Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-04-08
MlSCEiLAN EOUS.
To wv 1--we CONSTITUENTS OF THE SECONL
- - CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

TO MY LATE CONSTITUENTS OF The SECOND
- CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
cr,,ov.crrIzESs: cannot part with you, as your repre-
sentative without telling you Of my sfati,uoe anu pu a.
haino 40 long huuorsd with your confidence cannot
49, NJ any valuable services rendered IN return con-
scous fidelity my and Zeal IN their service Is ali 'ha
can ssy 10 nv constituents they have received Tor gencr
osy and reliance OF which no representative hau ever more
reason to boast i never made speech or gave 9oe
Congress fear OF rebuke tel there existed an h.ei
prnce between my constituents and myself when always
assured me of pardon Tor my erros and hence enjoyed
freedom of speech action which had been seconded
by commensurate ability would have enabled me 10 leave
vour service with the deserving the highest
reward which retired public servant ever thinks OF asking
Ii has been my lot you in one oil the most trying
crisis through which our country has passed 10 s severe
struggle between sections which our late acquisition OF Ter
ritory induced those who ia demanding even
less your rights incurred the charge OF extreme sec
t,onas. Without stopping 10 discuss It's justice, may
BIZ permitted that course manifested al least dc
personal views individual specuitons
should ever control IT, if any benefit resulted from
the final action Of Congress should inue 10 my people
II my constituents believe they have lost anything by the
Goal adjustment sectional difficulties, they Know tha
share that loss with ;nen and without the consolation OF
believing that have addeu anything 10 my reputation Tor
an enlarged and national PATRIOTISM
Whatever may be the NATURE ui our recolecllons OF e
"a s the prospect affords ample Tor con-
graduation.
among na,iaas o. The earth has OF late under demo-
cratic such rapid progress that We may now
begin indulge the hope will at no distant day be ecos
ni2ed by every civilized nation the globe The Unlcd
protection. The consequences 10 their COMMERCE. power
and prosperity must ultimately prod uce their effects upon
Other powers; and will DC The glory OF giving conf
rpcrcaI code world The involved in tins Irin
cpls long perceived by some Ui our abest
Statesmen; bur the example Vi The mother county has 50
Sxed error in the minds people, they felt the
~ temporzng with the evil and progressing gradually
the desired end On the subject o tree trade the
democratic party may be said b. Ia full communion
had tew vi their political Guversarles nave become
converts Its doctrines
On the subject federal currency and financial agent
there 10 now but opinion.
The danger which once apprehsnded by many wise
and good extension territory experience has
be groundess and the most determined
donents Of the policy eager announce rCorna-
ton Of their opinions You thus perceive that these three
great principles Of the democratic party have been FIRMLY
established spite OF able opposon and their truths
INDICATED by years Of experience All great objects arc
and accomplished by gradual approaches and
un,rng The efforts o The wses statesman OF
party have mus alter years OF labor BON o"wn"d with
success.
There other great principle which for years has &C.
cupied the thoughts and engaged the energies OF many vi
our wisest politicians. They have made some progress but
have not been yet unite the democratic party as u
the extent the powers the federal or the
policy should III regard TO IT, allude TO the sub
sct uf internal BY the federal government
Tho between the two great parties in the country has
only been drawn reference brunch OF the question:
The democratic party agree III withholding from Con-
gress while their opponents cuncede OF have heretofore con.
csded power engage 10 general system OF internal
improvemens-such system as Inc States may adopt EN-
bracng the construction OF roads ami canals as well as the
Improvement Of rivers and arboIs On this latter branch
OF subject democratic party not united large
portion OF it claiming the power in Congress- under the
cuuse 10 regulate and maintain navy, TO i'm
prove halbo and navigabe streams oil the COUNTY,
While IL may be fairly cUntended that any Improvement
really intended Tor accommodation o the navy may be
legitimate subject for legislation the improvement OF rivers
for promotion, not the regulation OF commerce must be
referred oeru construction of the constitution en-.
