Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-12
POLITICAL.


nature. The whole Of the passage quote Is an ii.
OF this sc nt:mcn'; but we were particularly
struck with the closing raragra pbs on subject which
men N the North locking TO political distinction, have,
Tor lie most part treated very sEyy. Whenever they
tread upon The ground of Abolition, it is very apparent
that they are generally tend'r jocied Gov. Bonck
walks very FIRMLY upon THIS pah as or every other;
and II Is remarkable that he should, in the face Of the
Abolition Committee, (Which holds its meeting at AL
bany. and which has boosted in lis a!e annual report
,hs II has aided The abduction Of 300 slaves-host Of
them from Virginia, Maryland, and the District Of
Cn'aIntis, aud nearly or quite hundred from Wash
'nsion and Georgetown, have declared that he look
I'd upon acts Of the kind boosted Of, amounting 10
felony Ills purpose to surrender any person shown
10 b. guilty OF stealing slave, and demanded by the
State against whose laws the offence perpelrated
undergo trial aud punishment under those laws is not
disguised.
The whole of Gov Boucks message is worthy Of
Petusal: We regret that the press Of congressional
matter limits our extract 10 single column (tobe
Extract from Goosrn9r BouckS Message.
Were It not Tor the grea, c1cesses previous TO lsH
when agriculture neglected, when extravaganza
and an nordnate desire for wealth prevailed, and the
whole nation deluded by fictitious prosperity The
people would now be com paralivrly happy in the full
enjoyment Of ease and plenty.
Although the country is in possession Of an uncom
mon surplus oil the products Of labor, yc; business ~
depressed and the people embarrassed in all their
moneyed Transactions. This should doubt esq, be
W iiCt lHtl prtces al
nate desire for wealth, have led to The contracting Of
debts WHICH the products OF the country, al the present
low prices, do not furnish the means Of paying.
But, am confident that this state Of things is gra-
dnai'y golls through saIuIary Change The people,
doubtless, See the necessity Of economy in all their
alairs, and the evil consequences of system OF credit
altogether too much extended. am also confident that
they wal not again be easily msled by The iaacy o!
ARTIFICIAL means 10 make them prosperous, and that they
have become convinced that substantial wealth only
De derived from prod2cis labor There is nation
40 highly favored as the people Of the United States;
and they properly improve the advantages they pos
sess, time will show ta in point Of greatness, they are
vet IN their infancy
There nave been repeated instances in the history Of
The administration OF the Federal Government where
powers Of legislation have been assumed derogaory to
State rights. While The Sia:cs should Weld ready
obedience TO the rishfu authority of the Federal CO.
vernmcDt, they cannot be loo watchn c! their cove
regniy, ans. encroachment should be permitted 10
pass umnotIced
Within the last two years, there have, in my judg
ment, been several unwarrantabe assumptions OF power
on the part OF the Federal Government. The right TO
collect money from the people any form, Cor the pur.
pose oil distributing The same among the States, has
not been delegated 10 the General Government. So
long tie whole revenue of lhe United States is
CURED for the purpose OF carrying on the operations Of
the Government, il matters not what particular moneys
taken from the Treasury for the purpose Of dIsfl
hutton Whether it be the proceeds OF the sales OF
the public lands, The same amount Of money collect
ed from Imposts, or by direct toxation-t is nothing
less than collecting money from the people, Tor The pur
pose oil returning portion OF IT back 10 them another
form. And 1t must come back diminished in amount
by the expenses and losses incident 10 the coll, con
and re distribution, the prof &c; is highly Objectionable,
when viewed us mere question OF finance. But, as
assumption If power, which the States have not de-
egaed 10 the General Government it is Of dangerous
tendency, and, like all other entertainments Of power
oup Ia he DY0nDtlv met and firmly resisted The
Union oE be maintained and our free institutions
transmitted unimpaircd 10 pos,erty by unfolding the
sovereignty of the States in oil the rights which they
have not yielded 10 the Federal Government.
Under power to "make alter regulations in re
ation TO the times places, and manner of holding cleo
for Representatives. in Congress, the present Con-
gross hes passed law, which, in effect, requires the
several States 10 legslae in particular manner in
lation to the choice of Representatives. However
limited may be the power of the National Legislature TO
"ater the existing regulations of the States, or to
SNAKE those which entirely new, it is impossible
upon any fair construction, 10 maintain that the power
10 "make or alter includes power to act upon the
State Legislatures, and compel them TO pass any par
cular law upon the subject AS question of mere ex
this measure not called for. No Stale
has ever omitted to make necessary regulations for Tie
choice of Representatives in Congress. But, un
authorized exercise Of power, it was, like oil other
croachmen,s BY the General Government, highly dan
gerous 10 The stability Of the Union.
he CONSTITUTION Vi tie TcGSTdi hOVeTnIHeHl CJH-
fers upon Congress the power TO pass "unorm laws
on the subject Of bankruptcy throughout the U. 5
The meaning OF a Bankrupt law was well understood
at the time Inc Constitution adopted. 1t was
law ch enabled the creditor 20 seize on the property
of an Insovent debor and it to be distributed
amorg all the creditors 1t differed essentially from
an insovent law, which provides for the discharge
of the debtor his application for that purpose
Under color Of the authority 10 pass Bankrupt law
the present Congress has assumed the auhory OF pass
inq insovenl law, and has provided that the debtor
on his own application, and without the consent of his
creditors, may obtain discharge from all his debts
nd this law not made prospective in its operation
but operated directly upon existing contracts There
H. in my judgment, no power in Congress 10 onnu
contracts which have been entered into between cit
zens of this State. The law not only demoralizng
in its tendency, but il rests on an assumption OF
mower which has not been delegated TO the Federal
Government.
II cannot be denied, that there has always been
class Of men in the U. S, who have been disposed to
give to the Government strong tendency towards con-
solida,ion. While would not mpugn their motives
cannot withhold the expression of my deliberate OPT
nion that they labor under great and dangerous er
ror Nothing can be gained 10 the Federal Government
by exercising powers which have not been plainly de-
legated 10 it. On the contrary, am firmly persuaded
that nothing short Of the complete sovereignty OF lie
States in all matters where they have not clearly sur
rendered their rights 10 The General Government, can
give strength and stability 10 the Union, and secure in
love the Union would firmly resist every usurpa,on
Of power on the part of the National Government
While we are thus careful to watch and defend our
own rights, we are bound honestly and faithfully TO
discharge obligations to the General Government
and 10 the several States with whom associated
I3y the compact under which the Union exists, the
States have made themselves name among the nations
of the earh they have reared buwas for the defence
of free institutions and secured TO the people odvanta
oes of the highest value, which could not have been
maintained by separate, and perhaps rival States. AS
we cherish the Union ought carefully abstain from
all encroachmen.s upon the legitimate powers OF The
General Government, and sc.upulrusly fulfil otli-
cations TO the othe. States. So long remln in,
and reap the advantages of, the Union, bound,
nv every consideration Of honor and good faith toyled
TO Others what we demand for oursevcs-an honest
fuiment of The compact BY which, for many purposes,
we are made one people.
| have been led to this Of remark from the
tendency which has been noticed 10 strengthen the
tona arm at the expense of the several States and from
finding upon our statute books laws which have been
adiudged 10 stand in conflict with obligations to the
other States aude TO our laws relating 10 "persons
held 10 service or labor in other States who may es.
cape into this The Federal Constitution has provided
that they shall not Gin consequence Of any law or re-
of the SIate to which they "be