Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-30

Heavens darkencd and dangers shall surround Us.
Our aiyesaes have resoIed to this misrepres ania-
t"n OF feelings towards the just and proper iws
oi our country, far the purpose of drawing the aen
ilcn o! the people from the wicked tendency OF their
o@n policy lii Tor laws which can find JUS
Utica ION The provisions of Consti;ut on or IN
tie cha acer of institutions, and which have
marked the progress Of despotism. Heretofore, the
energies of The people have been crippled, and crushed
beneath the heavy weight of law. The law has heen
for the benefit Of those who Lived by lie exaclions This
Is the character OF the laws VIII oh they would aslen up
on u.s. To such we dest-uctves; for inst ad of una
King the people orderly, vruous and happy aud diva
ting them IT, the fell enjoyment OF their rights and CIV
ing them the moral power of shaping out great and
glorious destiny for country, they con,amnate the
hearts Of freemen with vice and discomfort, and dwin
die away whatever is not, in their natures.
Our DIT slructive and dwelling disposition amounts 10
nothing more than utter unwiilingness TO yield TO
the Wing party the opportunity and the power Of per-
feciing that stem Of odous which they de-
MED before the people they would conn'enance but
which, in the hour of triumph they boldly and reck
lessly declared they had support d: And, because
the Constitution nlerposed barrier which prevented
the cousummation of all their acts Of evil gslatIon
they deny that they responsible Tor the mlschefs
which have been done since they have had the entire
control and manage cement of the Government, because
they have not had The power II accomplish what they
desired Has not the power, Sir, of the Government
for the las. two years been in the hands of those they
selected against our warning? They have not had the
power II they have been able to achieve what they
have, without the power; ifhcy have beea able to con-
vuse the country from extent TO the other if they
have been placed in situation in which they have
torousiy fasIfed their pledges 10 the people, ID the
great injury of the Country; if they have been able TO
reward thosc who participated in their mockeres OF
1910 with the spos nf Office if they have been able
t, abrogate the solemn contracts which have been
tered into by the citizens of the Stiles, and thereby
have destroyed credit and that confidence which is ne
cessary for the prosperity of any community; IT they
have been able To impose unjust and unequal burdens
upon the people, extending the bouutes OF The Govern
and Gripping the efforts Of others if they
have been able to Withdraw any portion of the revenue
of the Government from It's proper channel, and have
appropriated It to unhoy purposes; If they have been
able to violate n solemn compromise OF momentous
question, connected with The taxing power OF the Fe
deral Government and thereby have aroused the feel
ings and the passions which that compromise had al
layed ifIhey have been allie 10 create large public
debt, and bring odium upon The Government of our
country: If they have been able to proclaim their COM
nands ,he sovereign States; if because the highest
Executive officer o.! the Government, who has been
invested with power By them, and who intcrPoses the
Constitution barrier against some OF their encrcac
mebts upon the rights OF the Stat and the people,
they have been able tn array the different departments
Of the Government against enc another; II they have
been able TO accomplish much that Objectionable,
odous and runous To the country that they have been
compelled their steps, and to repeal their
oppressive ac;s they have done all this without pos
sessing the power wilbou, being responsible for lis eS
ecise they have done oil this poweresS and rres
ponsible; then they, eU they be entrusted with
The power Of this Government Will the people Of
Virginia nves, with power, political party, that, with
1t, have by their acts, disregarded the Constitution
OF our country disregarded The immunliies of reemen
-d,srega-ded their own promises, hGd have plunged
the Government in difficulties, and surrounded the
people with dangers What is it that our opponents
will no! do with the power-f they have done so much
without Their acts constitute warning, winch tnot
needed, will become monument oil our unwllingness
10 reslst The planest efforts destroy institutions
Shall we suffer ourselves 10 be capvatcd by the frs.
APPEARANCES and the false glare Of Wing policy Can
doubt on which side Of the contest to array our
selves, when look al the fundamental principles
violated by il Shall the spirit OF Hamilton wrestle
with that OF Jefferson and prove successful! has no,
experience free people, satisfied Us, that Gil
the dressings OF virtue and the enoymenis Of freedom,
better secured by strict adherence to the prnci-
pies OF Constitution that limits the power Of the Co
vernmcnt, than by any doubtful exercise of power:
Until we become orge,iul Of the past, unmindfu Of the
present. and regardless Of the future far the pros
pey and happiness of the great body Of the people are
concerned, we cannot turn coldiy away from dis
honored Constitution, 10 pay homage TO power and its
Unauthorized acts.
And, Mr. President, shall not that harmony prevail
among US which will ensure success: When the De-
mocras remember for what it il that they are contend
ing will they do any thing to throw the victory into
the hands Of their enemies When remember I'll
the trophies which Democratic Republican cples
have secured 10 race do not look back to their
past achievements without regret, TO their present ope-
ra,ions with joy, and TO their future prospects with
hope' Let us calmly prepare for the struggle now be-
fore When oil is ready let Danish every obsa-
cl. to success And Sir, the signs which cheer
u.s. those which will lead to victory Bright, they
cannot be mistaken: concilIatoy n their effects, they
are kindlng glow Of feeling which lies at the found
alton of noble actions and Of oil generous exertons:
tbay,a sbo of le,,u
TO rally to the support Of his principles and TO grappe
with their enemies indicative OF the future they sha
dow forth the blessings of just and equal laws, the tro-
phcs of Republican freedom, the downfall OF Federal
Ism and the onward march of Democracy; and present.
ing US with lively exhibition of Republican feelings
aud Wishes they cnry dsmay into The ranks OF those,
whose accession 10 power has been signallzed by be-
ayas of trusts and By attempts to grasp The rights OF
the people.
Mr. President. There is much which presents itself
to my mind, which | should Ike address you
this occasion; but the laeness OF the hour to which
your meeting has already been protraced, warns me 10
dssst Let u.s. Sir GO with the same feelings which
now animate We must not forget our dnty; but
must remember, that we have 10 contend with the
enemy Of Democratic Republ can principles the friends
Of splendid Government, whose vast machinery will
be worked the expense OF our wrunged countrymen;
and that they are now attempting TO gain that political
ascendancy which will enable them IN carry out sys
TEN Of measures which will eifsctuuy change
Government, eflcng Of lis best and most De-
mncia'c features, and that will throw institutions
into that mighty vortex of implied and constructive
powers, which is the downward way 10 corruption nm
I'll stall have real zcd the sad truth, that the
des;ruct Of peoples berry is found in The tender
cy Of The Government tn increase It's power; and
shall own, when il 10 too late, that 1t is the duty oil
ffeemen restrnn every exercise Of power not neces
sary for the preservation Of their institutions.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
RtdnesdaY, December 27M, 1913.
HOUSE or DELEGATES.