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

unjust laws. We do maintain that the bnidSnS nf St
cety ought I, be as light possible, aud that they
ought 10 be borne by all in proportion TO h'ir ability
We do deny, that the Constitution of our county con-
fers upon the National Legislature, the despotc power
Of imposing the taxes for the support OF the Co.
vernment as to Dure and Cypress any, and TO iavor
others We are opposed to striking out from The Con
sttuton the restraints against evil legislation, so as to
open the food gates for laws that Wings may admire,
but which inconsistent with people Liberty and
prosperity. We do contend, that the Government has
right, and no authority, to violate the nmunhes'
secured each citizen, of seeking his own proper IN
ierc and happiness, untrammelled by arbitrary exac
tions, no how plausible the preteSt III THIS
makes Jewellers and des,ruclves so were Washing
ton aud Henry, and all the patriots OF our Revolution,
when they struggled against the EVIL acts OF
tyrannicnl Parliament The lovers of power WILL
ever deneunce the Democracy OF our country. But
why attempt to cast odium upon II IL claims
nothing which il is not entitled. 1t never submits 10
wrongs 1t and despises that miserable SANDER
which represents nimcal 10 the just and natural
and hpallhfu laws of society. 1t veDeraes that Con-
stitution which intended 10 guide and TO govern
the law-making power. II is not selfish, but claims
for every the same privileges and advantages II
contends against every distinction IN society," which
does not necessarily result from individual merit II
struggles agans; the ust taxman and the monopo-
list and against the vile and the degrading policy that
would establish here, by the legislation OF Congress, IN
the end the odious principles oil arslocTacY,
which Hamilton, the father of what is now good Wig
Doctrine attempted to engrat upon the Constitution
1t maintains those glorious principles oil RePubcanism
which lie the foundation of all that is great and ex-
allied in nstitu;ione and which enable every CIT.
zen Of country 10 feel that he surrounded by all
the lmmunites of freeman that his rights are ina
lienabe, and which give him the TO say to the
proudest in the land that he too IS a man
The natural tendency of political power is to increase
itself. Whenever, in the progress of Governments,
The people have asserted their rights and marked out
limits W thin which power should be exercised, there
never has been wanting sufficient number oil enemies
TO the reserved rights Of the people, so to fashion the
Government, that By the plea of "nscessty, or "the
general welfare, il has gradually and ul!Imat uSurP
ed what yer public liberty required should be most Sc
dulousy projected from the grasp OF those who rule
The history of oil Governments, which have com
mencet free and then terminated IN despoism, contains
anpl. illustrations Of this melancholy fact That lie
rights c the penpe be the better guarded against
this encroachment of power those who, from The re-
sources Of their unparalleled patriotism, brought out
the materials which constitute the foundations OF our
free institutions estal shed the boundaries over which
power should moi leap in its walton exercises, IN
written Constitution Before this done, the whole
history Of had been bloody record of oppressive
enacments, and of their unjust enforcement and OF
struggles and then II throw them eft The OBJECT
of those who reared the bulwark Of freedom, was
to limit the boundaries in which he Government should
make lts exactons, should display its wantonness
Ii was 10 leave to the people, and TO secure to them,
rights which had always been usurped; II guard them
against the imposition Of burdens, which, although
posed the pre,ex of the public welfare were IN
furious Them and for the aggandzement OF others;
and to leave the mmuntes OF freedom vaded, That
the neople might enjoy equal rights in the acquisition
OF property the pursuit OF happiness Our instliu-
tons were established to enable 10 solve the problem
of the capaby of the people TO take care OF their own
interest and happiness without The arbitrary exacuons
of the Government, or its unjust coersion. Every
man ought to be allowed t, pursue his own nte-
rest and happiness ell honest ways, untrummelled
by the interference OF the Government This is the
principle of Democracy. This is settled axiom in
the charter Of our rights 1t of the fundamental
