Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-13

strike my mind with great force, and compress
| them IN nut shell, | will not omit.
You cannot have forgotten fellow citizens, that the
Wing party during the last Presidential contest, plu-
med itself on being the low government party the firm
friends of limited government, the deadly enemies OF
arbitrary power whilst they charged their adversares
with beng the very Now, let just glance
al The claims TO power which the Wing party sets for
the Federal Government
1t claims for that Government the power to regulate
the entire currency of the country and of course, by
expanding contracting the currency to raise de-
press the vaoe Of every mans property at its sove-
reign pleasure. 1t claims for that Government the
power to erect, not simple fiscal agency but great
mammoth Bank ofcommerce and exchange, pervadng
every portion of the Union by its branches, and able,
as Mr. Bidde declared the United States Bank was, to
crush any State bank its arbitrary will thus pros
tratng your entire system Of State banks al the feet OF
the Federal Government II claims for that Govern
ment the power TO regulate the entire industry OF the
country taking property from lucrative employments
to create and sustain other pursuits and profit
less that they cannot subsist without legal pllage 1t
claims Tor that Government the power dispose Of the
pubic revenue Tor purposes OF private charity, as wit
ness the "gratuty' of S25 900 Mrs, Gen. Harrison
-characterized "gratuity" by VIM. Cost Johnson,
distinguished Wing member OF Congress who voted
for Il, and used by HIM argument to prove the
power Of the Federal Government to assume the State
debts; Mr. johnson coniending, with unanswerable
logic that if Congress can give away the public funds
to private individuals much more it give them to
the sovereign States OF this Union. II claims tor that
Government, the power, through the instrumentaity
Of Distribution law 10 provide for the support Of the
State Governments to pay the State debts to construct
internal Improvements within the States, and to edu-
cate the people of the States 1t claims for that Go
vernment the power OF aunuiug sacred contracts at
its arbitrary will II claims fer that Government, the
most unlimited and despo,ic power over the public
lands and all other property belonging to the Federal
Government nsomuch that grant Of the entire public
domain TO the Abolition Societies of the North, would
encounter no constitutional obstacle Such are some
of the claims power asserted by the Wing
| party Tor the Federal Government-powers no where
delegated in the Constitution, and utterly suhversive
OF the Liberties OF the country | ask you, fellow.
citizens, whether you can recognize, IN the hdeous
features OF this monstrous creed, single trace Of JEFF
fersonan Republcanism-of that strictly limited Co.
vernmen rgidly restrained to few great national
objects, expressly enumerated in the Constitution,
which fathers erected over our heads as q shelter
from the storms of despotisn' Only sanction these,
their monstrous claims TO power, by supporting and
sustaining the party which asserts them, and the day
not far distant, when colossal despotsm will stretch
It's iron this glorious Confedeacy OF free
and sovereign States.
Tie LocofOco party, on the contrary, Indignantly
repudatss these monstrous claims 10 power the part
OF the Federal Governmental am speaking fellow.
citizens, not OF barren distractions but Of practical
alities-the fundamental principle Of its creed being,
that the Federal Government possesses no power
which is not expressly conferred upon by the Consl
tuition Strict constructions and even.handed justice
to all men, are the cardinal principles of its admins
tfative policy. The Wings aim at splendid, power
full, a-controlling and all-regua'ing Government
that at least is the inevitable result of their system of
policy the Locofocos, on the other hand desire only
plain simple, rgidy restrained political organization,
which, protecting in their rights, leaves their in
erests TO the guardianship of the active and all
powerful principle Of selnterest. The one seeks The
exaltaton Of the Government at the expense OF the in
dividua the other, the exataton Of the individual at
the expense Of The Government The policy Of the
one s to strengthen the Of the Government; the
policy Of The other to develop the energies Of the ct-
The policy of the one is privilege and restraint;
the other justice and freedom The contest between
these two great parties, disguise it you may is the
old contest which has been going almost ever since
'ne world began, between limited Government on the
one hand end arbitrary power the other; or in other
words between the rights OF The citizen and the powers
OF Government-between the few and the many. Pri-
Vleged orders, ecclesiastical Establishments Protective
Tariffs, Government Banks &c, are some Of the mo.
dern means by which the few crush the multitude to
the earth and grind them into powder. When will
men learn the great truth that all that can
do for the great multitude of mankind, is, to protect
them IN the fullest enjoyment of all their rights of per.
son, property, and conscience and that controlled by
them IN all It's operations recognizing equal rights and
privileges in all men, to this simple duty it should be
rgidy restrained? plain agency for his purpose ia
all The Government that man requires Glance your
eye over the history Of the world, and you will see
that wherever these simple rights have been enjoyed
and glory under every form of external Government
Government Is not an efficient productive agency IL
neither ploughs your fields, sows your grain, nor
ulls your crops gathers your harvess This s the
work OF your own hands 1t is the mere enclosure
which protects your crops from the depredations OF un-
ruly and mischevous animals. Widely, most widely
indeed have all Governments departed from the mar.
path Of duty and safety, but the explosion of one
governmental speculation after another-as Govern
ment Banking and Government Internal Improvement
he free nd 1hf I'D ;fnf
the age, fast chastsing them back their righnu
limits In this great work Of deliverance and liberty
our country proudly leads the van. Let her go-lst
her go on TO fulfil her high destiny. Who could cage
the American Eagle! Let US rather break his bars
strike every feler from his limbs, and give him to his ma
tive skies.
We hear vast deal, in these latter days, about Re.
publicanlsm and Federalism-od fashioned Republic
canism and old fashioned Federalism-and, in certain
discussions of great measures of Government with
which we are sometimes enlightened, the great effort
both sides to be, TO sustain the Questions
N ISSUE on the saced and eternal principles Of truth
and Justice, and right, but 10 PROVE that the fathers Of
the Republican Church were Of this or that opinion
To The matured opinions Of those great and venerated
men, always listen with the profoundest respect but
surrender my intellect like slave, TO no mortal man.
Our fathers were fable morals like ourselves and in
The eye of all-seeing WISDOM doubtless were often in
error. Time has proved the falacy Of some Of their
opinions, and what further developments fu,urity may
disclose, it would require the sight Of prophecy fore
ell. We are indebted TO these ever venerated men,
rather for great, fundamental principles of Govern.
nent, than for system administrative policy in ex
let accordance with those principles We can initiate
hem IN nothing SO well, or wisely in their proud
INSTRUMENTATION to all human aulhorily-ther fearless
md lofty independence of thought and action. Had
hey been servile copyists Of their fathers the stupen
dous laorc OF our Liberties had never risen upon the
world IN all its massive grandeur and majestic smpli-
'ty-and, TO erect their opinions into infable stand
rds OF political orthodoxy, to The progress of
he human mind, and to bar the door 10 ali improve
nent in the great science of government II poor
cause, indeed, that admits Of better defence than
ne authority Of great names Nevertheless j, is right
hat authority should be met by authority since great
names exercise so controlling an influence over the
opinions of the mass Of men-the more particularly
when gentlemen ask to be received as Republicans not
N frank and manly profession of Republican faith,
but merely by exhibiting most unexceptonable pedi
yrees on the part Of their sres sired, say these
by that well known and thoroughbred old
republican sncha one, and, therefore, onecan DENY
hat am fu!l-booded Republican colt Now, fellow
tzens submit it TO you, if these gentlemen, who
lain to be -blooded and thoroughbred RenubJcnna