Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-06
DAILY WING.
"PrincipIcs and Measures. -

meeting OF the sesyled "Republicsn" members OF the
General Assembly held the I'd for the purpose
"oganizng the forces for the Spring election, and the
Enquirer informs Of "onee unfurlng the flag OF
hc cherished principles" What those principles are
think would puzzle Gdipus TELL they infer.
red from the OF the party which, have the
authority OF OF its leaders for saying do in fact
form those prnoplcs This very candid admission;
but do not know that the author OF it entitled pecu
liar commentator for his rsnknes the face of the con-
rtany occurring proofs that the rKNcLk
Of the Loeofoeo party obedience Executive mandates
IL grnvely asserted IN debate, u few days ago,
by Mr. Wick OF Indiana, that there "a broad distinction
between the principle, Democracy. which unchange
able and measures adopted by the Democratic party,
which may vary with circumstances" They may, Tor
ample, lay II down pTiaeie, haa protective tariff
unconstiutonal-ye OF cxpedieney they may
levy protective duty COAL iron and sugar. They may
declare that, in principle, they opposed National
Bank, and favor Of he constitutional currency OF gold
and silver yet they may engraft upon their Sub.
Treasury scheme the important functions Of =
Mammoth Bank under the control OF the Federal
Executive, and deluge the country with Govern
ment paper currency, based. not upon specie bu,
upon its credit alone They may affirm, as a great
principle, that the General Government has right ap
propI;e dollar purposes OF internal improvement
yet they may enact bills giving larger this object
than those who admit the power; and them, who
would hold objectionable violation of the Consutu-
ton authorize appropriation OF noHsy from the
rury for tins object have OF scrupe sancoung
large donations OF the public lands before they are con-
Nered money ard in the Of roads and
cansls! And the Of the Locofoco
party that the Federal Constitu ion be literally con-
sfrEsd. and that the whole theory Of implied powers lie
founded in and pregnant with ncalculabe mischie
and yet and hear every day only OF cxer-
OF niccnta, but the usurpaiion Of ungranted and
expressly withheld powers, by their President and his sub
nierns who lind these 'strict their de-
Tenders and champions. They have SEEM example the
President wfestihe waEmakng power by indecuon from
Congress- and of disaPProbauOn has escaped
their lips They his commanding officers in some
OF the conquered PROVINCES OF Mexico (and remarkable
that tins has been pursued only in New Mexico and
California. which, Il appears from the exposition
OF the Senatorial chairman of the committee OF foreign
relations, precisely the provinces the cession Of
which the President intends insist upon the condition
the restoration OF peace between the eouncs)-we
say they have Commanding Generals usurp the
powe- convert, by proclamation, these Mexican PRo-
United States TEREro EIEs and frame po-
cal systems, laws and appoint Executive Leeisl.-
tive aud Judicial officers iOr their administrations power
which, belong Government all be egi-
matcy exercised only by the action OF Congress
and Executive All this has been doue-anG told
the proclamatons OF these officers that has been done
Gin Of authority conferred upon them" by the Presi
dent OF the United States. And yet the "Repubicans
n they call hemseyes-the peculiar guardians Of the sane.
MY the constitution, who talk bravey of more
"unuTng the flag OF their cherished principles" either
openly approve significantly decline these mon
sirous and algTant usurpatiOns oi authority.
Bat why onumcrate incidents which are SO fresh in the
memory OF the people, for the purpose showing that,
however uueXcepuonabe may be the principles our OPP
ponens, their measures' furnish mournul commentary
upon the neheeney Of creed, how ever orthodox
and excellent, party power, which, for any
reason may disregard rampe upon It's njune
lions prohibon} The people OF Virginia have been
100 long already deceived aud msed by empty
of dcy0 10 great" which annua ly pa
Taded their eyes by party that constantly con-
tenn Them in practice. They admirable purpose
selcctoneerng phrases but they laid aside ncjn
yenieut rammes, power IL obtained by their
use aud they who loudest procaming them from
the hustngs the first forget them when Executive
authority be restrained, Executive usurpsusns 10 be
rebukcd IL time, think, therefore, that the people
should look less these and
Oily 10 thc PREGNANT by which they uniform
ly supplan,ed. But periodically the flag be unfured
with the caich-wOfds Of party inscribed hereupon is 1t
asking much OF those who embaz5n the old notices
upon folds that they shall least show that the
their associates direct and open conflict with
their teachings Or the people to be tOreUer BAN
boozcd aud humbugged and cheated with ngmeJ and
pATdses which other purpose than bod toReh
en- the pursuit OF phantom, honest men, whose faith
although has already stood thousand shocks destined
BE- tested. fear, by similar deceptive afces until
the revolution silent but rapid progress sha. have
oyertfown the ITSELF and involved altar priest
and woFshpper of al creeds and parties, 10 q common
Iuia}