Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-09
native State for his late gallant and merltotous cohauc
hoard The soop-ofwar ST. Louis In the bay OF Smyrna
TBE MEsSAGE-sTATE RIGHTS.

nower which inst theory of system oil government
would distribute among States has been observed ana
depored by Democrats Of The school OF Jefferson ana
con- h,, hev have not been able the movement
Tbev have made gallant stand for State rights, but WIFI
ont success The pevesion Of the constitution and the
a,dizemen, of The Federu government made such rapid
that some speedy and successful resistance DE-
absolutely essential unless the States meant 70 snen
der their sovereignty and become dependant saee o
central power.
This resistance the State rlghte Democracy resolved 10
make In the Presidential election OF 5o2 Ihey resolved
that the resolutions of 95 and se soad be incorporated
into tho platform Of the party, and that candidate shouu
be presented Of whose devotion TO State rghs no
could be felt They successful on eo'h issues. Aho
principles of Jefferson and Madison were reassered oy INC
Baltimore Convention and Franklin Pierce consistent ana
d,scnIe of The State rights school, nominated for
the Presidency.
This was all ,he work of Stata rehto Democrat the
nlofo,m was State rights triumph-the nomination was a
State rights triumph
The election of MIR. Pierce accomplished mainly
,bropoh The nsumenay OF State rights Democrats ana
looked with confidence 10 him for the Yndcaton oil their
nncples The proe Of the first place In his Cabinet 10 e
most eminent champion of State rights since Inc dean o
gave assurance that President Pierce would not dis
,ot the hopes of his friends. We have In his first
TO Congress- the authoritative and satlsiacio-
~ ustifcaon of the confidence which State rights Demo-
ca reposed n Mr. Pierce and the best guaranty OF his de-
voon 10 their principles We find that the Resolutions Oh
es and e9 are barren absractone but mat hey con-
situte the creed accordance with which the policy oil he
Administration Is 10 be determined We hear again from
the Federal Executive, declaration CT allegiance 70 'e
nrincipes of stricconsucou and State sovereignty ior
bch he disciples of the vrgnia School, have contend
ed since the memorable eS We hear the president OF
The United States his purpose to resist the encroach-
E,An nd
IN The sn of Madison We hear him conjure Congress 10
the rights States and abstain from the
ercse of any doubtful principle OF Federal power. And
his opinions expressed only In general defamation
He brings his principles bear practical Issues and pro.
poses 10 carry them in practical legislation The foi-
lowing passages n the Message exhibit the opinions OF the
President on come OF The great which involve the
question Of Federal Power They have bsen read BEFORE
but they may be read eg=in with delight and instruction
STATE SOVEREIGNTY.
Recurring these principles which constitute the organ
basis of union perceive that vast are the functions
nd the duties OF the federal government vested In or en-
trusted TO- three great depsrtmens-the legislative,
ecu,ye and iudicayet the substantive power The popular
force and the large capacities for aocia and material ce'e
opmen exist I TIE respective States, which, all oeng O!
we'll constituted republics, they preceded, 30
thew alone are capable of maintaining aud pepetuang the
American Union The Federal Government has lie apPro-
pia,e line of action the specific and limited powers con-
fered on by the constitution chiefly as 10 those things IN
which the States have common Interest IN ner relations
TO one another and TO foreign governments whe me sIes
mass of interests which belong TO cultivated men, Inc oo'
nsry business life The springs OF Industry all Inc dversl'
fed persopa and domestic affairs Of society," rest securely
he GENERAL reserved powers Of the people Of the several
S,,es There is the effective Democracy of the nation,
and there the vital esssnce o. It's being Gnd s greatness
| sraicT CONSTRUCTORS.
