Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-04
pnsT OFFICE.

IuI.I .tIf
n,'JrJ rrG ;ytvripht thousand three hundred am
tuv-twu dollars. and the gross receipts sc'c' ''.
ion three hundred ana forty-lwo thouHa'iu ono '".
bred and thrty-six dollars, niikIiIS IN e"ce' -.
! n,uh,Ir. over receipts of two million SIX huiiu''
md ,wcnty-sx thousand two hundred ana six h''ii"
and that the cost Of mail transportation curing lmn
wear was six hundred and seventy-iour tioustIu hl
hundred aud i'tytwo dollars greater tha'i ',,e ~ .
v,nus y.nr Much of the heavy expenditures, u
which the Treasury is thus subjected, Is Ia DE- a'cTio
10 the large quantity ui printed matter conveyed ~
the m;s either ranked, or liable to no p"s'a%e u
law or TO very low rates "t postage r"'hl'"'ed WI;
Thai charged on letters; and tn ,hr great cost o ma
service on railroads anil by ocean steamers. "
suggestions Of the Postmaster General on the subjec
deserve the consideration nj Congress.
INTERIOR.
Tho ronor. nf the Secretary of the Interior will ell
.orc your attention, well for useful Suggestions
contains ~ for the interest and Importance oil the SUB
j.rts to which they refer
The sygrcrate amount of public land sold durn!
be Iat fiscal year. located with military scrip or liant
ynrruuts taken up under grants for ruas nnd select
ed rs swamp lands by States, Is twehty-fuur ini"i
liz. numbered aud ity-scven thousand four hundred
and nine acres of which the portion sold was iliteel
n;Iiinn seven hundred aud twcnty-nne thousand hv'
. hundred and twcnv-Cuur acres, yielding III receipts
the sum of eleven million four hundred ana eiShty
five thousand three hundred ana righty ho!arS. IL
the same period OF time, c'ht in"n sven u "a,
and weuty-three thousand eight hundred ana MY
Gur ocr.s have been surveyed; but IN consideration
of the quantity already subject to entry no "ddi'ioa
tract. have been broug Int into market.
The u,culiar rrintou of the general government
70 The District of Columbia renders it proper 10 com
u.rJ tn your care not only its material, but also IL
moral interests including education, more esltca',
in those uarls of the district outside oi the citcS
Washington and Gsorgetown' rc
The commissioners appoInteu 10 REVISE ai'n 'o'''.!
the laws of the District have made sucl progress II
tbp performance Of their task, rs 10 insure us com
plron in the time prescribed by The act oi congress
Information has recently been recciEo"' tia' '"'
in In lT
| md WASHINGTON IL disturbrd by hnSt:es on III.
mart of the Indians, with Indications OF tAtehsN'
combinations Of hostile character among '' 'r!ue'
in that quarter, the more serious III tscir Posa'c u
Gct Inv reason of the undetermined foreign Interests
.,s,in in those Territories. 10 winch your attention
bus already been especially invited. Eih"I"nt men
surps have been TAKEN which, II IL bellrF"', VIII re-
store quiet, and afford protection to our citl|e''s'
| I'm the Territory of Kansas, there have been ac'S
prciudicia To good order, but yet none have o.
Cured under circumstances to justify the incipos
tion of the f.Ierrl Executive. That cOnl'l only be III
case of obstruction Ia federal law, or oil organized
resist anc territorial law assuming the character I"
insurrecton which, if il should occur il would he my
| duty promptly To overcome and suppress. CHERISH
| the hope however, that the occurrence oi any suc
untow ard event will be prevented by the sound scir"
of the people of the Territory, wis" by lis organic
law possessing the right to determine their own IL"
ra--tc institutions, are entitled, while dcporsliI
| themselves peacefully, I" the free eXcr"sc al thai
right, mud must lie protected III the enjoyment oi IT,
without interference an the part OF tn" cIlz.na q" any
! oiAlhc States.
| The southern boundary line al ths Territory has
never been surveyed and established. The rapidly.
extending settlements in that region and the fact
| that the main route between independence. III ~"
State of Missouri, and New Mexico, is contiguous Ia
this liH- suggest the probability that embarrassing
questions of jurisdiction may consequently arise
! For these ami other considerations, commend the
! subject Your early attention.
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
7 Il fIta ..F
! the Union, Including particular concerns of the
| federal governments whether Of domestic or foreign
relation it appeared Ia me desirable nni useful Ia
bring 10 the sprrnl notice OF Congress. Unlike the
great states al Europe Gnd ASIA, and many OF th"-"
of America, these United States wasting their
strength neither in foreign war nor domestic strife
Whatever of disrontrnt public dissatisfaction exists,
is attributable 10 the inperiecons Of human nature,
or IL incident all governments however perfect,
which hCT.AE wisdom can devise. Such subjects oil
political agitation, rs occupy the public mind con-
si-t great extent, ot cxaggeration al inevitable
evils or over zeal in social improvements or mere
Imagination "l glrrvnmc", hRvin- but remote connc1-
ion with any Of the constitutional functions or du-
Ties nj the federal government. To whatever extent
these Questions exhibit a tendency mennclnS tn the
stability of the constitution or the integrity 81 me
Union and no farther. they demand the consideration
of tho Executive. aud require to be presented by hun
To Congress.
