Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-04-24
&C ONGREss1S
OF THE
UNITED STATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, December 8.
Debate on the AMENDMENT to the CON
STITLTTION.
THURSDAY, December 8.
(1Nr. Taggart's speech coninuea.

son which as it IS point OF dellcacy to
fnlention, previously declare that consl-
der it as having reference to no individual
only myself. | make no doubt but every
gentleman on. this floor, can reconcile the
: part he takes in this business, with theut-
most purity of intention. But SO far as it
respects myself the consideration OF taking
solemn oath to support the constitution of
the United States is of considerable weight.
/ cannos see how could act consistently
in taking such an oath to-day; and endea-
vouring to introduce an alteration in oneof
its most important principles and provlsi-
IONS tomorrow.
1t further appears to me, that should at
teratons In our national compact become
really necessary, this house, or even both
houses of Congress, are the most improper
of all places TO originate them. That the
Senate and House ofRepresentatives have
"a Jointly, constitutional right to originate
amendments, is point not to be contest
ed. But in allusion to remark which,
upon another occasion, fell from gentle
man, who occupies conspicuous station
upon the floor of this house, that there
were certain provisions or powers in the
constitution, which Congress never had
exercised, and which probably there
would be no occasion to exercise, and
which he hoped never would be exercised,
am free to declare it as my opinion the
power of originating amendments to the
constitution, ought to be the last OF al con-
stitutional powers to be put in practice. If
any thing in the world approaches to a
solecism in practice, it is legislative be.
dy engaged in charging, altering, vary
ing, or narrowing the sphere'ot their own
powers.
further observe, that, after hearing
this subject discussed largely in this house,
when it was first under consideration, and
occasionally attending debates in the Sc
nate, after patiently attending to the dis
cussions on the different arrangements, adj
iustments, and notifications of the pro-
posed amendment, which as ali resensi-
BILE, has proved subject of no small diff
Guilty; could not but feel a degree of sur.
prize to find that, IN the course Of such a
lengthy discussion, rot so much as one So
litary argument should be advanced in SUPP
port of the general principle Of the resolu-
ton. Itseemed TO me as if the Importance
of the designating principle was in the view
of its advocates, one of those self-evident
propositions, which were in themselves so
plain as to be incapable of any: illustrations
by proofs. am free to confess that am
not possessedof that intuitive knowledge,
which enable me to discover either the im-,
portance or correctness OF the principle.
Before can vote for It'll must have some
sound convincing argument in It's favor.
Its true, some attempts of this kind
have been made in an advanced stage of
the discussion, first by a gentleman from
Virginia, afterwards by5a gentleman from
Pennsylvania, and lastly by another gentle
man from Tennessee. But when ] reflect
upon the acknowledged talents Of these
gentlemen, cannot but be affected with
some degree of surprise that a measure of
SO muchsimportance should be prosecuted
with such adegree of.zeal while Supported
with such superficial arguments. My de-
sign is merely to state my own reasons for
voting against the resolution, and not to
answer arguments in favor Of it. shall
only briefly mention one which appears to
be principally relied on, viz. that it is the
voice or will of the people. / know not OF
a more equivocal phrase IN the English
language than thlss g the voice or will OF
the people. Gentlemen presume will
not assert that the voice of the multitude
but too Frequently formed upon sudden
impulse, and everauctuating whichis one
thing to-day and another tomorrow;
changing many times by the breath of some