Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-01

:, 70 ,,;ss No, 10 in1ame the minds OF the !'pn ~ Hnw
possible TO avoid il, and yet preserve p c,ons were Inc conn.
aels Of ,hc trainers Of the Constitution, = fhe cons,I,u-
whole history of its formation and hoop.t " Lt ,ne of many
ton OF Tue oenHtIa of what | mean. Indeed, on 'nc very
f CIV" ~ thnt monument of wisdom ana iininn establish
&c declared to be "to form a more pccl.a"n;de far the common
justice, n =" he General welfare, and secure .s DRESSINGS
W liberty to ourselves and our posieIny. 80 ,ho, MI over tho
nien : =, i niu ,hpr he who demands proof beyond inc MS
,ory of the last sixty years, ~oum
Though one should rise from me 'f s, ;s wholly unreasonable
7 think YOU will also admit, thar u Is "''ly
90 . ;hnt the Deople of States, whose origin ana early
history were 80 various, should all see, eye eve, ~ every
. IT, tn. od Thirteen States had their rise at periods quite
'ilhs. ~ a.ch o,hcr Georeiu was not settled Till one
hundred and fifty years after Vireinia; Different ideas and
institutions naturally sprang up IL o tr t.nn, h0 Nv = , = IL
IN each of the States, which sent delegates 10 The Conven-
ZION which framed the Constitution, LIS principles were
constantly undergoing notifications by Parliamentary STA
,n,as md M ira precise nature depended upon the time Of its
Introduction into any colony. The colonies were also torm-
ed in ways quite diverse from each other. Sumo of them
hod nrnprjetury, some chartered, and some provincial govern
mems, Some were, from the first, dependencies of the
Crown of England, while others, as New York and
New Jersey, became such by conquest. The early Set
tiers varied exceedingly in their origin, language "nn-
ners and laws. England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland,
France, Germany and Sweden each contributed people
to our early plantations. These and other causes led to
their reu,ininp for u long time separate, and in a consid-
erahIe deuree alien CONFERENCE.-The, jealous Of each others
prosperity, and diriisd by policy, institutions, prcI'dic"s
md ,nnnners. fSee kents Commentaries, vol. ]. pnge 205)
In 1854 DIR. franklin said that ii union OF the colonies was
absolutely impossible, or ut least without being forced by
the most rrievous tyranny and oppression" CIV. Pownal
declared that "the colonies had n" one principle of nssocia-
riun among them. and that their manner .! settlement, diver
si,v of charters, conflicting interests. and mutual rivalsilips
and i.alousies rendered union imprac iicable." This State OF
,hinys was not entirely changed by the common perils and
losses and triumphs OF the war OF Independence, and the
Of our Constitution well knew il, and accordingly
naye us little power TO the government OF the United States
as consisted with The general purposes Of its formation, leav
ing municipal regulations and local measures 10 the States
respectively.
several important territories, some of which must soon be
cunstitutiunally qualified for admission, as States, into The
Union. The same or u greater diversity is fund in the cha
racter of these eighteen new States. The territory now CO.
vered by Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri bel"need
first TO France, then TO Spain, then again to France,
and finally. 10 the United States. Such n history
must have greatly affected the character of a people. need
say aothing of Florida, Texas and California. which arc now
Sta, les of this Union. Nor need | rehearse the history Of the
States. peopled NJ they are by New England
e:s, New Workers, Jerseymen. Pennsylvnnians. Marylnndcrs,
Virgininns, Carolnians, Kentuckians, Welshinen, Germans,
Swiss, Norwegians, &c. This state of things mast JUSTIFY
the remark, that great fnrbearancr, patience and magnunlini.
" ure required 10 keep the pcnple Of This country so united
and pcaccAhic, that they will support the laws and put dhwn
violence and h'oodshed. Some things are m"nltes'iy adverse
10 the interests Of this great mass OF human beings, such as
war, rapine, outrage, monnpulirs, anarchy, jealousy, prtJh-
dice, insult; while others are no less obviously conducive 10
the guud Of the whole and every part, such as peace al home
abroad, small armies and navies 81 the service OF any
portion of the land that may be threatened, UNIFORM iipoSts,
treaties with frrcign nations, securing like advantages to all
the people IN ms Ianu; q COMMON III 5uiIeIHe ilhund y ur-
termining questions OF right between the several States, or The
citizens thereof; uniform, cheap ard expeditions postal ar
and such other matters rs now fall within the pro-
vince Of The government OF the United States but these great,
these incalculnble blessings cannot be secured, il the Union is
rent asunder, or if The execution of the laws is obstrucied at
every step on any plea whatever. To bring real blessings IN Its
train government must be uniform. A Tree government has
no powers superior 10 the will OF those who live under il.
Even English freedom, imperfect as II Is, depends Tor lis per-
petuity On the maxim, "Parliameni is omnipotent."
Think also of our wide extent ofterrtory. Lately iravell-
ed West ward from Baltimore serentecn hundred miles, and
there me, a friend, who had Just com. from the South west
teo thousand miles. l am told, and believe it. that the CEN
trail point of our country from East 10 West is some four hun.
dred and eighty miles beyond ST. Louis. In latitude we
range from q degree 50 high as TO have a summer OF sir or
eight weeks, down to one hayinga summer of as many months.
