Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-23

shall hive the land fund IN particular form OF legs
a,ion which Congress have resolved at all hazards 'e
,erseyere ina form at legislation resorted 10, nrsl
10 coercs the yoes Of Congress and persisted in 10 co
cree The Executive, by putting the treasury "hue'
dursss ,.
ton !, IS mere parlame ntary puncIlIn on when some
octbem would rouge the country oarms. In o'her Us
,ecls however, in which it will be viewed by those
wi;o in this case, more mpattia afoefS IMAM g
,her this majority the Pres dent, II is question wor
thy of The most serious consideration Inc uo'ei"
ment has now no revenue. II is in debt 1t Is com
,.t,l, o,ran:zed under the forms OF the Constitution
eg,salure It's judiciary, lis Executive are al 'hei
nos,s us army is in The field; lis navy IS on The sea; III
REPRESENTATIVES are honoably accredited ny all ,oe'e'
Governments az the representatives, "f foreign HoVefh
men,s are here. There IS profound peace and gene
raj sense of security throughout The country VI"
6elds are ,ecming with abundant harvests Industry
and economy are gradually repairing Inc eV'is Oh *
raysg.nce and Incidence, and, as they develope ou
oreat national resources, they are restoring genera
CON dence which will revive prosperity, aud teach US
for ,,me at least, the danger Of preerring again srt
6c;pl wealth and delusive splcndor TO real indepen
d.nce and substantial comfort; with The means oil mot
yidua happiness and national glory wilhin our reach
The people of the United States may well ask why u
is that The Constitution has Jailed, why the lnwsa1e I'm
potent ard why the representatives OF twenty SIX
S,,,es and seventeen millions of people are unable IL
nrovde revenue to the Government from disgrace
and dissolution? majority oi these representatives
have given the answer. IL IS, because they 90 no
choose to do what they have the power to DO. ihey
orre their duty the country and the Constitution
and remember only the imaginary resentn'ents when
they suppose exist between themselves and The IRE
sdent oil the u . -,
If these rescntmens were real, will the country tole
rate susue nson of The entire Government unt'la po
t;c, dsnute is settled by revolution or reason, be-
tween those who ought TO feel on both sides weight
of official responsibility, which permits no motive OF
ambition or luminosity inil,ct their country the
consequences Of their passons Whence can such
resentments arise, unless from motives OF amoilion
eoually unworthy Of q President Legislator IL
the majority Congress with to submit an issue TO the
country, involving any policy of Government any ques'
ton of Unconstitutional liberty legislative expedency,
let them not present it in the shape Of mere con,ro-
yersy between themselves and the President LEI
the invoke the judgment, and not merely TIE PfeJ'
does, of their c0untrymen 10 decice H. .
Il too often happens that party attempts TO prescrloe
law for the Constitution, and to nterpoiae substantive
restrictions enlarge oil The powers 10 DC oeieu
from the text Necessity or expedIency IS always 'he
preeXt. The fist necessity and the souncest e1pe'
dency in government OF written Constitution Is TO
prcserye lis organic law invioate. That instrument
may he rs etiectualy changed (and The Government
changed with it) by this by an anne ndmfnt IN
the prescribed mode. The Constitution is designed to
furnish permanent, uniform, aud universal rue OF
Government, while parties iluctnate ana change WIN
Ike caprices of passion convictions oil ]uGgmehl.-
These decisions Of mere party apt TO he regard
ed as authority ard hence the conflict which frequently
occurs between them and the Constitution itse!l. Ihe
undersigned has already expressed his conviction ihal
the proceedings i'll this case are III conflict WIN the
Constitution. Ii is 10 be regretted INIT IL 10 bol Tue
only evidence Of disposition during the present Con
rress 10 disregard the authority of that instrument or
10 create unnecessary collisions between the Legisla-
tive ard the Executive departments when SUBJECT
distinctly embraced in one bill has been The cause OF The
Executive objections TO that bill, respect for the OPT.
mons of coordinate department, CT uesife 10 3Vou
unnecessary collisions with il, would suggest The pro-
rrieiy of not Immediately pressing that Identical sui
ct upon the consideration of the Executive without
some animation OF chang OF opinion ne op'c,'ohS
o The President tie provisional revenue ei ana 'e
neral Revenue bill tie same. lhey rea'e Ia 'he
insertion of clause directing distribution oi the land
fund without regard TO the rates OF duties on imports
The first bill was temporary in its duration and compa
ratiyey unimportant in It's oJccis IL vas sent 10 'he
President in advance Of Tie second, anc only hVe days
prior to the 30h of June, when 1t was alleged There
would no longer be authority 10 collect revenue IL
contained cIause in relation to the distribution Of the
land fund II was vetoed on account oil that clause
Ga the 9th OF August, Congrcss passed Inc second OF
raj bill, containing clause s,ii mare une
uuivocally auihorisng distribution, notwithstanding ie
twenty per cent restriction OF The act OF lo4l' VINE
,tcr the first ofcse bills designed only TO ieel ths
w,v for The second and TO ascertain If the Presden
could be brought 10 the dilemma after checing TO tif
bill OF either vctong revenue bull, or submitting tt
the distribution clause order 10 obtain the means Of
carving On the Government or 10 rec nac, by the vote
Of minority, single principle which had been 81
recently vetoed and which could not obtain tho vote
of two thirds it is part Of the history of these proceed
ncs which nav shed some light on our examinations
The legislation of Congress u, the late extra session oil
the subject Of the Bank and its various notifications
illustrates the same disposition Two bills under diff
f rent titles but both for the object Of chariering
National Bank were successfully passed, sent 10 III
Executive and were returned with objections. ii the
there has been disposition The part of The Execu
tive to resist the Of Congress certain subjects
there has certainly been corresponding disposition OIL
on the part Of Congress 10 attack and to repeat the at
tacks ola The Executive.
Congress have appropriated the money required
carry on the Government They have authorized III
debts that are contracted They alone, under the Con
sitution can furnish CT meeting their own az
preparations Il not in the power of the minority {
Congress to legsIale. All that the Executive can d
is 10 convene Congress, should it adjourn without pre-
vidng revenue to carry the Government II
hoped however that calmer considerations will inspIr
some motive of public duty stronger than any feeling
| Of party resentment The threats Of violence whic
have been heard from quarters whence better council
should have pre- vailed will not disturb the repose,
provoke the dignity of free and enlightened people.
THOMAS w. GlLMER.
| WAsmIxcroS, Aug Ii, Ic42.