}.for. the Thirteen Colonies became Il conteierG.
;ou OF independent States they were associated only
by community OF transatlantic orIgnby geographical
u,,,jtjO, and Uy III" mutual lie Ot common Deepen
,I.nr. ~, Great Britain When that tie sunLcr-
ed they s.vcrhy assumed the powers and rights
Of absolute sclt-gnvcrmmcnt. The municipal aud So
cial institutions Of each, lis laws of property and Of
p,ran:al relation, even liz political organization, were
such only each choose ~ establish, wholly
without interference from any other. In the language
of the Declaration OF Independence, each State had
u!l power to- levy conclude peace, contract nj
liar,s establish commerce, md 10 do all other acts
i,ip,,I vilI iI,,.n ll,.nS
The several colonies differed III c!inn, III sol, III
natural productions, in religion, in systems nt "dura-
un in egislatio, and in the i"rIns oi political nd
,ninis,ratinu and they continued Ia cr IN these re-
speas when they voluntarily alcd themselves M
State, 10 carry un tie ul the revolution.
The object Of at war was Ia dsenthral the l hItod
Colonies from foreign rule. which hal proved I" be
oppressive and separate them permanently from
h. mother country the political result was The un-
dat;Un nj federal republic OF the free white incn al
the colonies constituted M they were IN distinct and
rcr:,rocaliy independent STATE governments a. TOR
the subject races whether Indian ar Alr!ca the wise
and brave statesmen Of that day. being engaged III II"
extravagant scheme III social cnIGr. i"ti ;h"in ;ls
they were and thus preserved themselves ana t!c.r
uosierity from the anarchy. and the eyer recurring
civil wars, which have prevailed III other r"'oiu'
tiouiZed European colonies of America.
When the cu;:tc"rrGt"d states found convenient
Ia modify the conditions u their association, by Gl"-
in !Ec general government Grect acce-H III some
respects the people OF the States, instead oi cnA
ming il to action IN the States suc!, they proceed
I'll Ia frame the existing constitution aicriiG straC
Is to one tnidng Thought, which was, 10 d"iegn'n
only such power IL was necessary ana proper 90 lhe
execution ut specific PURPOSES i'll other words, to
retain o. much ~ possible, consistently with those
PURPOSES of the independent powers" III" Individual
States For ol ecs III common defence ana Srrurty
they in!ruSicd tn the general government certain
carefully defined functions, leaving a" others ~ Tie
uiielc,atrd rights OF the separate independent SOW
crrlEntIes.
such ia the constitutional theory ofour government
the practical observance Of which has carfri 49, ana
liz alone, among modern republics, through nearly
three generations Of time without the cost OF one
drop of blood shed III civil war. Win freedom ALL
concert oi action, il has enabled Ia To contrnd sue
cessuy the bat:lci field against foreign i"s has
elevated the feeble colonies into powerful States, ana
has raised our industrial productions, nud our com
merce which trhnsp them, To- The level al me
richest and the greatest nations IF Europe Ana me
admirable adaptation nt orr pusii.cal llStu"hH ~
their ohj"cts, combining l"cal sell government WIN
u,rrr"ur strength he's established the prac.cahiity
of II government like ours To cover continent WIKI
confederate States.
The Congress Of the United States is effect, that
congress of sovsrgntirs which good men III the Old
E;orIj lnve sauch, for hut coud attain, and
which mparts Ia America mn exemption from Tie mu'
table lca.ues for common action, rom me "'-' i"e
mutual HvaslonS nnG vague aspirations H!Irr 'n' On
lance f bower which use from time tp I'm: e
! governments o! Europe. Our cooperative action
rests in the conditions OF lrrInnlcn' confederation
nr srlib.d by the constitutions Ourbaan"a "i power
is il the separate reserved rights ct the states ana
their equal representation ir the Scnat" That indie
pendent sovereignty ia every one OF the States vain
lis reserved rhtS # local scl-@overHnrnt assured To
each by their corG tia power in the Senate, the
fundamental condition OF The constitution. Without
il the Union would never have existed. However de-
siruus the larger States might be To re-orsanzc the
government go give to ihelrpnpuat'n rs proper.
| nnatc weight in the common counseS, they .nrw 1t
was impossible, unless they conceded to the smaller
ones authority 10 rxrr>is" mt least negative niu.
encc u all the uca-Urcs nf the government, whether
Legislative or stive through their en! represent
taton in the SENATE Indeed the larger Snt, them
.rvcscDnd no: hive failed To perceive that the same
nnwcr wns rnnaY neaessarv - hcIn, Tor The SECURITY