Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-08
COMMUNICATION.
NO. A.
A PREVENTIVE efh'~,s Emssrrs''msni
propesfd

| In the foregoing number, suggested 70 inc eon
alteration Of the People OF the u. States. remed
Zoe the presen, Distress and promised to submit es'
What believe TO be practical and efficient proven
! tive OF future distress Of a like kind.
1 stated that bad currency, in conjunction vii
bad government. constituted, in my opinion, III
great cause Of our present condition. And mish
have gone step further. and attributed oil to es'
government State and Federal IL is the duty
every government to provide for the legitimate want
\ OF its people, not only to currency, but every
poin, or duty Of legislation. The most striking de
teroration has been making rapid progress IN tho
Federal government during the last fifteen or twen'
ty years. The States have par,aken freely of ma.
tional influence. Indeed, our local Legislatures
have become theatres Of national politicians, mainly
regardless Of domestic obligations mere "wheel
within wheel" to subservc other than the Peoples
welfare. In reference to these governments, is II
not becoming more and more evident, that we, the
People," (rotrs, the Whigs-nor zoe, tie DsrnoeratS
in the spirit of Americans and citizens ottho States
shall be compelled, under the operation OF primary
meetings, to make known our teiRi Shall we not
have to put an end to much waste OF time and Of
money as is now made by long and utterly worthless
speeches, which, in the aggregate, but few OF the
people care enough TOT 10 Tcua, tnuCn tesS W Has
Shall wo not be compelled to lint the slttings OF
our Legislative bodies TO thirty or twenty days not
only TO curtail expense and stop useless speech
making,-but to stop useles iaw making' What
must be the number OF the laws oil virginia, Tor IN
stance at the rate that she is now making laws, IN
the course Of only fifty yeais1 A Legislature once
in Eve wears, or TO sit twenty days once year,
tciihoni ialoysr. made up entirely o. Farmers ana
Mechanics who have. in sense, made and otcn the
country. would probably do the legs la,'on needed,
with great ease, at small expense. The writer has
no wish TO disparage unlCsty any class o. American
ctizens MANY exalted instances OF moral vir,u',
well as 10 iticl integrity, are to be found among
Layers; but, as c'nss, they are obnoxious TO sc
rous objections, and are not the sort OF men Whose
habits are calculated u give them supremacy IN
questions of right and wrong. The daily exc else
OF their minds is diccc'ed to make wrong appear
right and vice verss. By the governmental man
asement Of the last fifteen years, and N tact, much
shorter period, have been hurried with great n
pidity 10 present oondiu N. Repeated huetua
tons have occurred since 1916 r. operiy has been
several times advanced unreasonable prices, and
subjected by ~hnt has appeared the mass Of the
people inscrutabie reverse. to state OF deprsci-
ation equally unreasonable. The frequent repeti.
ton of this state has ted Ultimately, oply to
distressing want of confidence between man and
man, hut TO further consequence OF some distress
growing out OF this want of confidence. At this day,
we find ourselves nationally overwhelmed IN debt,
wi bout a national, or any other sort Of good
currency to pay debts with. Is this course OF ups
and downs TO be continued to this great ma ion7-
Is there no remaining redeeming power among Us
Are We bankrupt morally and intellectually, as well
as in monetary powers1 We ought 10 be virtuous
people-a prosperous and powerful people. We
have every IN ng needed, Tor the greatest human at
tainments. But, we have also, unfortunately, all
the rudiments essential TO the destruction OF any
nation. We have men unnumbered, who love them
selves more than they do their colniry-guided by
narrow hearted selhshness;-we have rches,-lux-
/ ury,-pride,-and means OF unparalleled prosperity.
