The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-10-19
BY ROBERT Ar sTnOr q.


ddreys or the Hon X. M H. Hunter before
the DE mocratic Association OF Richmond
MR PREsipEsT AND yellow CITIZENS appear be
fore you in compliance with an invitation WIN wn,eh
yoa have honored me- address you upon puoc anaifs
stand here 10 speak. moi upon ne,e sca h;nh
borrow nothing from men. but which give 10 them what
ever Of political imporance they possess WIN your
leave ss shall speak as one ma =, bSn og ~ soa 81 ,a
ys.lysins which, upon another occasion, and before an
oIher audience. il might be proper to observe. shall
speak thus frankly and freely because y my purpose
10 hold in the present ancnre OF public affairs To un
dersand her present position will be necessary briefly
10 review The past 10 see how i is that she stands
where she row coes and 10 ascertain what lights should
xude her for the future, must examine how far those
yhch have directed her have been steady and
afe Ii in making this review should assign higher
Office TO The principles OF the old Virginia school OF poll
,cs than has been heretofore ascrbed TO them, il will
iainy moi designed an Offering OF naery, but as
tribute to truth. II not my purpose, Mr. President 70
cherish the illusions OF State pride, do how
shoad serve that end it, magnifyng the deeds OF those
who have gone before u.s. the contrast should only shame
The more tie poverty OF our own performances:
To understand the Offices which the doctrines OF the
Virginia school have performed in past times. il will be
necessary TO revert briefly TO the circumstances out OF
which il sprung Mr. Webster in his celebrated arga-
neut in the Of Gbbon ps Ogden ascnbes i mainly
10 desire extend the power OF The federal govern
ment over he subject of commerce, and cites the first
sct OF public body which led TO the convention that
formed our present constitution resolution OF Virginia
n 1885, appointing commissioners 10 meet those OF other
States upon this subject This. again, was founded
upon certain resolutions of Mr. Madison upon the same
subject which passed tie general assembly OF that State
These resolutions define The object OF such grant TO be
to enable the general government through the power OF
ayng restrictions 10 obtain far, equal, and reciprocal
privileges in regard trade from foreign nations, and
also equality and reciprocity amongst the States
OF the c0nederacy regard to the right of participating
in ihe advantages OF external and internal
Connected with all this was desire, in my opinion, 10
make the federal government independent OF the State
governments within its sphere, and 10 enlarge IFS powers
generally in regard 10 foreign nations Accordingly the
Constitution when formed seems to have had Tor Its main
ends the endowment of the federal government with the
powers oil complete government so lar as foreign ma
lions were concerned and The securing not only perfect
freedom Of trade and intercourse amongst the States and
their citizens, but also entire equality amongst them
regard to comnecla privileges, and in relation to the
general action OF the new government But there was
alarge party at that time whose views extended much
further They believed in the old European scheme OF
civzation they regarded the highest duties OF govern
menl TO be those Of pa'ernal character, and were Tor
amlng the general government with the ''parid poes
as accordingly All the OF the great Interests
Of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, and, in
Short the whole machinery OF society, ought, IN their
opnon TO be placed under It's controls and to effect these
objects able and persevering efforts were made The
anti federalsts who opposed exclusion OF the
powers oil the federal government. in their debates IN
State conventions extended these powers by construction
to exravsgant lengths Tor the purpose OF making the
new constitution odious The consequence was that,
after the adoption OF the constitution, they emsar
,assed BY their previous course ~ their opposition TO rs
case with Mr.. Henry, and doubtless The same difficulty
felt more less by them all Under these circumstances 1t
Is perhaps not surprising that the early tendencies OF the
general government should have been towards rapid
consolidation oil power in their hands, II
probably fortunate for the country that Mr. Jefferson
abroad during the disputes preliminary to the adoption
OF that instrument He thus unembaIrassed by pre-.
vous commltas free 10 observe mpartlay and 10 act
upon his own judgment when IL was
formed he was not long IN perceving whittier the sys
TEN was tending. The claim was openly made and pow
erully sustained, OF right in the general government TO
provide for whatever concerns the general interests OF
learning, o agriculture, OF manufactures, and OF
merce, as far as regards application OF money In
Short ss. Mr. Jefferson saw that the tendencies
a Capitalization OF power in that government, and be
knew, was afterwards DECLARED in OF the ceebra
ted resolutions Of Virginia in l79s, that the inevitable
eject Of this must be 10 transform the present repub
can system Of the United States into absolute, at
best mixed monarchy " for the seed OF the old Euro
pean scheme OF civilization, sowed here, must produce
the like iru again. IL was the old European notion 10
make OF second hand providence Of human gov
eminent and to require il TO predesiinae the whole
course OF action and events, whether social individual
within the society for which II acted To meet these dan
gers he determined found his school, and TO base il
not only upon different but upon opposite principles. He
founded upon the right ofndvdual judgment and upon
the free will OF man He proposed 10 allow the largest lib
erty OF individual action which was compatible with the
peace and order OF the whole, and 10 throw open the
prizes Of life, whether Of honor OF profit TO The free
and equal competition OF all well knowing the strongest
The sbe-l and best, would be the ap take them
Ascending another step to still higher generalization
he proposed TO leave 10 each State the right develop
lis own scheme OF culture its system OF civiliza-
ton, and OF internal Improvements and here again TO
throw open all the prizes for which communities con
tend in social enterprise and intercourse free and equal
amongst the States But these grants, both
10 the States and TO individuals TO be exercised
by each a. not TO infringe upon the equal right o
other. He was fortunately enabled 10 show that the
true construction OF the constitution in regard TO the pow
e OF the State and general governments established re-
laons between the two, which in precise accord
ance with his political schoo-a school founded upon
the principle OF voluntary action, IN both individuals and
societies. Human Imagination has never conceived a
system which could give so powerful spur 10 human
progress, and so great an impulse 10 human energy II
calls into play all the active elements oil human char
acte and affords opportunity for the peaceful exercise
oil each. To what else is il that the scene OF
universal energy which our country eyhbiisl
Mr President, do not mean 10 say that have laid
down the doctrines Of that school in the precise
which they were announced by its fathers have given
my own analysis OF them, taken IRON the iendeoc
OF the system which have been manifested BY exper-
ence. and as derived from the resolutions and report OF
lIps-99, which constitute the first authentic and
commentary o the doctrines But happens that the
ends and results of the system have been defined very
when Mr.. JeHersons first message appeared, II was
F" tramined' by Alexander Hamilton 10 a series OF es
says marked with IN. usual evidences OF ardent temper
and great ability, and signed Lucus Crassus. In one OF
them NO. g. written in 1901 he speaks oil what he
eeves TO be the duties of the country IN reference to the
protection of the industrial interests OF the country and
then be says To suggestions OF that kind. The adopts
oil The new school have ready answer Industry uii
succeed and prosper In proportion az Ten TO the sTsrous
ndipidsaf eafsvpr,se." Again. in No. Is OF The
series OF essays, he says: TO make display OF
CEN Tor their prosperity agriculture manufactures, com
and ointrp ihc .rfs