Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-09
about forty wears before they assumed the name Of

abou, forty years before they assumed Inc na"e o'
Wing
Can the Wings OF the present day prove ina.
they are al all more strict IN their in'erpfe'aon
the Constitution than those who we're formerly ae'
sjona,ed as Federalists2 Can they show any
difference between the political principles main
laned by The ancient Federalists and The modern
Whigs2 "
"Alsernonn and The Editors OF The Rich'
| mond Whig advocate Bank, Protective
| Tariff and Distribution, but they athrm
thai these are measures, not prtneiplss maj
they may be expedient to-day and mex
pedieut tomorrow, and that they are not
"of The essence Of pVdiggery" They contend
that The essence OF Whiegery consists IN oppose
ton 10 Executive encroachmen,s and Executive
usurpalion. II hostility 10 Executive encfoacn-
ment aud Executive usurpalion is the sfea' p''n-
ciple of The Wing Parry, they will meet WIN no
resistance. So far from encouneTIhs opPos''ion'
,hey will receive The cooperation OF The kepubli-
can party, which is as prompt and wiling 10 re-
sist Executive u>urpalion, as legislative usu1pa-
linn II however, these writer's, IN einclda'ihs
n,be ,ss,ncc of Whisgely," designed by impl'ca-
ton 10 represent The Democratic Party as adVo'
eating and supporting Executive cncfoacnmeh'
and Executive usurralion, they made an impu-
,a,on alike untounded and unjust. Il seems'
,ha, The Wing Parry is 10 he tested not by mca-
sures but principles, and that there are n" polical
principles except those connected with ihf Exec
ulve department Of The Government: AccoI.
ding 10 the logic of Alge,non' and the Editors
Of the Wing, Congress can egisla'e, b'a without
reference 10, or violation Of principles, because
their functions are confined 10 The a6opion o.
measures, which are entirely devoid Of and I'M
connected with principles: How:are W. 10 Judge
of Executive usurpalion except oy Executive
measures and il measures are not allied 10
principles, and have no effect upon principles,
how are we 10 prove he Executive usuTpat'oh
II The acts Of Congress are connected win ava
governed by no principle, how can II De SHOWN
that the acts OF The Executive are more kli'ma'e-
" in,erwoven with principle Aret wings
prepared 10 contend that Bank OIL u 'ne"-
sure not principle, while an Executive Ve'o 's
principle, without being ameasnTe; mat whi's
the latter violated principle, the iormer violated
none whalever2
There has been a great deal Of caat about
measures, not men, How can civilized men
live without mcasures2 and how; can measures
be carried wihou, men Tne ffia'lon between
measures and principles is sill more intimate
and in the affairs OF Government they are Insep-
arabic. The union is as close as hat at The Sia-
mese twins. Principles are as much involved
in making, as in executing the laws. The iavor-
lie measures Of Wing policy involve many I'M
porlent principles. They are connected with
The principles of justice, the principles OF poiti-
cal economy the maxims and principles oil eooo
government, and the true principles OF the Con-
slilulion.
From 1884 to the present day, the suoIect OF
Executive usurpaton has been the constant theme
al Wing clamor, eloquence and inveclive Du-
ring night and day. in sunshine and amidst The
storm, their maginations have been haunted
and disturbed by the phantom OF Executive en-
croachmcnt In their opinion General Jackson
was guilty Of gross and papable violations OF
The Constitution. The Constitution provides
method by which Executive usurPation can be
arrested, and every usurping President driven
from power II The Whiss-many Of whom
were in Coneress-believedt that Gen. Jackson had
violated The Constitution, why did they not evince
their faith by their works, Immediately bring
forward articles of Impeachment, con.
vic, him of usulpation and remove him
from Office thus giving sautary warn
ing 10 his SUCCESSORS and evincing the sincerity
and patriotism CT The Wing pariy2 Fidelity
10 their oaihs and the Constitution, 10 their con-
stituents and their country. demahded this course
al the hands OF those VINO believed The charge OF
usurpalion 10 be true. But those who brought
forward the charge shrank from impeachment,
which was regarded BY them with more horror
than submission 10 what they represented As des-
po,ism and tyranny. The Wing party has re-
ilera,ed The charge OF usurpaton again,, Mr..
Polk. II they believe their own charge, why do
they no, mpeach him Why EXHIBIT such re-
creancy 10 all the dlclaI.s OF dulyE Why hest
,a,e 10 nv Mr. Polk beINe The Senate, according
10 the Constitution, and there, II possible. esah-
Ii,h ,heir charges oi encrnacnmena and usurpa-
lion Does ''the essence Of Hhiggery' consist in
bringing forward grave charges OF encroach.
menl and usurpation, and then declining and re-
lusiue. from srssi3n t. session. e resuI! TO the
constitutional mode ui Tying ant Furnishing The
author3 II SO, ''the essence OF Wniggely" eva
nora,es RAPIDLY, and has no more subsiance and
stability Than The essence Of The apothecary or
the chemist.
The pasl history Of our government proves
hat CONGRESS is the great iuuniain from which
encroacbmenis have flowed. While the emu
| mera,cd powers OF Congress are lew, lis le-
oiSaliun has not been confined within The
| limits OF the Constitution. Tine sphere Of
I.eslalion has been greatly enlarged by the
ingenuity OF construction, and the assump-
| nan and exercise OF power not conferred by
| The Constitution Of The United States. II the
| now.r of The Executive has become too great, the
| cau,e will be found no, 10 the Constitution, but
| in The acts OF omissions Of Congress. The powers
| coofided 10 the Executive by the Constitution are
| fw well guarded and not al all formidable
| Nv claiming and exercising unconstitutional
| mower Congress has greatly increased The patron
ace and power Of The President. II officers have
| been multiplied without necessity aud their sala-
tes fixed TOO high, The blame IS Justly 10 be as
| cribed 10 Congress, by whose autnoIity laese OIL
| 6cers can BE- created and heir emolumenIs Tesu.
4 III,
| is pfegnant with danger 10 tnc pcrmanen: nam
tcnance Of freedom, the danger can be obyialtd,
mol by reckless decentralization Of ihc President, but
by a repeal 81 Hose laws which have ausmene a
| his influence and power. 30 far fun tne veto
| n, wing caused an increase ol MS power, The mole
FREQUENT use Of i, would have curiaiIeA and limit.
cd his authority. Had all The Bank bills, the bills
| al Inl,ual Improvement, the ranf bills IL 1923
and ls42, b-en defeated by The position Of The
veto inc Executive power would not De as great
as |, is al present. Abstinence from the use OF the
veto ,,lcrgases, while Me use IF it dimilishs Ex-
ecuiye power. Inc Veto has peeo exercised only
| twenty five ;Imes from The organization OF The
Government 10 The present period. Washing
ton used The veo Two, Madison sir, Monroe une,
Jackson nine, Tyler Tour and Polk Three times
rne acts passed BY Congress and approved by
Inc President since the origin OF The Government
amoun; 10 abuu' seven thousand, making Two
| nup,r,d and eighty ACTS tor each velo The dis