Nothing short of true virtue and pure patriotism
can withstand the combined force of these causes
Righteousness exalteth n nation; but sin is re
proach TO any people" The immortal WAsHIseroS,
in his first speech TO Congress says: "No people
can be bound TO acknowledge and adore the invsi-
BILE hand which conducts the affairs of men, more
than the people OF the United States. Every step,
by which they have advanced to the character Of an
independent nation, seems TO have been distinguish
ej by some token of provideniial agency" He
mis ht well survey the past, and TO exercise his
bic and grateful heart towards the Benefactor of
mankind, and OF his own country IN particular. He
looked at the past, and cherished stumble an,ic
patton Of future blessings" For time, we rea-
ized the best fruits Of Dis anticipation. They are
now rapidly decaying.
Unless something can be done which will esiab-
lish us nationally, in permanent of prospel-
ty-mutual confidence and happiness, the most de-
plorabie ultimate consequences must result to US
nation of mere factions-the victims of intestine
bros will be all that will remain of this great
try, until it shall be subdivded into petty confe-
deracies Let US try, them not only TO save the
try, but lke wise the UNION, by bringing about
stability and true independence among the nations
OF the world. To this end, propose the following
Preventive Of future monetary embarrassment. as
one important step towards national reform.
Let the people OF the U. States, through the ae-
ton Of Congress, adopt at the earliest period prac-
ticable, fsay the year lsf5) the OF money, to
wit gold aud siiTsr only the national currency
ieithOm INTEREST, except in such an emergency
war, or on the breach of individual covenants
In such exceptions, for the use Of the nation, and
the promotion of puncIuality and honest dealing
between individuals, let interest," properly regulated
be paid.
This is a very simple plan, hut most efficient in
its operation. IL is founded upon Toe supreme law
OF the land on the one hand, and upon the immuta
bic and much more exalted law Of God, on the
other. The Constitution Of the U. S. authorizes
Congress TO coin money-gotd end slrsr-while the
law OF Heaven forbds, in the proper and legitimate
thereof. with only eIception) that il should
carry INTEREST. But will eonhne my remarks
chiefly 10 a political view OF the subject. And IN
the first place. enquire Of the States whether they
agreed TO this investment OF power. The Consti.
tuition Of Massachusetts asserts that "the people OF
this Commonwealth have the sole and exclusive
right Of governing themselves, as free, sovereign
and independent State; and do, and forever here
afjer SHALL exercise and enjoy every power, iurs-
dieton and right, which is not, or may not hereof-
ter be- by Them expressly delegated 10 the U. s. Of
America in Congress assembled"
New Hampshire sets forth the same declarations
in nearly the same words. These constitutions bear
dato in 1880 and 1892. Several Of the old thirteen
held their charters, adopted their constitutions,
previous to the adoption OF the Federal Conslitu-
ton in 1857. Both the old ond new States, howev.
er, occupy the same ground, and maintain that oil
p wers no. granted TO the Federal Constitution, IRE
retained by the States the people Of the States
The Federal Constitution admits this doctrine
among its amendments as follows: "The powers, not
delegated 20 the u. States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by II 10 the States, reserved TO the
States respectively. or to the people"
The right OF coming uonsyis delegated to the u.
s. by the Constituion-c consequently, not TO be
found amoog the retained powers Of the States or
people.
The Constitution Of the U. s. authorizes Congress
to "borro~ money The credit Of the u. s. to re-
gulate commerce with foreign nntons-to establish
uniform rule NJ naturally 'tIon; and uniform Avs
on the subject Of baHkrup'etss throughon' The u s.
to coin mOnty,--'n regulate the Ualus thereof and
OF foreign coin; and NIX the standard NJ weights and
measures-to provide for the punishment Of conn
iefeiung the securities and eptsri coin Of the u.
S'ates;" end 10 make al laws which shall he ne
cessary and proper FOR carrying into execution the
foregoing powers, and all Other powers vested by
this constitution IN the Government NJ the q. Stats
or my department or officer thereof" And fur her:
ono State shall enter inio any treaty. alliance or
confederation, grant letters ol matque and ,eprssl
coin msnsy, emit bills OF edit make nny thing but
GOLD ard SILVER coin q tender IN payment Of
debts" Thus saith the supreme Federal and State
laws Of this Union.
The true and only source Of money which ought
TO be the currency Of the people Of the u States, is
thus distinctly sseer'aned yet the States, as well