Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-05-22

adopt, and not refer W d -.
preme Court as c%nlbodyinG it, which i thou
sandth part of our people never saw, nor WI.
ever read. There was too much hlySllc'su ~
that for me. But, in the next place, A'
Samucls, an able and ingenious man from LOW"
in one of his speeches told us that II Was un'
to candor 10 inform us that the Norm anu IL"
place the same construction on inc uccl',1I II
the bred Scott case that the South ulu. WY
then, shonld we have referred to it as cinhody,
inr one princjple when 4 majority OF the "ofi.
might be satisfied it promulgated no Sucl
thiDpy Gen. Jackson maintained the right o.
each department Of the Federal Government tc
%construe the Constitution for itself, and IL thus
be good doctrine I hold, a Jortiori,. that the
people, when properly organized, have the
same right. At all events, IL is better hal thcy
SHOULD announce their own principles ana no.
take them from others.
Moreover, how long are we to declare tllat
we will abide by all the decisions OF the SIT
preme Court? Mr.. Seward and his party may
rs soon as they obtain possession OF the 'of'
eminent, rc.organize that Court. and make us
members elective by the people, and thus ADO
~litionize it.
What Southern man would be willing to
| pledge himself TO sustain the decision OF an
Abolition Court upon the right Of property III
slaves? But | have another objection to the
resolution. which is, that il does not announcc
it as a duty of any department. OF Government
to protect the rights which it asserts. IT Is
useless to proclaim q right unless 1t be the duty
Of some power to protect II.
wonld that ! could end this communication
here; but there is another and important
question, about which our delegation was diTl'
ded at Charleston. Il similar resolution 10
that proposed at Cincinnati, in favor oil the "a
cifc Railroad, was proposed at Charleston. Al
| Cincinnati il was opposed by the unanimous
vote Of the Virginia delegation at Charleston
II ws. odopted by a vote Of eleven to four. |
was in the minority. | shall request the Sec
rotary to publish the vote with this communi-
cation, as the record Of our proceedings shows 1t
to have been. In order to comprehend lr!iy
the objection ! make 10 the resolution III laVor
of some bill. to the extent of the constitutional
authority Of Congress, for the construction on
Pacific Railroad from the Mississippi river to the
Pacific Ocean, at the earliest practicable mo-
ment, I desire 10 call your attention to resoIN'
ton which had been previously adopted as Il
plank in the platform, to which no Objection was
made, which is in these words: That tho De
m~ocratic party will faithfully abide by and up
hold the principles laid down in the Kentucky
and Virginia resolutions Of lGHS, and in the
report Of Mr.. Madison 10 the Virginia Lcgisls-
ture. in 1900: that it adopts those principles as
constituting one of the main foundations oil It's
political creed, and is resolved to carry them
out in their obvious meaning and import.
Now, | do not mean it shall be understood
that | am opposed to the construction Of 4
Railroad to the Pacific ocean from the MlSsIs
sippi river by Legitimate means. On the con-
trary, whenever private capitalists shall EN-
bark in that undertaking, (Which | believe will
become, ere long, exceedingly protitablc,) they
shall have all my sympathics, If nothing more,
But who, that ever read the resolutions OF Nir.
-inia and Kentucky Of l7GS. and the report OF
Mr.. Madison Of 1899, can dednce any c~onstitu-
tional power to construct such Il read 10y Con-
eress? Every word and every letter of these
resolutions and that report favor 4 strict con-
struction Of the Constitution Of the u. States.
One other plank in the platform is in these
words:
"That the Federal Government is one OF lim-
tied power, derived solely from the Constitn-
ton; and the grants OF power made therein
ought to be strictly construed by all tic de-
partments and agents of the government, and
tina. it is inexpedient and dangerous 10 exer'
else doubtful constitutional powers And an
other is this: ''Tbat the Constitution does not
confer upon the General Government the power
to commence and carry on a general system OF
internal improvements These are planks IN
the Cincinnati platform, and, with others, were
adopted in omnibus at Charleston.
After adopting those resolutions and that re-
port and those resolutions as planks i'll the
platform, | could not we'll discover how We
could adopt 4 resolution in favor Of the con-
s~truction Of the Pacific Railroad hy Congress
But I may be told that the Democracy only
pledged themselves TO use every means III their
power to secure the passage OF some bill, 20 me
extent Of lie constitutional authority 81 I'm.
gre&s, for the construction of Pacific Railroad
from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean
Will any gentleman who voted for that reSo-
luton. tell me that he does not thereby mean
to affirm that Congress possesses some conS;''
t~utional power 10 pass 4 bill for the conStruc-
ton of the Pacific Railroad? If such an one
shall be found, my reply must be hat he has
deceived himself. ,
Having now, rs briefly as could. assigned
some of the reasons, Sufficient in themselves
to me- for retiring from the National Conven,
ton, and my objections to the platform adopted
by the Convention, let me briefly suggest some
remedy, although it may not be entirely elH'
c%acious, for the lettering Of the present con-
dition Of our party.
Although ! connected myself with The Con-
stitutional Convention, it was in no dtSun'on
spirit, nor do I believe that any ofthe delegations.
who seeded from the National Convention, had
any purpose to foster such q spirit.
But, whilst | am in favor Of the ConStlLr'-
tional Union, | would not, if could, be like
the King Of tic Bisattn, (who put out the eyes
of his six sons for following the Persians, when
marching against Greece o~strac:sc and tie
pounce every man who differs from me in
opinion. -.
The Constitutional Convention adopted this
resolution:
"Resolved, That the Democratic party OF
tho United States, who arc in favor OF the prin'
ciples recommended by the majority report in
the Charleston Convention, be invited to scnd
delegates TO a Convention to be held in Rich
mond on the second Monday in June. and that
the basis of representation shall be the same
as that upon which the States have been repre-
sented in the Charleston Convention"
The question arises, what shall we Democrats
of Vjreinia 10. under these circumstances
I believe it to he orr duty to accept Of the
invitation. If accepted. the party may be
brought into harmony again. If rejected, a
division will be created in Our ranks that time
cannot heal nor, in my opinion, il Virginia
rebufIs the cotton States now, will they ever
seek her counsel again. \ high compliment
is paid her by calling the Convention in her
metropolis, and the Inequalities and courtesies
of the State cannot be denied them. They are
n bravo and generous people, identified with
us by climate, productions and institutions,
and we cannot cast them off as aliens and
strangers.
How shall we prepare Ia meet them in Con
~vention? l will suggest that Conventions be
held Immediately in every electoral district to
appoint two delegates. INSTRUCTED As TO TIFF
pItTropu, to meet in Richmond on the second
Monday in June. If District Conventions can
not be held in time, let county meetings be
held throughout the State, at which two dele,
gates shall be named, and il it shall so happen
= 4 Il 49, - ,al,,En I- ri Oh