Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-07

In these opinions. heretofore expressed by lh'
State entirely concur. .l;.h !,
or The same character is the power which a
sometime has been attempted to be eXerciseu ny
the Federal Government OF first collecting ny
TAXATION on the neople surplus revenue beyoh'
the wants of thai Government, and then disiribul
inc such surplus in the shape OF donations anon:
the States: a power which has not oech c"iieiie'
on that Government by any express grant ho' !
il an incident 10 any express power, heccsst,'
and proper for lis execution. 10 Ioiio,u ~
power, would be 10 make lhe rc>'ela' w -,
ment the axgathcrer OF the States anu
Them 10 look 70 that source tiom which 10 supply
The State Treasures, and 10 detray the expenses
of the State Goyernmcnls Ii is clear, that liii'
constituted no one fthc objects OF tie creation
the Federal Government; and to permit us OK
ercise would be 10 reduce The States 10 Tue aeSld
ded condition of subordinate dependencies upoi
that Government. TO destroy their separate ana IN
dependent sovereignty, and 10 make le oo' M,
ment of the Union in effect consolidation III
mower IN make provision for the support OF IL
own Government. bv the levy OF the necessary
"a yes unon IL own citizens and the adoption
sn il eaSurcs Of policy for its internal Govern
ment no, Inconsistent with the Federal Conslltu
tioa. as NAV he deemed proper ana eNPc'''eli.
,.remains Ia each state among lis domestic ah'
unalienated powers eNcrcisable within i'sei' ""'
/ V its domestic authorities aiohe. =
A surplus Federal revenue ra,sea " .n5 :,
tariff of duties must necessarily " CHI ,le -.
speciive STATES The planting and producihs
States mus, bear The larger portion OF the p'iruch
II was his INEQUALITY which has heretofore give.
rise 10 the inst complaints OF these States, as as'
Of the commercial interests, against tiie opera
lions of a high and protective Tarlli, II Ut
proceeds of the sales of the public LANDS DC $
apau for distribution among the States, d. lid
been at sometimes proposed, the operation anu -
feet would be the same; for, by ahs'raGtlhs non
the Federal Treasury, the proceeds ol inc Sai,S
The public lands necessity is thereby created 10
an increased Tariff to the amount thus apstfacto
tn coIIec, surplus revenue by unequal taxation
and then 10 return TO the people by oS'i'pv''1 y,
among the States, their owD money III Si,liis VI
minished by the amount OF the COST OF c'ne''''l
AMI distribution aside from lis manifest I'M '"'ic.
is power which ii could never have pecn ''''ei''
| "a ~ confer on the Federal Government
When from the unforeseen operation oi 'h'
rc,.cnne laws of the United States, surplus a
any lime exists or is likely to exist IN The fcte
raj Treasury. the true remedy is, TO reduce or 'C
rencal The taxes so as to collect no more money
tban shall he absolutely necessary for the ecoho
m;c,l wants of that Government, and thus 'eav'
wha, would otherwise be surplus uncolec'eu IL
,hp rockets oi the people. The act oil I1''
oress of 1886 by which large amount OF t''
snrnlus ON hand was distributed among liz
S,ai., is upon It's face a depoSite and mol a G'""
,;on If Inc sums distributed. The States have
hecome the debtors to the Federal Government iol
their respective proportions and are subject 10 p'
col He'd upon 10 refund il. Had The ACT provinces
for IN absolute doaation 10 the States 50 paipaoi'
an jniracton OF the Constitution II Is SeaIcei,
n,ssihle 10 conceive could have been sanctioned
Rv making il assume the form OF Il mere d'poSf'
~ ,hr money of the United States IN The STATE
Trrasu,ics ior safe keeping until needed Tor pub
liz n,,rnoscs il became The law. Though 1t may
M, he probable that the sums distributed on delc
site viii I've called for al any early period, II III
decd they will ever be unless in cases oil eNiSen
cies growing out ot Il foreign war yet uir STAT
should bc at all times prepared 10 meet Tie cal
when made: and il will DC unsafe Tor them To ie
Il. upon the suul,S they have received as peElh2
nent fund. They should rather look 10 their owl
credit and resources in the accomplishment oil the
purposes e...... a.a o.,o
c;ally of those whose constitutions recognise INK
existence of domestic slavery, 10 look with water
ful care 10 the attempts which have been recently
made 10 disturb The rights secured TO them by lht
Constitution of the IT, States. The. agitation O
the Abolilionis,s can by no possibility prodnce
GOOD 10 any portion OF the Union, ana must II
persisted in lead to incalculabe mschielS. ne
institution OF domestic slavery as II existed al liie
adoption OF the Constitution oi the United states
and as still exists in some OF the States formed
the subeci OF one cfthe compromises OF oplnion
and Of interest upon the settlement oil which The
old States became parties 10 the Compact, ana
IL Tn,
were admitted into The Union upon an equal
footing with the old States. and aic equally
Bound by the terms of the compact Any a.
