Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-04
For the Enquirer.
LETTER Y.

The Constitution has made provision Cor holding
foreign territory still less for Incorporating foreign nations
Into our cnion-l Le6ercf NJ Jgsr.o" 10 Jngt Brecf
tprid0e
Ourpecu.r security /, in the possession Of written Con-
s,tu.ionl, no; make /; blank paper by coSsTrrc-
roS ihink Important In the present case, 10 set an
example AGAINST BROAD CONSTRUCTIONS APPEALING FOR
POWER To Tms PEOPLE, Letter Of Mr.. ..1tr-on 10
Wils0r T. Sitholds.
FfBErAnY 2lst, 1859.
Messrs Editors-Allow me once more to re.
fer to the opinions Of Mr. Jefferson, bearing
directly on the schemes afoat for the acqusi
ton Of Cuba which so largely engross the
public mind Of both America and Europe !,
is not that the authority of the greatest Of
American statesmen is necessary to prove the
proposition have affirmed: on this point the
Constitution needs no interpreter runs
may read :" bnt the world bows to the authority
Of mighty names. and il is lawful to Use them
in the cause of truth. How often are they mis-
used to uphold error and injustice! The adj
vocateS of the very abuse against which raise
nv humble voice, have rested their defence
mainly on the example. grossly misunderstood
or perverted, Of Mr.. Jefferson bat they forgot
to tell US, that he himself pronounced his own
measure unauthorized, though extorted, as he
conceived, by overriding necessity. AMI recon-
mcndcd an additional article to the Constitu
ton, to "sct an example against broad con-
struction." Not hint Of all this is 10 be found
in the labored vindication attempted by the
Senatc's Committee of their bill to facilitate
the acquisition Of Cuba But zee, the people,
will remember what they remembered to for
get, and again and again repeat The CON
situation ha' made No PROVISION for err hoM-
ing foreign territory: STILL LESS for neor
poIatiHg foreign nations into our onion"
And now, with this unrcfuted and irrcfutable
truth staring them in the face, without even
yenturing to affirm their own belief in the
constitutonalty Of their plan, they still press
on to it's consummatlon.
Can these thins,h.
And ike summers cloud *i;hou, special
wonder ::
Are we not readily to ask, is the constitution
buried with the generation who framed it?
II is now just seventy-two years since its
corner stone was laid by the Fathers of tho Re-
public. On the recommendation Of tho Old
Congress then adopted. there assembled in the
CITY of Philadelphia, body Of men as wise
and rs pure rs ever appeared in any age or
country. There were Franklin. and Madison,
and Hamilton. AZ their head sat WASHINGTON
tomorrow sun will rise on the anniversary
of his birth-a day scarcely less memorable or
momcntous than that which raised The Old
Thirteen to the rank Of independent States, or
that which consummatcd their Cnon;-for it is
the natal day of Him whose right arm chiefly
contributed to achieve that independence, and
whose last brcathinss were prayers to Heaven
for the pcrpctuity of that Union. We shall
hail the dav with every demonstration ofjoy-
with civic and military honors; in word with
rites and ceremonies all but idolatrous-many,
many. with affected rcvercnce-too many with
mere outward show and mouth honor" who
when it is over. will turn aside to mar the
work of his hands. and prove by deeds. more
strong than words, how little they respect his
preccpts, or strive to initiate his virtues.
1t was after months of anxious and cautious
delibcration that Washington and his co-labo-
rers finished work designed to form Union
more perfect than could Be hoped for ander tho
Confederation; and to secure to thenselrss and