Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-11-20

OF entry. the last Enquirer remarks:
1--WE had tho misfortune differ with Gen. Jackson in
hs views and expressed decided dissent the
OF their hens made public. We were then aud still OF
opinion, that the adoption oi the rule would put It the
power OF Congress to make the Constitution what chose.
Where is the thing STOP once comn,encedf II Con.
gess have the power appropriate for the improve
ment oi rivers below ports OF entry what ~ there
strain them from ascending the river making Coving
ton pot" OF entry aud improving 'e difficult navigation
the tchote length Of the rceT' Every must admit,
that this violent stretch the depreca
ted-bu Is II not legitimate conclusion from the principle
land down."
That the Enquirer did differ with Gen. Jack
son Is probable enough; but that it expressed lis
"decided dissent al The time" is news Ia us. I'm.
al MIR. Leigh ridded the ridiculous notion of the
Old Hero, that the Constitution was dependant
upon tho existence OF Ports Of Entry. and that il
might be stretched or shortened according 10 the
lengths of particular roads, this bold and frank edi.
tor never admitted that the God of his dolatry held
the absurd doctrine Imputed TO him. Even in the
paragraph above, MIR. Leigh's argument is stolen
without an acknowledgement.
But this argument Is brought up now To defeat
the proposed improvement of the Lower James Ri
Yer. We hmbly conceive, that the Enquirer has
no right 10 ad' aIcc the argument. The doctrine
has been settled by the highest Democratic autho.
rity-and no Democrat, has any right to think dit.
icrently, OF ut any rate 10 speak differently. Gen.
jackson, who was universally conceded to be The
Democratic party, has said, that it is constitutional
TO improve rivers below Ports of Entry, and To
make roads extending from State To another.
This is binding on all Democrats. Van Buren, re-
cognizcd and acted upon il. In accordance with
il. the Constitution stretched up the Cumber-
land river To Nashville, and mp the Hudson to Al.
bany and in all the Northern and Western
States, ii only necessary To establish Port of
Entry in order TO obtain an appropriation for the
Improvement of any river. This was, we repeat.
the received Democratic creed and no Democrat
has right TO say word against it. Because it is
of the very essence of Democracy 10 he hdrmoni-
oWS--or Democracy, being the very perfection of
human reason, there cannot he right Dcmocra-
cy and wrong Democracy. Watkins Leigh and
the rest of the Wings had right to expose the alb.
surdity of the jackson Democracy, and to ridi-
cule the idea of shortening or lengthening
the Constitution; but Richie and his set en-
joyed no such privilege. If Jackson said black
was whitehall was Democracy, and they were
compelled To submit. For Richie, now that old
Jackson is little better than dead lion, To- be
sncering at his boosted doctrine about 'ports Of En-
try" and actually purloining and quoting against
it, Watkins Leigh's argument, is too bad. The
want Of principle, might be- overlooked, if it were
not for the total desttution of chvalry involved in
the proceeding. Does any one believe, that if
Gen. Jackson Were still President, the Editor of
the Enquirer would, 10 save both his ears, have
ventnred To insert this paragraph in his paperl
Did he not Iremhc and turn pale. when, having
very modcsiy limited some objections In n few
"doctTindl points" in the Proclamation. lac heard
the roar cfthe old lionl How then. would he have
dared 10 quote Watkin, Leigh against the old
Hero
But As 10 the Improvement of James River
the Democrats haying settled The doctrine, and LA.
wing squandered millions upon other portions of
the country-why should they not carry out their
principles in this case. and give the old Dominion
few crumbs Their refusal will gain them no
credit-it will be deemed mere afiectation of
virtue, or be imputed to a special hostility to this
region of country.