TEMPT on the pant of the Federal Govern
men, 10 act upon the subject OF slavery. Is II
exists within the STATES, would he clear IL
fraction Of the Constitution: and 10 disturb II With
in the District OF Columbia would be palpable
violation of the public faith we'll as ot,he cical
meaning and obvious intention OF tue trainers o
the Constitution They intended 10 leave. ana
they did in fac, leave the subject 10 the exclusive
regulation ana action flhc States and Territories
within which slavery existed or might exist. They
intended 10 place, and hcy did in tact place 1t be
vond the pale OF action within The constitutional
power OF the Federal Government. NO power
has been conferred upon the Federal Governments
either b. express grant or necessary iihP'ica'ioi
10 take co@niZance Of or IN any manner OF 10 any
extent To interfere with, OF 10 act upon the sunec
of domestic slavery, the existence OF "ilich u
MANY ulthc States is expressly Recognised oy lii'
Constitution otthe u :.
Whether the agitation We hare recently wit
messed upon this delicate and disturbing subJec
has proceeded from mistaken philanthropy, a.
may have been the case with few misguided pc!
sons or what there is regret to say but TOO lnucl
reason 10 fear from desire on The pan oil ma
ny persons. who manifest by their conduct reck
le>s disregard of the harmony OF the Union aht
of The public good, 10 convert IL into polillca
ena;ne with a view 10 control elections, lis pro
oress should DE firmly resisted by all the constitu
tional means within the power of The States
The most casual observer OF passing events car
moi fail TO have seen that modern Abohtionism
with rare and few exceptions among It's advocates
has become 10 a great extent, purely u poliiica
question. That many of the leading abolition
lists are active political panisans, fully iaenliilet
with. and constituting no inconsideiable part OF
one of the political parties OF the country, can NJ
longer admit of doubt. They address lhcmscvc:
10 the prepossessions and preiudccs of The com
munity in which they live against slavery, in Tho
abstract, and, awaiting themselves of these pre-
possessions and prcjudices. are struggling to con
irol political events. All the lovers OF the Unlor
OF the States, and all patriotic citizens, whethe
of the siavehoding or non-slaveholdnS States
who are ardentlr attached 10 our free institutions
must view, with indignant rcprobation, the us'
made of such an unlsolv agitation with such oh
iec,s The attempts made 10 introduce il for dis
cussion into the Federal Legislature have bcei
met in the proper spirit, not only ly Southern Re
presenraliyes, but by a large portion Of the North
ern delegation in Congress. is fortunate for tn
country that in the midst OF this agitation there !
at the head Of The Federal Government Che
Magistrate, who, in the patriotic discharge of hi
high duties, has placed the seal Of his unqaaliilc'
condemnation upon any attempted action by Con
gress upon the subject OF slavery IN any manner
or 10 any extent, whether existing within the State
or within the District of Columbia That HI
deserves and will receive the support Of the State
and of the people, in every portion OF the Union
in maintaining his incorporating and publici,
declared determination 10 preserve inviola'e Tin
compromises of the Federal Constitution and TN
reserved rights Of the slavcholding States on TIN
subject, canno, be doubted.
In regard 10 other powerSwhich al different time
IL rnI,..