teiy with those principles oil strict construction
characterized the democratic party OF the
country. -
10 for
States of tho Union have hesltuted TO expend millions
for internal Improvement The debts incurred by them Tor
this purpose already hundred millions The
paratively small necessary to Improve their rivers
should be appropriated by the States. BY The bill OF the
FIRST session Of The last Congress- three millions were nppro-
priated of which S45 700 given Virginia. and about
$3.50 900 10 New York Virginia has already expended out
of her treasury nearly twenty nens and New OK
twice as much How insignificant are the appropa
ted by the lust Congress compared TO the sums above
named The be said Of the appropriations TO the
other States The that each has expended Of
its own treasury internal improvements compared 10 the
pary sums il may expect IRON The federal government,
should raise il above plul temptation 10 beiray so
ted $500 900 would clear the James and Appomai-
rivers This is sxtelh part OF the sum already
poprated by Virginia To her improvements Let the States
look their 10 improve their rivers Lei
New York. Pennsy and Virginia set the example and
hencrlor 90 solid column against this exercise OF doubt
full power The nducement 10 s@erve from their de!y to
the constitution il small for three such powerful and
wealthy States.
LIE, Them them the task Of preserving the n;eg
from the frauds and unho combinations which the pros
pec of fat contracts with the must need give
rse TO-. If we cannot build wing TO our Capitol with
being derauded out Of hundreds of thousands what
may expect If we undertake, through contracts 10 con-
suc; in ali the States public works involving millions
nualy2 The federal government will hc watchfu
the States over their funds he public agents do
despair of seeing, ultimately the Democratic party aud OF
tho country settle down upon orthodox views on
this question: the others already alluded 10 and by The
same process; sound must work and labor in
cessanty 10 that end. We have President whose
sound constitutional opinions give assurance OF his aid
On this question: the only remaining OF the many that
formerly distracted US, concentrate our Efforts with
much stronger hope OF success Than that which we lett
when we were combating the errors that ages had conse-
Grated The multitude of large rivers in the West that
10 the OF many States and the difficulty
of Improving solely by State means is the chief
strength of the advocates Of internal Improvement Had
few OF them in virtue oil their magnitude and Importance,
been selected by the constitution special objects OF favor
IL would have saved II from many violent assaults.
To escape from the difficulty which The peccur condition
of these rivers has superinduced shall apprehend be
forced adopt the suggestion of Senator Douglas and by
conscnng the imposition IF light duty by the
States directly interested in those rivers, afford them the
means Of improving them. Should this fail accomplish
the object only alternative will be TO amend the const
tuition invest Congress with the power TO improve The
Mississippi and few OF its tributaries and thus deach from
the advocates Of The system an interest which in few ycns
will control the legislation Of the country.
While many reasons could be urged in opposition this
yet il choose between IL and system which shall
fill every State In The Union with federal agents and
tractors and make Il the interest OF each 10 iaVor every pol.
icy that promises increase OF the federal revenues WIN
Wow future dvtrads Quitting out OF view that nces-
say inequality Of aud distribution which would tc
It's CHIEF the naority do not hest.
tate 10 say that fewer evils would result from the proposed
amendment, State independence would a. least be better
preserved and tie action u the federal less cen
trail in It's character.
have written. fellow citizens, great deal more than
intended when commenced this letter. simply Intended
TO announce you that should not again be candidate
for Congress, and TO tuke aectionae leave of cons
uency whose intelligence was strength and whose gen.
crosby and confidence were happiness for the six years
served them. r. K. MEADE.
PETERSBURG, April 2, 1853.
THE SENATE-APPOINTMENT &c.
WAsAtScroS April 5-The Senate was in Executive ses
zion to-day only few minutes. number of nominations
were received and referred. Among them was the Hon
Samuel Downs, as Collector of New Orleans