evident that confederation 30 yast ana so vaGo'
moth in numbers territorial TENT In habits und IN In
could only national cohesion oy inc strict
M e hs o s moss as
srcon OF the powers granted hy the people aad the States
led and applied according 10 these principles The
great compact adapts tse %h heany ease ana neeHon
tive self government OF which it is our glorious and trust
immortal charter Let then, with redoa5ed vigilance
he on oar guard asans yielding the temptation o The cx
ec!se Of doubtful powers. under The pressure OF Inc
motives Of conceded Temporary advantage and apparent e
porary expediency ,,, -,
national unity and ocia action 10 our rela
tons with the rest of lhe world should afford The rule and
measure OF construction OF ou. powers unoer Inc genera
the sovereign rights and dignity OF eVer7 atae fathe han
disDoson TO subordinate the States into provincial rela
ton 10 the central authority should characterize all our ex
ercise of the respective powers temporarily vested In US
sacred trust from the generous commence OF our cohsu
ents.
| INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Our government exsts wrlttea compact between
sovereign States uniting for spechc obects and with spe
cc grants 10 seir general agent II then in The progress
CT ito administration there have been departures from the
and intent OF the compact is and Will ever be- pro-
per 10 refer back fixed standard which fathers left
| Qe,
II would that the fact OF principle ha?ing been re-
sisted from The frat by many Of n: wses and most pat
oc of the republic and policy having PROVOKED con
aant s,rile without arriving conclusion which can be
regarded satisfactory 10 lis most earnest advocates
should sugges, inazy whether there may not be plan
likely crowned by happier results Without percei7lnR
any sound Distinction intending 10 assert any principle
as opposed improvements needed for The protection oil In
ternal commercs which does no. equally apply to improve
meIce submit you whether 1t may not be safely antic
paed That the policy settled aganat appropria
lions by the genera government for local improvements for
The bene, Of commerce, localities requiring expenditures
would not by modes and clearly legitimate and
per- raise fund necessary for such construction as the
safety other interests of their commerce require
If that be regarded sYsen which, In the expert
of than thirty years. has at no time 30 comma nd
ed the public judgment give it the character of set
lied policy though has produced works OF
conceded importance has been attended with an eGpend
quite dspropolonate 10 their valuo-end has resulted
In soandcring large upon objects which have answer
ed no valuable interests OF all the States re-
quire abandoned unless hopes may be nduged Tor
the future which find no warrant, in the past
With anxious desire for the completion oi the WORKS
which regarded by all good citizens VIII sincere interest
hav deemed my duty ask at your hands deliberate
reconsideration Of The question, with hope that animated
by desire TO promote the permanent and substantial inter-
Of the country your wisdom may prove equal 10 te
task Of devsng and maturing plan which applied 70 ms
subject may promise something better than constant STRIFE
the suspension Of powers Of local enterprise The eScit
Ing of vain hopes and tho disappointment OF cherished
! pectatons.
PACIFIC nAILenAp.
But whilst the embarassments already encountered, and
oes uhder new contingencies 10 oe eEicpaseo may serve
slrkingly exhibit the Importance of such work. neither
these nor all considerations combined can have On nPpe.
caoe value when weighed against the obligation strictly 10
adhere TO the constitution faithfully execute the powers
s coners Within this limit and TO The extent OF the interest
o the government involved, 1t would both expedient
and proper Il an economical and practicable route shall
be found 10 aid by all constitutional means in the con-
strucon OF road, which will unite, by speedy transit
the populations of the Pacific and Atlantic StAtce.-
To guard against misconcepion, should be retaarEcd
that, although the 10 construct aid In The
strucon Of road within the limits Of territory is
not embarrassed by that question Of jurisdiction which
would arise within the limits Of State, 1t ls never
,heess held 10 be Of doubtful power, and more than
doubtful pfopriety within the limits of territory for
the general government 10 undertake administer The az
fairs OF rail road canal other similar construction
and therefore, that It's connexon with work Of this char
ac,er should be inc!den tal rather than primary will only
add present. that fully arpreeiaing The magnitude Of the
subject and socous that The Atlantic and Pacific shores
of tho republic may be bound together by ties
of common interest," as we'll of common ealty and
men, 10 the Union shall be disposed, so far my
lion is concerned follow the lights OF The constitution as
expounded and illustrated by those whose opinions and
positions constitute the standard OF my political faith in re.
gard the powers Of the fedora! government It's trust