Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-04-10
Il

v n nvArnfnQnII ~ Cha
i. under the technical title. State rights-in con
trad stiuc,ion to consolidating end.pcles-there have
ben comparatively few even OF the ablest and most
learned leaders Of the opposition, who have ever ap'
n-.red 10 apprehend or appreciate the delicate ou'
distinctive ds!ines,ions of difference between federal
and State sovereignty. And it is ATTRIBUTABLE lmoe'
ol;,e,y to this fact, that the Democratic party nae
ban so necessarily assailed upon points involving To-
cues arising from this discrepancy OF DISQUALIFICATION
b..ween it aud it's opponents, that the strongest ano
pares, principles Of Democracy, wuicn are ~ '"e
body polite as the lungs or heart 10 the hu"oo eys'
lem, are jssred at as ~impotent and nnmeon'hg' 'nat
III. resolutions of 80 end 80 are referred 10 as empty
o,tsnta,ioo, and the ennooEng evidences OF ioffy
so,o, and undertaking devotion to principles On the
~. Of the Old Dominion, are laughed at BY the op'
position a. Virginia distractions!
II tLs teachings of the Democratic party are ao'
..-a.,ions, they answer wonderfully well in Practice
Where the will Of the people 10 the Law OF tho iano'
,,--s mus, be inAexible rales Of regulation, prevI'
o,sIv nrsscribed boundaries, within which legislation
mus, b. sxsrcised-in other words a ,oriHca e~oast,tu.
tom, TO control the caprioes and passions OF the popu'
loo. and defeat the designs of demagogues. Amea-
.ot NAV b. plausible aud even proper per &c, busifit
"a IN VIOLATION o. pIiuOttAo, ~
~ ,esdful legislation, as laid down by the founders
rs the government, and comes in conflict WIZ the
nardin.l. laws-,hs onsti,u;ion-aowever 1t may aP-
n-a, 20 our prejudices, our symPs'hieo or ouE inter-
...s. i. is still an innovation upon our poiity, and
-y,.b. -epudia'ed a, a prcccGem: dangerous 10 the Tn.
,.,..,,of o.- ,.sti.u.ions. What may be beneficial
70 the ns;iv1 to-day, nay be ban=fal in its Influences
=, morrow. Tha, which would be ernirently advi-
.,:.s and advantageous for an hour, If contrary to
che Constitution, might cpsn a breach for the entrance
% q e, CT evil. Violations of such asys'em as ourr
nsss serious inroads upon lis torn OF existence, a.
:--,yuiar!tie. of habi: and sbuses Of health, impair
N. strength aud shorten the d.ys OF tho otou;est
rneu.
InGict q deep wound upon d vital organ Of The hu.
man Frame and ins,an, death is almost sure 10 ensue;
and so with the Governmen. OF the United States;
destroy the action of ono Of it's essential elensnts,
and you give a death blow to the republic.
E:pedieacy is one thing. principle another. A ma
;,on.. bank might have it's advautagesi but because
:; m,sa. even have afforded a more uniform, sound or
es,; sssctory currency, would i, have been in accor-
l,,ce with the constitution. Nth the ultimate inter.
ests 0. the nation or the genius o: the government
Indiscrimiu.te Internal improvements by the gene
rel government might in many instances materially
improve the advantages Of Numerous parts and par.
GELS of the country; but would It be well, even II
every individual in the Union could DO seusibly ben.
eS.ed by il, for the constitution to be disregarGed.
and the trusts of the States sbused1 Admit that q
Distribution of the proceeds Of the public lands
would accomplish all that is promised by the opposi-
ZION, would il Go ,afe-to say nothing of a breach Of
faith for the compact between the States to BIZ bro.
lsa 60 boldly, openly and ominou'ly, for the pur-
pose Of furnishing a fund for the completion OF oar
railroads, sod diminuticn of our taxesr
,s,iun caters arc said to be visited with ~ravishing
y;.;,,s OF all that 10 bright and beautiful In their de.
.izhtf.. Dreams and luxurious reveries; but 10 opium
eating no v~ioistion Of the organic law OF mans moral
and onysiosl nature; and is he.who il. addicted to the
hs5,t, no, undermining his own existence hourly'
The functions Of the Federal Government. must
no. be ob.tructed by the States, aud the sovereignty
Of me sevs-sl States must rot be encroach5d upon
by ~. usurpstion Of power by the General Govern
,nsn:. Esch State. il its s?.-re, ID separate and die
.;uc, fror. every other. and individually a.! are equally
apsr; from the province Of their federal agent.
"a va have said, the dividing line between the
duties aud rights of the Federal Government and the
Safes. is dslica,ely bet distinctly drawn. TIE policy
OF the Democratic party hes ever been based upon
q, observance of the Constitution in its ~strlctes.
syas.. and has. consequently, contormed to The work
ing Of The Government. its bslsnoes and counter.
Distances, G. they wore originally adjusted and inten-
dsa by tbs authors and architects of Tho Republic
The opponents of Democracy, on the contrary, have,
IN every instance, advocated measures calculated to
o5l::srn,s the boundary lines between the Federal
Government and the S,ates, and to conoede to the
.e-ne. the sovereign rights Of the latter.
Every Democratic country must be more or less
Inclined to extreme .epublican!,n, and the difficulty
in al sy.:ems Of oeliSovernment, is to determine
ayon the golden wsas between too much and too lit.
lie liberty. II :as people are to DO allowed a full
and irse exercise Of the elective franchise, in every
.hiag belonging to the conduct OF the government
end control Of the country, there must CO restraints
upon the influences Of error, poises and countes polses
;nrsughou, the body.politic, from the lowest and ieast
lucrative, to the most existed, rempnerative, and re.
,?onsibie positions.
Tbs fathers Of this confederscy .sem almost to
have been inspired with more than mortal wisdom;
fo:, wi,hou. the aid of an archetype, they formed
ert fouaded a government embracing all the excel
rsne.s er The furtherance Of the Interests aud promo
ION o: the happiness Of man, individually and COL
!,c.ive:y, with as few Of the imperfections incident
20 society, as i. IL possible to incorporate into the a.
.oy of human Institutions. Popular sovereignty Is
he essence, State Rights the conservator and safe
gaard o. Q eopfederssed republic. Tho one, under
:so Influence of soeisi chsrlktans and political trick.
,:.rs, i. liable to be exercised to q dangerous degree.
The other 10 the bulk to break it's force when
perverted in Ito purposes. The centrifugal and cen
t.ipe.sl tendencies Of our system Of government. are
thu. made 10 act, and react upon each other. through
ms MEDIUM Of the people, so that the dangers ofre.
puyi.cani.m are coun,ervailed and controlled by i;s
owG intrinsic adaptation of elements.
CRAWFORD. THE sCULpTOR-HlS EQUES-
TRAN STATUE OF WASHINGTON.
We havs : ,=;--d a private letter from Paris. dated