Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-26
RICHMOND, FRIDAY, MAY &c.
The Standard. Bearer.

The Standard. Bearer.
The present Federal Government was launched
upon the great Ocean Of Time, IN 1889; and the
first session of the first Congress was held al New
York, the h April, 1850. During that SEES
sion, Mr.. Madison submitted, on behalf Of y,rrins
series of resolutions, By wav Of amendments n
the Constitution, defining and eircumscT5ing HE pow
ers Of The Government These siited and bcl,eI
by both Houses Of Congress, and finally submitted Ia
the States for their ratification These ten amendments
were adopted by three fours of the States and now
constitute part Of the instrument itself Among Their,
is the famous and emphatic amendment that TIE pow
not delegated TO The u S. by The Constitution n.-
prohibited by to the States reserved TO the Suites
respectively or the People This is the polar star
which points to the States Rights principles o. N.
Virginia School; which directed her track from the frs,
foundation of the Government; aud which um,na,.t
her celebrated Resolutions Of $50 and Madison lie.
port Of 99lS00-the Shibboieth Of her Greed and ~,
Doctrines.
The interposon OF Virginia has been el, =. various
periods, and IN opposition various encro.c. mcn.s
but il commenced as early as January, 1880 Il sas
then her trumpet tones were uttered against the sssup
ton Of the State Debts-and this early precedent hr4s
so strongly upon some Of tie Federal o lie
present day. that deem i. proper to the Pre-.
cions odour Of her Resolutions /, is indeed refreshing
10 TO such remnlscencr conched as IS. the
plain, manly and robust language Of our forrsahers
Remember, the Constitution went into operation in
1879 The lst session Of the first Congress dis.
protect the rights of the States and Of the psope
The next session began the 18th Of January and ex
tended 10 August II, .790-durng which, MIR Hamilton
commenced The Funding .ys,em, that excited $" much
opposition and contributed so much 10 the formation
the two great parti. in the country lie recommended
the "Assumpon Of The debts If the several States 10
be paid equally with those cf The Union, measure
OF sound policy and subs,sn''ai jH1:;2e These were
estimated twenty se millions ii dollars. This in.
portant subject oncer re consideration of Con.
Il = ,f .f,eoa lao
provision for the debt Of T.. 5 passed.
We quote from the 21,h No Of Political History"
prepared for the New York Tribune-which also makes
the following statement: The House Of Delegates of
Vi.ginia in November, 1890, declared, by resolution
that the Assumption of State Debts by Congress was
repugnant TO the Constitution Of United Ss,es as
it TO the exercise of power not expressly gram.
ed to the General Government. This IS believed 10
have been the first act Of State Legislature ceusurrng
the proceedings of the General Government"
We had copied out from tie Sessions Acts of the VIZ.
GINA Legislature these bold and emphatic resolutions
before we had met with the preceding ey:Tactari
nor, we lay them before readers, specimen {!
the decided spin, of the Virginia School (These
solutions adopted wi Inn five months from tie
passage of the law)
ais THE House. OF DELEGATES OF Va.
"Wedaesday, The 81 If .Vorember, 1890
"Resofced, That much of the Act entitled An
Act making provision for the debt of the u States,
The payment Of the State debts, repugnant
the Constitution of the IT, States, as goes to the
ercse of power not granted 10 the General Govern.
nent."
December the 2ls, l79o-Agreed 10 by the Sc.
nate)
"Thursday, tie Al Of NoremJer. 1920
"ReSofced, That much of the Act entitled ".ia
CT making provision for the debt of the t. States,
limits the rights Of the u States IN Their redemption q
the public debt, is dangerous To the rights and sntye
sive of the interest 0! the people, and demands the
marked disapp.obation of the General Assembly
December the 2lst l790.-Agreed TO by The Sc
n ate)
"THuRsDaY, the 10th of December. 1870
''7he General assembly Of the Commonwealth Of rU-
ginia to the United States in Congress, REPRESENT That
is with great they find the mseves compelled
from sense of duty, 10 call the attention of Congress
TO act Of their last session, entitled making
provision for the debts Of the United States when
the General Assembly conceive neither policy, ius-
tce, nor the Constitution warrants. Republican poll.
cy, in the opinion of your memora!'ss, could scarcely
have suggested those clauses in The aforesaid act
limit the right Of the United States IN their rzde,ng
ton Of the public debt On The contrary cy discern
strikin. resemblance between tins system ana that
which introduced into EaSiGnd the Revolution
a system which has perPetuatrd upon TIA, nation 'n
enormous debt, ard has, moreover, nsinua;ed the
hands OF the Executive an unboundsd influence, winch
pervadng every branch of The Government, bears
down all opposition, and daily threatens the destruction
of every thing that appertains TO Eagish liberty TIE
same causes produce The effects In Al sgriru.
tura country like this, therefore, 10 cree, and
trae and perpetuate large moaied interest, Is
measure which your memorlatts apprehcnd must,
IN the course of human events, produce Other
of two evils the p.osraon Of agriculture at the feet
OF commerce, change in the presen, form Of The
Federal Government fatal 10 the existence OF imsrtsa
liberty.
"Duriog the whole discussion Of the Federal Cors..
tuition by the Convention Of frgin'u, your memo'a.
ists were taught To believe, 'ths every power grant
ed, was retained. Under tins impression, and upon
this positive condition, declared IN the instrument
ratification, The said government adopted By te
people Of this Commonwealth. But your memorials.
find no clause in the Constitution authorizing Goa.
gress TO assume the debts of the States As the gua
dans, them of the rights and interests of their
sttuents-as srntines placed by them over the ST.
nisters OF the Federal Government, 10 shield il lla
their encroachments, or al least To sound the als:a
when it is threatened with invasion, they can IT,
yer reconcile II 10 their consciences, silently %
acquiesce in measure which violates that hslioaG
ina1im the truth and s:credness oi ahc
the Federal Government depended for is adoption
this Commonwealth. But Tile nucicous &c. or'g /
deserves the Of the General Assembly, tecrge
ii IS not warranted - t.ie Cous;:!4.;":: % liz ;
bat because 1t repugnant to express provision olh
Constitution: this provision Is, That all debts contracts
and engagements entered into before The adoption 4
this Constitution, shall be valid against the |. ;
under this Constitution, under the Confederate.
which amounts 10 constitutional ratification o' he
contracts respecting the State debts in The s.,raioa
which they existed under the confederation; AID -
sorting 10 tat standard there be no doubt ha; The
present question, The rights Of the States conrac'r
parties with the United States mus! be CONSIDERED
eacred.
''The General Assembly of the Commonmeatb
Virginia conGde go fully in the Justice and sisGem
Congress upon the present ocoasion, TO hope ti'
they will revise and amend the aforesaid act e-as;F'
and repeal in PARTICULAR much OF II os relates 70 a'
sumption Of the State d.b's December tue ~ |
l190-Agreed TO by the Senate
In this held spirit. may the "un,err,fied Comm l
wealth always spsak
MR. WEBS TER. u
OF all the distinguished men, who now f-1''.
upon the political theatre there is no one, who's aeQ
position less defined, whose real influence IS a
dispropotioua,e 10 the space which he has filed ''
talents which he possesses, than Mr.. Webster