Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-07
POLITICAL.
GOVERNOR POLK'S INAUGURAL AID.
DRESS

GOVERNOR POLk'S INAUGURAL AID
DRESS
Delirered az Nashville on tie liM October, 1889
IN weSsnce oftic hro Houses Of tic General As
scmbiy and q large coHcoarN Of has tsii0ir 9th
sens
Gentlemen Of tie Senate, Of The House Of Rewe~a-
tatires, and Ftllosc Citizens.
Deeply impressed with a sense OF gratitude ,o
nv fellow citizens, Tor the confidence they have
reposed in me by elevatins me to the Chief Execu-
tive Office in the State and duly sensible OF the
weight of responsibility which will devolve upon
me- enter upon the discharge OF lis duties firmly
RELYING upon the cooperation of the coordinate
Departments OF the STATE Government, in all such
measures ofpublic policy as NAV be calculated 10
maintain the high character OF the State. and 10
advance and promote The interests, the happiness,
and prosperity ofthe People
A proper respec, Tor puDiic opinion. rs well a q
compliance with the public expectation, seem 10
REQUIRE that should upon this occasion publicly
declare the leading principles which shall deem
il proper to be observed in the conduct otthe State
Administration SO far as the action OF the Execu-
I &c branch may be concerned
Under our happy system Of Government,
tie ultimate and supreme sovereignty rests
il the People. The powers of Government
delegated by the People 10 their public tunc-
tionaries are by our Constitution divided
between the Federal ard State authorities. The
State Governments are not. rs has been crronc-
ously supposed BY some, subordinate 10 the Fede-
raj Government. They are coordinate Depart-
rncnts OF one simple and integral whole" The
States have parted with certain enumerated and
specified powers. and, By the Constitution OF the
United States, these are delegated 10 The Federal
Government, and can only be righttully exercised
by that Government The powers not delegated
10 the United States by the Constitution, nor pro-
hibited b. i, 10 the States, are reserved 10 the
States respectively or 10 the People" BY the
partition Of powers thus distinctly defined, il is
manifest thai each Government possesses powers
which are withheld from the other. And 50 long
Is each ac,s within its legitimate and proper
sphere the system works tremendously and affords
ID The citizen greater amount OF security. Tor
life liberty and property, and in The pursuit OF
happiness, than is to be found under any other
Government which has ever existed. When
either overleaps the true boundary prescribed for
lis action and usulpS the exercise Of powers pro-
perry belonging to the other the harmony OF the
system is disturbed and agi,aling collisions arise
which are calculated 10 weaken the bonds oil
Union Whilst, therefore. the States should BE- ZEAL
ous OF every encroachmeni Of The Federal Govern
mem on Mcif rights they should be careful to
coniine themselves in their own action 10 The ex
ercise OF powers clearly reserved 10 them.
II will, do not doubt, be the patriotic desire OF
my constituents. as know it will be mine in the
discharge OF the functions 10 which ana called
that the support Of the State Governments in ali
their rights as the most competent administrations
for or domestic concerns, and The sare>l huiWark
against anti-republican tendencies and that the
preservation OF the General Government in lis
whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor oi
our peace 4, home, and safety abroad" shall be
scrnpulouSlv observed and inviolably maintained.
In ascertaining the true line of separation be-
tween the powers of the General Government and
Of the States much difficulty has often been expe
rienced in the operations OF our system. The pow
ers delegated 10 the General Government are Ell
ther express or implied. The general rule OF con-
struction laid down BY the General Assembly of
Va in 1899. NAV be regarded as a sound one by
wh oh 10 determine whether given power has been
delegated 10 that Government, or is reserved 10 the
STATES. That rule is Whenever question arises,
concerning the conSlitutionality of 4 particular
power the first question IS whether the power be
expressed in The Constitution. II ii be- the ques-
ton is decided. II ii he mol expressed the next
question must be, whether it is properly an inci-
tent 10 an expressed power, and necessary 10 its
execution. II il be- ii may be exercised by Con-
:,resS II ii be no., Congress cannot exercise IT,
II the power be not ccP,c&scd IL Is not enough
that il may be conrcRicm or erpcdieat TO exercise
Al, LII SuCI Il vi TUE AOiSsitutioh
the United States would refer its exercise 10 the
II llimited and unresraincd discretion of Con-
.ress-;o determine what would be conreaiet or
er),dieat; thereby making the exercise OF impor-
ant powers, by the General Government, 10 de-
pend upon the varying discretion OF successive
Congresses Ii must he 4 ''acCeSSarU and proper
power. II must be an incident 10 an cypress
power, 'accessary ami proper 10 carry that ex-
press power into effect, and without which, ii
could not be exercised and would be nugatory.
NJ. Jefferson, whose sound cxpo>ilionS Of the
relative powers of the Federal and State Go
vecnreniS, but few of my constituents will be
prepared al this day TO question: near the close oil
long and eventtul life Of public usefulness, de-
clared. TO be most false and untounded, the doc
irine, that the compact, in authorizing its Federal
branch, to lay and collect taxes, duties, impoSts
and excises, TO pay the debts, and provide for the
common defence and general welfare OF the
United States, has given them thereby power 10
do whatever Mcy may think. orpre:cnd would pre-
mote the general welfare, which construction,
would make that, 81 itself, a complete Govern
ment without limitation Of powers; but, that the
plain sense and Obvious meaning were, that they
mig lew the taxes necessary 10 provide Tor the
cen raj welfare By the various acts OF power
therein specified and delegated 10 them, and by no
oilers"
In all cases Of we'll founded constitutional
doubt il is safest and wSeSt Tor all the junction
aries Of Government, both Stale and Federal, 10
abstain from the exercise of the doubtful power.
In all such cases il is both safest and wi>est 10
appeal 10 the people, the only true source o.
power. in the constitutional forms, by an amend
imenl of the fundamental law, 10 remove such
doubt either BY an enlargement or restriction OF
the doubtful power in question.
The Federal Government has al different
times assumed or attempted 10 exercise powers,
which in my Judgment have not been conferred
upon that Government BY the compact. Among
these, am free 10 declare my solemn COMIC
lion that the Federal Government possesses no
constitutional power 10 incorporate National
Bank The advocates of Bank insist that II
would be CoarsRicW 0na erpsdicn', and that II
would promote the general welfare = but they
have in my judgment tailedto show that the pow
er 10 create it is either expressly granted, or that it
is an incident 10 any crpcss power that is .ncees-
sery an3 proper" to carry tha, power into effect
The alarming dangers of the power of such a
CORPORATION (vast and irresponsible as experience
has shown il to be) TO the public liberty, it does
not fall within the scope of my present purpose
fully 10 examine. We have seen the power OF
associated wealth in the late Bank OF the U. =,
wrestling with giants strength with the Go
vernment itself-and although finally over1hrown,
il was not until after long and doubtful contest
Daring the struggle, ii manifested power ior
mischief, which it would be dangerous 10 permit
TO exist in afree country. The panic and alarm
Tho distress and extensive suffering, which, in its
convalsiye struggle TO perpetuatc its power, it IN
A cted on the country will not soon be iorgolten-
/ notorious alliance with leading politicians, and
open interference by means Of the corruptinIe
D ,wer OF money in the political contests Of the
/ mes, had converted it into a political engine
used 10 control elections and the course OF public