Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-03-03
.M4SSACHUSEr IT'S LEGISLATURE.
Debate on the Amendment to the Constitution.
In SENArE.-WEDNEsDAr, Feb. |.


the Amendment being read from the
chair, and no gentleman rising to speak
on the subject,
Mr.. PicSman requested the mover of
the resolution to state to the Senate his
reasons in favor of it.
To which MIR. Bidwell replied. Mr.,
President, Having had the honor of NOV.
ing the resolution, which is now before
the Senate, feel myself called upon by
/ the honorable gentleman from Essex to
assign the reasons, which induced me TO
make the molion.--They consist ofobiec-
'ions TO the present constitutional mode OF
electing the President and Vice President
OF the United States, and consideration
OF the superior advantages of that, which
Is contained in The amendment proposed
by the constitutional maloritics of both
houses of Congress.
Before we attend, however,, to the COM
parative merits of the two modes of cleo
uon' 1t will be proper to pay a moments
attention 70 the aubiecl of amending the
Constitution generally. For the propriety
to oil making any amendment whatever
has been denied on general grounds.
II IS easy, Sir, for the cfposcrs Of a par
ucular amendment TO call it an attack up
on the Constitution, TO declaim against in
noVation, and excite an alarm and appre-
henS'on OF danger from any alteration in
that national instrument, which, il is con-
tended, ought to be held sacred and inyi-
o'a'e' Such grounds Of opposition have
been resorted to against the amendment
TOW proposed. Let us examine their
solidity.
II Is readily admitted that Constitu-
ton is the commission from the people to
their constituted agents. 1t is The autho-
rity, under which the Legislative, executive
and judicial departments of governIoens
ACT, and by which, Of course, their respec-
tive acts must be limited and tested. So
long as any constitutional provision re-
mains, 1t rs 10 be inviolably observed, as
the supreme law OF the land. But, altho'
supreme and paramount, while it CONT
hues IN force, it is not. for that reason.
Ike the laws of the Modes and Persians,
uneiiera5ie' On the contrary, il is. in its
very naIure, liable to be altered and re-
peaied.--i This IS sn essential principle Of
Republican government; and has been
successfully adopted in practice by the Sc
yeral states, and by the United States.
The present federal Constitution is itself
sn amendment Of The first Constitution Of
me Union. The Improvement was in
decd so radical and general, that II nav
perhaps be properly called renovation
o. the articles Of Confederation. The
nth article of this amended system re-
cognises the Imp"Hant principle offurther
amendinent' and makes wise provision
tor carving it into effect. SO part oftbc
Constitution discovers move KNOWLEDGE of
civil society or more acouaintance with
human nature. The convention were
sensible chat II was impossible Cor any bu-
man intellect to foresee the precise opera.
ton az any part IS so complex system.
Fracuce united oFcourse, to point ont de-
lects and errors, and amendments became
necessary, tn cCrreft such errors. and e,,p-
ply snch detects. Tie circumstances, the
wants and wishes of the nation mipht also
change, andrequire spending chances
IN the Constitution. For Government.
IN order to render the people governed by
IT happy, ought to be adapted to their de-.
lIberate choice The process Of amend
ment provided for this purpose furnishes
happy medium between the extremes OF
innovation and insfability,on the one hand.
and obstinate perseverance IN discovered
errors and Inconvenience, on The other.
This was considered SO valuable aud ne
cessary part of the Constellation, NJ the
time OF ITS adoption, that it would not have
been adopted WithOutii, II was the turn
ine po'ut IN the Convention of this Conn
monwealth. The question was whether
amendments should be made a condition
OF the adoption. or BE lett to the good
sense OF the nation, TO be introduced. in
the constitutional manner, as experience
and sober reflection might dircEl. from
lime to time. whenever two thirds ofbofb
II uses OF Congress, and three fourtbs Of
The state legislatures should think neces-
sary OF proper ~ this peaceful manner,
eleven amendments have already been adj
ded two or three soon after the govern
nent went into operation; and the elc-
vcnth' respecting the STABILITY of the
states. at subsequent period, on the mo-
ton ofthis Commonwealth, when an eyent
had occurred TO show las propriety. So
| tha the Constitution, as ia now stand. -
/ system OF progressive au,or. Uncut.