Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-03-10
CONGRESS
OF THE
INVITED STATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
Thursday Dec, $.
De5ats on The Amaadlneatt0tI's l-s'ss''ss'o IN
Ccontnued.)
6Gntinuea)

eolnt;on came from the Senate to this mouse,
i was not nv intention 70 have spoken on
the subject. 1 had determined TO vote IN
favor Of it.and let thelneasure itself JUS
tify.mv conduct in SO doing. Hut 50 mucn
has been said, on this fioor, with regard
10 the interests of small and large states
and the effect which it's insisted TINS rsso-
lution,wiu have on the rights OF the former,
that / conceive If my duty, having the no
nor to represent, Gin part) one OF those
small states, 10 state some OF the reasons
that induce me to vote for the resolution,
and to be Of opinion, that its adoption Will
not. in the manner contend tor infringe the
rights of the small states, or dlmlnlsh thelr
relative weight in the general government.
I am. sir, of opinion, that our government
was formed by the people Of the, United
States. IN their capacity as such, by their
Immediate representatives In the general
convention in their state capacities. he
words Of the constitution are eve the
reoole of the United States, IN order to
form more perfect union, &C." and not
we the United States in our state capacity,
which / presume would have beenthe Ian
cuaee- used, had the trainers OF the constr,
tuition intended to have formed govern
ment for the states united in Interstate ca
pacities--and though the state interests as
such are regarded in our government, and
their sovereignties represented, whereby
it may be considered as partaklng III some
degree of the fcderative principle, yet this
win not prove our constitution to be con-
federation of states, in the extent contend
ed for In their state caPaclues; but only
shews that the trainers OF the constitution
intended by thus regarding the state rights
and sovereignties as such to quality and
limit the operations of the general govern
Imept, with regard to the several state 60
vernments, and their respective interests
and rights. The laws that are made by
the general governmentare binding on the
people of thu United States at large and
not on the state governments Tor though
the state governments are limited by, and
bound not to violate the constitution OF
the United States, vet they certainly can
not be controlled, or in any manner bound
| by the legislative acts Of the government.
This | conceive shews, IN very strong
manner, that the union is not a mere con-
federation, of states. And considering the
subject in this view, will not tend to produce
a consolidationsof the general government
being felt by the people, only IN their lndi-
yidual capacities, the state governments
will not be affected thereby SO as to infringe
their powers, or endanger their indepen-
dence; provided the general government
in exercising It's legislative powers. keep
within those bounds prescribedto thy the
constitution and does not assume the right
of legislating on subjects that properly be-
long to, and recognizable iby the respec-
tive state governments wiNhere observe
that the object Of every free government,
| IS TO laydow a rule of conduct for the peo-
ple who live under it, bythe observance of
which, their general welfare and happiness
NAV be promoted. Whenever, therefore,
the intentions ofshe people in framing their
government, can be ascertained, | conceive
il the duty OF those who administer the GO
vernment, to pursue those intentions as
nearly as possible. / have always consi-
dered it TO be the intentions of the trainers,
of the constitution, and the true spirit OF
| that instrument, that the chief magistrate
Shall be chosen by the people, through
their electors. and not by the states repre-
sented in this house, and that the provision
for electing the president, By the house OF
Representatives In case no election should
besmade by the electors, was intended to
guard against an event that might happen
whichii unprovided for, would stop- the
operations of government; and not as a
mode Of election that was desired BY any
narfior of the union, or conten1plated to be