No man risks anything in asserting that II is utterly lmpossi-
BILE TO bring all the people in this vast range to think and feel
on all subjects. The utmost we can expect, and we
look for as much, is that a majority in each State will
liberty, will execute justice, will seek the general well
fare, will unite for the common defence, and will faithfully
observe the constitution and laws OF the United States,
while they will adopt such measures and enact such munich
regulations as may best suit themselves. | confess |
cannot conceive Of a form OF free government more simple,
more beautiful in theory, or more beneficial in practice, Than
that under which we live, al least while man is So imperfect,
n being as his past history stcws him In be. therefore love
My deliberate judgment is that the full price
for the right to torn II was not a waste "f pains, OF treas
ure and OF blood.
| think too tina, any law of Congress, operating material
injustice or even hardship, is likely 30 TO manifest lis real
as to cause it to be repealed or amended
as soon as consists with the general stability Of the ad-
VI puuuS lioilS- I'ShhPCS az " ""uthS ~
illustrate my meaning. The Bankrupt Low, pissed some
ten wears ago, was in the judgment of many frauaht with
unjust and mischievous principles. Yet the party then in
power, flushed with recent success, and confident in their
strength and wisdom, carried IL triumphanry through The
forms of Legislation. II was confidently said that this great
measure was 10 give its friends a vast amount OF morale before
the country. But the very first sessions ofthe District Fed
eral Courts under this law revealed an appalling state Of
things. The friends of the law, who had elected the major
ity that passed il, found that millions Of dollars due them
were 10 be paid by the bankrupt notices. General corruption
of morals in money matters threatened to come in; q more
ra,intt IN rntru,t from a m nnoifinp n IIn hp
Probably for seven years no man has claimrd
part Of the honor of bringing in the Bankrupt Law. II
well nigh broke its own authors. The law was speedily re-
pealed. The contest respecting q high tariff, n Tariff for pro-
lection, was of much longer duration, the subject being far
more intricate, and longer time being required To disclose
the working of the law. But the truth was mighty and PIE.
vailed. A general tariff law, for any other purpose than the
support of an economical administration, cannot be again pas
under the most plausible pretences, unless the national
should become enormous, or England change her policy
respecting free trade. No party is now willing, when enter
ing IL campaign for the Presidency, 10 display. all over the
u banner for high imposis. Ii would render lts defeat
certain. We do indeed hear whispers and murmnrs resnect.
ing higher duties On coal and iron but a tariff 10 protect
wood or dirt would bc as reasonable as a tariff 10 protect coal
and iron. Bssid's The everlasting rnmntains OF hard coal
in Pennsylvania, there are perpetual hills Of biluninnus C sal
in that Suite and in Maryland, Vlrainia, Kentucky, Oni",
Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Nrw Mexico. There is more
coal in Illinois than in all Europe, euuugh 10 supply the
world for centuries; and there is "a good Canned coal iu
Western Virginia and in Missouri MS ever came from Liver
pnol. And the Iron Mountain Of Missouri has such vast
stores of rich ore that the world c"niG not exhaust them in
ages. Why should our people be taxed and made 10 pay enOr.
nous prices Tor m Article produced NJ nome, ~tGn tn"y could
get better and cheaper from abroad? To prevent our people
from OVERRIDING every branch Of business, which promises
and speedy returns, is simply impossible. 4 law giving
an advantage Of fre hundred per cent 10 the American man.
OF iron, and unrepcaahle for ten years, would cause
more failures aud more distress, than will arise under The prln-
Of the present law ior centuries. | have, therefor, I'm
impaired confidence in The people for self government. They
greatly err, but they will rectify their own mistakes
sooner, more suielY and more certainly than a monarchy or
an aristocrucy would do il. AS long as sail duties, impusis
aud txcises shall be uniform throughout the United States,'
as the Constitution requires; as long as every law Of Con.
gress is of equal obligation oil over The country, and ~ long
US one supreme tribunal shall au,holtativcly and finally in
terlret the law, bad laws will br.et complaints, and COM.
plants will bring about repeal Or amendment.
Another important consideration Is, that The bonds of bro
between the people Of this country, are gainng
strength every year. These began TO bu furmed in the earIi-
est struggles for independence. Up 10 this hour, the adrnira-
liun Of the deeds Of OUT fathers is a universal bond Of afirc.
ton. Every year increases the number Of those who intelli-
gently laud The heroism, %self.deni.l, and patriotism Of the
men OF 20. Their names, hnd deeds, and honors. belong To
the whole nation. The people of Massachusetts and of Snuth
Carolina, no less than those OF Virginia, may Justly clalm
Washington as their countryman. Aud while there is any
public spirit remaining in the people of the Northern. Middle,
or Western States, the names of Pinckncy, L,lrens, Sumter
and Marion, will be US dear 10 Them az to The people of South
Carolina. Mutual and high esteem began in trou5luus times,
and has been growing ever since. The severest trials have
--Nls 80 - ra H w