Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-28
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.

now duotesses YOU ny NEST lortunat. position IN
society, the eyes Of my early childhood delighted
by the venerable forms Of the great and us,rous Of
our land; whom | was early taught to honor and to
love-and such teachers or Washington and Jetfer
son, and MldisoD and the Lees, Richard Henry, and
Arthur, and OF many other choice spirits Of that spen
did epoch-we scarce shall see their Ike again. Ripe
| with glory, some Of them, about this time, nun
bered with the mighty dead; but the impress Of their
forms, and OF those exterior manners, which truly
feet the inner man, is retained with all the vivid fresh
mesa of fond, and faithful, and unerring memory.
When that grand political separation had taken p,ce
between those sages and patriots, who, like band OF
brothers, had been for SO many years united in one
common cause, against common enemy, as well IN
the cabinet the field; and when the great principles
OF the two parties, under the OF Federalism and
| Repubicanism, came to exert more extensive inhu-
ence throughout society; and when the severance
was plain 10 the dullest vision, that same position ena
bled me to witness the mental conflict, which many
felt in such a separation, and placed me, whence
looker-on in Venice and keen observer, l witnessed
many Of the most interesting steps, in the formation
| Of party, as then decided and acted upon.
When arrived at manhood, the force of such exam
pies could not be lost and the heart did beat 10 serve
my country But by stern necessity, my position,
then and SINCE and now The greater tine, has been
in station The NEST humble, and by many most des-
pioed-sthere is respect Of persons with God.
Taking sides with the Republicans, and as spectator
for the most part of my later years, having my mind
settled aud landed and in the certainty Of these
tina, Political School, | have, with pleasure indcscri-
bable from place of security, deserted the battle us
it ragged And, as the spectltor at chess sees more
clearly than the players themselves the and mis-
takes Of the "mmc troops, SO, in the serenity OF my
position this pleasure has been often interrupted by
deviation from the principles of Republicansm set
tied in 1898 and 1900, when put in pract by those
who laid these beautiful foundations, upon which alone
this Constitution for the States united, in safety
rest And q Waterman from the wstch-tower giveth
/ e H.. rnda p,tl
Of an oath 10 support "Ts Constitution for the United
States in the sense understood by the Convention
when framing it. and by the States when ratitying it
respectively each for itself and not for another have
endsavored when the Constitution has been assaiied
| to sound the csin OF ALARM
And whether they have heard, or whether they have
/ f,rborne equally unawed by ridcule and contempt,
with Madisons Report as my Loadstar, have, in the
press whose Flag flies on the Capitol Of the ancient
i Dominion,
i "perite sans Pear
truth and in sincerity endeayored to blow the rum.
pet that the tube should not give uncertain sound
| To the call
i "Watchman, what of the nieht,
/ "Watehman, tchat Of the ngkt 2"
The Waterman says, The political prophet of cd
did say,
| "The danger Is not yet over"
Such are the memorable words Of distinguished pa.
trot long since descended 10 the tomb. But his admo-
niton lives still, however to warn of danger yet 10
come and to make US feel that the price Of liberty
eternal vigilance. If political prophecy was
uh lsd and verified in the progress of time, this mes.
assuredly is To derive from this warning all the
benefit intended by the seer, at the moment of its de-
livery, it will he Of the very first necessity, 10 hold
constantly in mind, that the spirit Of party is greatly
adverse TO the investigation and free admission of TRUTH
while recurrence is made to times and principles 10
which his prediction refers. For, it is asserted, with
confidence, that there period in the history
Of the United States when recurrence (rea, frank
\ nd 80 he A
berty, necessary than at the present /;
and with equal confidence for the truth of this asser
tion appeal is fearessy made 10 the actual condI-
ton of the partIes which have so recently agitaied
and are at this moment preparing again to agtae, slill
more intensely, this widespread community of these
United Stat 8.
| The Federal Convention, which framed tthis Con-
s,itution FOR the States Un,ed, ended lis labors on
the 9TH of September, 1887, after having spent up
wards of four months in agreeing upon the different
powers be enumerated and latter having written tn IN
and inserted them in their plan, proper to be
vested in the Federal Government; and in REJECTING
from their plan, such powers as were proposed to be
added thereto, but which were deemed by that Con-
venton improper and unnecessary, and "tyo danger
ous to be pested IN tie .Neac Government
| Notwithst inding the profound wisdom of the unr
vailed statesmen, who composed this truly august as
senblage, Ut contained Washington Mason, Franklin,
and Madison,) and although this splendid State paper
is indel'bly sampt throughout, with evident marks Of
the most jealous and the most anxious detail and
mera,ion OF all the powers intended to be granted by
that Convention, yet did ''ths Constitution the
States United, nevertheless cont,in certain "gensra
phrases and terms, which, il was feared, would, by
the sube.es Of Interpretation, be liatls to mscon
sruclion to destroy entirely the effect of the part
cuar enumeration Of powers, by which they are limit.
ed and explained.
These general terms and phrases are found, LIST, in
the preamble TO The Constitution which, among other
things, declares, that the people establish this Con-
:, stuon the United States to provide for the
"Geasrai Weifare"
81 10 Art. l, Sec. VIII, clause |, which declares
that Congress shall have power TO lay and collect tax
es, provide for the "Gfneral Weare''-and in the
last clause Of the article, which declares, 3dy.
that Congress shall have power 10 make all laws which
shall be necessary AND PROPER for carrying into exc
cron the foregoing powers and all other powers vested
by "this Constitution for the States, in The Govern
ment of the United States any department officer
thereof.
These phrases gave great and we'll founded uneasi-
ness. To quiet tls apprehension, various amend.
ments adopted, according 10 the provisions of the
fifth article, which prescrbes the oDy method TO the
exclusion Of all Others by which powers not in that in
strument at the moment Of its signature by the Fede
raj Convention and at The moment Of its alcation by
the repseoe States can alone be inserted in It, and
can consequently be alone const1tonally exercised.
Among these amendments the ninth declares, that
1.-THE enumeration, in the Cons,i'ut on, of certain
rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage
o hers retained by the people,; and til. tenth amend.
inent declares, lnat
"The powers not delegated to the United States by
the Constitution, prohibited by it to the Stl,es,
are reserved 10 the States RESPECTIVELY, or 10
the people"
After the final ratification of the Constitute of The
United Stltes by the respective Stics flor some OF
the Stiles in the penitude Of their sovereignty, re.
fused a, frs to permit it 10 have any effect within
their respective mits the Federal Party contendsd,
that LIST: AS the Preamble declares the "General We'll
fare one of the for which this Constitution is
es, bshed, that this ought to have, and must have
great weight in the construction Of that instrument
and that Congress, being the body to Whom this dis
cretion is con6ded, they, Of course. must necessarily
d.termine what is for the General Welfare; and I'd
As the Constitution gives o the discretion of the Ma
tonal Legislature TO pronounce upon the objects,
" which concern The GESERAL WELFARE, and for
,chieh, under that description, appropriation OF
money is requisite and proper there seems TO be NO
&C room for a DouBr, TINT whatever concerns the &C.
neral Interests of Learning, of Manufactures, and Of
/" Commerce, are " thin the sphrre OF the National
I" Councils, far as regards IN appropriation Of me-
ney"
Such are The words of Hamilton, in his report made
on the 9Th December, 1901, and which have been ex
L.