Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-14
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

nebt, with authority to Congress to "pass all
laws which shall! be necessary aud pEcrer lor car
rying into execution" the same. The tenth arm
Gle OF the amended Constitution declares the
powers not delegated 10 the United States 6y Tue
Constitution, nor prohibited by il 10 the o'aleS'
are reserved 10 The States respectively, or ~ Inc
people"
The power 10 carry on system OF Inernal I'm.
provemcns, is not one o. the powers delegated 20
The United States; nor is legislation on The SUD-
ject in The opinion otlhe States Right man, ne
cessaIy and proper" for carrying into execution
any OF the expressly granted powers -,
81. Because, if it Cid exist lis exercise Wouia
be dangerous
Because i. would tend to make The States sub
ice, 10 The General Government destroy Their So
vereignIy and independence, and tend hnaiiy 10
blot them out, and raise IN !hei! stead one S!ea'
consolidated government.
These. in a few words, are the reasons OF your
opposition to allowing 10 the United States any
control over this subject; and no one oil you can
60 further than DO IN that opposition.
But there is very marked difference between J
the Stale and Federal governments. Says Chiel
justice Marshall in delivering The opinion oi the
Couu in Barroa Us. The Mayor Of B0lim0re, Eel.
Rep. 2I7, the Constitution. ii The United states
twas ordained and established BY the people oil
the United States for themselves tor !heir own
| government and nc! iO- the government OF 'he
,nd.uiGnaL States Each STATE established con
siln.ion for Itself, and, IN that constitution pro-
y.d.! such limitations and restrictions on the
powers oil its peculiar government as is lhuS'
ment dictated. The people Of he Cnited SiMes
framed such 4 aoyernmcn; tor The United States
as they supposed best adapted 10 their situation
and best calculated 10 promote their interests. =
The Federal Government is confined IN IT'S oPe'
rations by The Constitution which created it-and
all other power not delegated 10 1t 10y Inc Con,
stiiulion. nor prohibited 10 the StaleS is reserved
10 The States respectively: &c.
There is no clause of the Federal Constitution
which prohibits internal Improvements by Inc
States.
Then. as no power exists in the General Gov
eminent over this subject, and il is not Prohio'led
10 The States, it follows in The words OF me
Constitution, that it is reserved 10 me Sla'es re-
speclively or TO the people" Each Stale Oh Inc
Union, for itself must lesislaIe on The suoIecs OF
its internal Improvement, and if ii, in its sove-
reign capacity, will not do SO, no other power can
interfere.
To contribute 10 the happiness OF The people
and to protect them in their rights is The great OBJ
icct Of goye!nmen and that government which
loses sight OF this object, il is The unalienaoe
right Of The people, il is their duty to alter or
abolish, as may be most conducive to The pubic
veal.
If The internal Improvement Of State is con-
duciye TO the public weal-to the advantages oil
the people-it is The bounden duty OF the Le-
pislalure 10 commence and carry on The Work ;
and if they be derelict in Duty they fail 10 attain
one of The ends OF their creation and The Govern
ment ought TO changed or abolished j. need be.
The believers oflhe Staes' Right faith, ought 10
he The peculiar friends oil Sale Improvements
Their love Tor their native Stale is claimed 10 be
the sole mainspring OF all their tailh-ihey view
with horror and resist with energy any infringe.
ment upon The sovereignty OF the Stale, and Will
not allow the General Government TO touch SIN
gle tree or stone in the way OF making roads, ca
mails. &C., through the States. They acknowledge,
that 10 develope the natural resources OF Stale,
TO afford speedy and easy transportation OF lis
productions, &c, &c, is 10 enrich the Stale, 10
| protect her Inhabitants, and TO make her people
happy Then, as they deny the power 10 The Ge-
neral MISUNDERSTANDING lha, il ought 10 be
exercised by some one-and believing that the
Stale alone can execute it, ought they MOTTO come
out boldly and say, tive will not be dogs in The
manoer" but. having IA mind 10 WORK" we rnl
accomplish hat before u.s.
The day is fast approaching (and God speed
i,D when Virsinians must throw OH their lelhar'
sy, and begin with all soberness to look to the IN
terest of their own Stale. Virginia, once in he
front rank of States in wealth and prosperity, has
dwinded away 10 comparative insisnfcance
while other members OF the Union, have within
few years, sprung into existence and now iar
outs.rip the dmober OF States" This should not
be so-and it will net remain SO, il her sons are
! faithful and true 10 themselves and 10 her
may, in some subsequeh number give some
| reasons why you as citizens 0; Virginia ought 10
cherish The siea, work oil Internal Improvement
and until then, am yours truly,