrow, IL could not lie reunited
Aware of the difficulty oil establishing the Consltu-
ton, and ITS completeness, VIXEN honestly administer
ed, accomplish the great objects for which il Gre
aed The people Of the United States have ever lrowned
upon all attempts to uller abolish any Of essential
features. Whenever any party has fairly developed
designs hostile 10 IT'S integrity, they have been
thown. To what but tins Constitution must we atri.
butte the glorious distinction possess happicst
and irecst people in the world; and what all
troubles and contentious with each o;her but pro-
vidential rcbuhes, for departing from its wi.e and
just provisions Snr, | 60 Tor the Constitution, as
it is. want no change in its provisions but if
there is to be any change, want those changes 10 be
in favor of popular liberty Instead %! strengthening
the Legislative power-ifom which all Usurpations
the Constitution have originated, and which
threatens to overthrow ,-r, the legislative power be
still further restrained, by limitations clearly de-
fnrd-let the veto principle, on which the Consu
ton is built, he enlarged, in order hat greater MAORI
ties- increased number OF wi!ls-m be required
10 make laws for the people, and thus approach
may he made the naked theory of free Democratic
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES every man shall rule himself.
detest The dominion Of one mana king detcs moro
the dominion of many, because more henrtiess and ir
resronsiblr: but, above ALL | fear ard loa,he and de-
spi e than fear, the DARK faithess, remorseess
tyranny Of caucus moori,y-lrst the tools and then
the victims OF the bloody despotsm Of some bold had
man, who the high aspirations Of the people for
liberty, 10 overthrow the Constitution Of his country,
and lit himself on lis Sir, republics pro-
verbally short.lived. They aim at higher standard
of equity IN government, and require, therefore,
higher standard Of virtue 10 odminister them; and,
being open 10 the aspirations ard ambition of all they
must necessarily he liable 10 frequent md des-
perae contests for power, and darker c0nspiracics
against their integrity; and let forget the sad
lesson all history teacheshat every free Government
the sun has ever shone upon has en- overthrow in
the names OF liberty End the people.
MIR. Speaker, the gentleman from Tennessee mir.
Caru,hcrs) has endeayored 10 show, by elaborate ar
runent, that corrup, coalition has been mnde be.
tween the Presitcn; aud The Democratic party. The
terms are, that the President the hin be-
fore us, and to support his future pretensons to
power. This is nothing new; for We heard the same
thing asserted after the vetocs Of the session. yet,
confess dy, by the charge ncm made, assimilation
OF parties then followed We know, that TO
son with suspicious, is as absurd, TO reason with
assertions; hut may permitted to ask, what single
of the President, of the Democratic party, JUS
titles :he charge; Is the message isclf' There
The recorded opinions Of the President years sgo in
the Virginia Legislature, read "y tie gentleman him
self against any dsr,bu ION of tie money resulting
fror The sales If The public latds which would inter
ERE with llniialnns Of Tie get Of s33 and there