Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-25

were four candidates in the field and among them tho
late John Quincy Adams. Whatever opinions Mr.. Adams
may afterwards have mbbed and however eccentric he may
have been his public whilst member Of the House
of Representatives, all must admit that in 1924 and for
BEFORE he had been recognized prominent and in
uetal member othe Republican party such had been
with such personages Ieeon Madison Monroe
others enjoying fact the ,ime the entire confidence
Of the Republican party Of the country Indeed in 1928
the Federal party seemed have entirely los, its IDENTIFY and
longer possess substantive and distinct existence Ths
year previous the Presidential election referred TO-
cuped very actively by the friends OF The various PRESIDENTIAL
aspans Efforts concae public feeling towards the cand
date of their choice In Virginia, it is well known that ex
traodnaIy efforts made by severn distinguished
ages including that sound republican statesman, John Iay
o of Caroline The electoral vote OF that State to
Mr.. Adams who supposed, by Mr. Taylor and other
gentlemen ofinuence in Virginia, precise reason ana
prepared state to be particularly kindly disposed to-
the domestic institutions Of the South There were how
ever distinguished Virginia who were decidedly
hostile peensons of Mr. Adams and Who made pecat
exerons shut him from the confidence ohe good people
Ct that State. General Smythe then representative in Con-
gress from the Wythe district assaed him fercfy in the
public newspapers and in well written circular addressed TO
his constituents which Mr. Adams advised by his Viz
gna friends respond In the response published by HIM IN
lsa3 the columns the Richmond Enquirer some extracts
from which have before me, he vndcated himself with
zeal and energy against the various charges which had
been preferred BY General Snyhe. Before proceedio read
these Twill premise that the venerable geneman
who edits the Union Of this city, then editor OF tho
Enquirer, and then, now universally recognised as an
able efficient political writer perfectly informed IN party his
tory and xby devoted to pinclIes Of the JeesoniaD
Democratic creed He then living in the enjoyment OF
Mr. Jersons fullest confidence was there
ed statesman that period in Virginia. of the republican
school, who did not entertain for him sentiments OF the high
and confidence and yield than ordinary defer
his judgment in all matters involving the welfare the
republican Mr. Richie published the address Of ME-
Adams in his paper and accompanied its publication wn
short editorial article commendatoy Of the general views con-
tanned therein, declaring the political doctrines OF the addIes
particularly suited to the meridian Of the cod Dominion.
will now read the extracts referred to
Observe that deny the existence of thsautho
rty constitutions but it is constructive power and at
the time when called TO record my vote upon IT. the
question new to me- Congress with reference
to the legislative exposition Of the constitution The principle
had not been settled and the first time had ever Dee
made my duty 10 act as member of the Legislature upon
involving the powers Of Congress
lieved still believe, that the constitution OF the One0
States was constitution OF limited powers nat some Q.
these powers be constructive doubted bat tnat
this itself have limits was equally
convinced and could not reconcile to my Judgment hat
the authority exercised in this section within the
powers of Congress cnormable the constitution Were
the question have hesitation in saying that
should retain the opinion and give the same VOTE nd
willing record it again and leave to conn-
try and poster the opinion that all the other
powers assumed by Congress from the 4h OF March, to
this day put together whether considered in themselves
or their consequences unequal to the
assumed exercised and granted by that little section
upon principle Conscientious bsliefthat
Congress had by the constitution, the power to exercise
session against the other relating Louisi
Gen. Smythes address to They fored
the people Of Louisiana and Congress Oh
the United States believed that this power had not oeen
granted Congress either BY the people Of the United
construction could perceive Limitation to the con
structive power which could be consistently mah.a'nea
those who could find in the constitution OF the oneS
States authority for the exercise OF all these powers 10 Lou
isiana.
drawing from these the conclusion that was governed
in giving them either BY principles Of faction Or oy hostility
the me we'll those whose concurred with mine,
who sanctioned these assumptions OF
struetve power ha voice and opinions were m avo os
acquisition Louisiana and Of the ratification OF the treaty
by which it acquired The power TO make eaes IS by
the constitution given President with the OF
present upon the question for their
advice and consent zvoH inatoa extends to whatever
can form the subject sovereign and indie
pendent nations power make the treaty therefore,
had doubt having been granted by the constitution
power areay and the power carry it into
are organization of Government not the
The former merely transaction with foreign ma
tion To have limited that would have to limit the pow
itself relations OF intercourse with other
States 1t would have been abdcaton BY the ration itself
placed on footing Of inequality with other
latter the to treaty into execution
m M m ne % m 10
the exercise of those In the message by when
President Jefferson communicated this treaty 70 Congress- al
ratification had been exchanged he said you will OBJ
that important conditions cannot be carried INTO
erecuon bu, with the aid of the legislature Thiss CIR
cumstance to many treaties and has frequently
given occasion debates the House Representatives how
tar they bound sanction, in their legislative capacity
by treaty making power But the Louisiana purchase
treaty did, opinion to be carried into execution require
something requ red the exercise powers which hao
been granted Congress ITSELF OF reserved by the
people of the United States themselves and powers
herent by natural right the people OF Louisiana he unio
OF the people required the and formal consent on
both So far rights France concerned they had
extnguhed by treaty To appropriate and the
money stipulated Tor the purchase of the territory beersn
to be within the legitimate OF Congress- though even
that constructive power. But that the social compact,
with all its burdens and all its blessings all its privileges and
all powers should be formed between the peopl. OF the
United States and the people of Louisiana according to
the theory of human rights which had learned from he N
caraon OF Independence act the sanction OF which cona
be consummaed only by themselves. The people OF the
United States had much less had the people OF
given the Congress the United States the power to form
this And until the Of both people should be
obtained OF Legislation by the Congress OF the United
States the people of louisiana distinct from that Oh
taking possession the Territory wasin view unconsht
| tonal, and an act of usurped authority.
My opinions therefore, that tho sense OF the people both
of the United and Of Louisiana, should DC
taken o. the FIRST by amendment OF the constitution 10
be proposed and acted upon in the regular form and os
the last by taking the votes OF the people OF Louisiana nue
daey after possession Of the territory should be taken by the
United States under the had doubt that the con-
of both people would obtained with much and
little loss Of time than actually took Congress TO
pare for the the Territory and thougf
that this Of proceeding while would terminate IN f-
the Immediate OF unganed transcsu-
dental by Congress- would landmark OF cor
principle for future times memorial oil homage to
the fundamental principles of civil society to the primitive
sovereignty OF the people and the unalienabe rights OF
Entertainng these opinions the Sd Of November 1885,
voted oriy the ill sppropriating si 25ooo
to carry into effect the Louisiana convention and in speech
to the Senate the passage of that ball. the substance %