principles Of freedom, and whatever Will sanction lis
violation instance, shall lead TO lis deiement in
Others and aggravated cases, when those who
benefited by its invasion, will become Glazed al heir
success and shall claim privilege, that which was
first granted public blessing and when those who
injured, by this ramplng upon their rights, shall
feel that the practice OF the Government has altered
the conditions OF their freedom, and that is their duty
to submit. This is the character of the feelings which
accompany the progress OF usnrpaton. 10 TINS DIS
astrous result; does submission to lis evils lend Who
disregard the law which springs up from pa rot
ism and benevo.ence, and which has the impress oil
Justice stamped upon it, violates the duty which he
owes to his country. Nor is it css violation OF this
same duty t, burden people with laws which patriot
ism cannot sanction, but justice condemns WHAT
measure is il Of the Wings, that oppfs SCI which has
IN. necassary qualities command admiration -
DO not all of them psr,ake OF The miserable character
of ,hnpe which have been the fruitful source of nnu-
meIaJle and unmtigated evils TO other nations: Have
they not the same origin; DO they not tend to the
same end, Do not the lessons of experience teach
of their wckedness; And for them TO be entitled TO
obedience must they not exhibit their authority to
command it, On the contrary do they not all bear up
on lhei, face, the indelible marks of violence ard
wrong, Is the policy of budening set Of our
citizens for the benefit of another, Uhe Wing policyO
lhi. sort oil usurpaton Is not the establishment OF
great national ncorporations with exclusive privileges,
and vas' and dangerous and corrupt powers that sort
OF legislation which has been familiar 10 every age OF
bondage, Of suffering and of crimes; Is not the
policy of distributing nancy among the people, by
the Government, that by which influence end pow
er have been concentrated IN the hands OF
the stronger, and taken from the weaker Por-
,ons Of society Do not all of these measures vIo-
late equality and Justice Are they subrersive Of
the foundations Of our institutions Would not what
ever Justify this encroachment upon eur Liberties,
in this way, also equally rs well justify any invasion OF
our rights for what the Government may conceive to
be our moral religious any other interest? 1t our
constitutional barriers against the evils Of power are
for cause, what is to prevent them from
being broken down for other causes Whenever we
have opposed law, has been because il invaded ga
cred rights and garded ihlt which is above the
statute-,he Constitution Of our country. Where IS
The reasnnableness The virtue of cnslng to acts OF
an oppressive or of doubtful nature, when the whole
of the institutions of public liberty array themselves
against whatever degrade the character of Ameri-
freedom t, tic level of that of oler nations which
such acts these have allotted TO tbem'
The Democratic party adheres 10 what have
ever been the political doctrines of Virginia. The prln-
cipes Which Virginia, almost half Of a century ago,
pronounced II be those by which The Government
ought 70 be controlled in lis action, .hat the blessings
of Liberty might be secured 10 the people, are those
which govern the policy Of the Democratic party,
and that prompt Whatever opposition they make to ex-
cessive legislation by Congress TIL. opposition which
Virginia, upwards of quarter Of century ago. made
to the unauthorized strides of power by the Federal
Government, the only kind of opposition which we
now make 10 "Wh'g laws" Shall the political doctrines
which Virginia maintained in the days when she wo'
the most glory for herself be abandoned now by her
SINS, when many, too, who then opposed them, are no"
rallvng their support When mher States and the'r
Statesmen brought their aid 10 tie establishment oil
great banking incorporation, by the Federal Govern
mcnt with vast and selfish powers, with it, nncon-
sttutronal privileges and lis wicked tendencies fifs
MIA denounced this invasion Of The guaranteed rights
of the people, and rebrked of her sons as favoT
ed it, When the rights of her citizens were invaded
by Federal lsglatnn, she warned the country nj the
danger and proclaimed to the vod the principles oil
our freedom, under Constitution. is not our oppo-
sion 10 Wing measures characteristic OF these prncl
pies? Mary of our opponents were among those who
elored in the defence of these principles They de-
i he r. IT.