Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-01-12
CONGRESS-
OF THE
UNITED STA ES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
October %, 1908.
Debate on the Amsndmenttot the Constitution.
coNTINUEn.
mi. Hu9er,s sbeech Continued. J

which appear to me peculiarly worthy OF
attention. 1.-THE one tMr. Clopton9 has
presented to US aview ofthe subject, which,
although by no means think the correct
one, is evidently that, in which most OF the
gentlemen in this house have regarded 1T,
and in whichpersons out Of doores are Tor
the most part wont to consider this, and IN
deed every other constitutional question.
have listened to him however with great
pleasure, and from the ingenuity and lnfor-
nation which pervaded such OF his argu--
ments, as could fully comprehend, | feel
much regret that the utmost attention on
my part lowing partly tothe teebleness OF
his voice, and partly to the untavorable ST.
tuation of his seat did not enable me al
WAYS to connect his ideas and arguments,
and perfectly to understand him. This
gentleman seems, for the moment, to have
forgotten that the government, under which
we live, is formed upon federative no less
than upon rep.bkcanPrneiPles, and though
wishing to introduce an important altera-
ton in our national compact, puts the COM,
pact itself, the spirit with which twas form
ed, the vital principles upon which it was
established, entirely out of the question.
He takes an abstract view of the subject
as if it had no connection whatever with
other parts and principles of the compact,
carries us back to . state of nature, and
seems to regard 1t as aradical error in the
constitutional that the provisions and mo-
di6cations it contains, are not solely found
. ed upon the broad basis of population and
numbers. He talks to us OF the rights of
man in state of nature--of the origin OF
the social compact-of the foundation up
on which all governments ought to be form
ed, viz. the will of the people-and draw
ing his Inference from these pure, unnaixed
and abstrac principles and theories, thinks,
whilst he shews us what whould be the most
eligible mode of providing for the Execu-
tive branches OF government, about to be
formed for the first time into political ex-
istence-he proves triumphantly and an
answeeably, that such too ought to be the
naoas adopted by q union like ours, COM
posed of SO many distinct and independent
sovereignties of so old date, and having
such various, distinct and complicated views
misunderstood am not finding FAULT
with, or condemning in the abstract, the
principles laid down by the honorable
member, Still less would be understood
to deny that the constitution has been form
ed upon the broad basis of the public good,
and the will of the people of the spective
states, we'll know (and ii is for that very
reason [ feel SO sincere an attachment to it)
that the federal compact is founded upon
liberal and g .nuine republican principle
but let not gentlemen IN the mean time for
getthat the government under which we
live is OF a tederate nature, and that these
general, unmixed aud abstract principles,
upon which We are called on exclusively to
act, were then modified and practically ap-
piled to the wants, prejudlces and cIsShng
interests Of a numerous and increasing po-
pulation, divided into number OF distinct
sovereignties, spread over vast extent Of
country, by that very compact in which 1t
is now proposed to make SO material and
essential ain alteration. This is the true
point ofview in which the subject should
be taken up and | am happy in finding
the ideaot the igentleman's colleague, to
whomI before alluded (Mr. J. Randolph
accord SO perfectly with nay own in the
present instance, and that he too is of CPL
mon that this is the true and proper point
OF view III which, not only the present, but
every other proposition to alter or amend
the federal compact, should invariably be
considered, | say, sir, am truly happy to
recoIlect that Ithe sentiments sof that gen
demand and my own accord soperfectly on
this part ofthe subject, for exclusive oftlie
advantage which the weight ofhis authority
must afford to my argument, am free to