Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-01-31
NsGRES S
OF THE
u N ITE D. S T A r E IS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
TUESDAY, January, g..
DEBATE. .,a,i ri.
On rsesaing etc Di't':csef cata@tia.i
-.. v..IJ "
(Cartinued)

tleRcn had lett the e0nStltutlo02ltv u VIC
proposed measure out of the queseton, hs
was not satisfied any more on that point
than he was of its expediepey: The con.
s,itution was to MIN the polar star by which
his course through the sea of poiitiss would
be regulated. The constitutions had been
formed by convention composed of dele
rares from the several states OF che union,
and was afterwards adopted by state, con.
yentions, on behalf of themselves aid the
people. He had been a member OF 'tRe
convention of his state, and had agreed to
ratity that instrument for himself and his
constituents, under belief that Congress
would from time to time legisla,e on the
several powers vested in the m by the con.
s.i,ution, as their circumstances required.
He was wen aware at tina, ZINE of the cen.
sequence of accepting a district of terrific
~ not exceeding ten miles square, as laid
down in the section SO often alluded to =
and ne DID believe that that consequence
W oanld be that Congress must exercise tx
elusive legislation whenever they accepted
the eeded district. The idea Of recession
was no, taken up a, that time. The states
Of Pennsylvania, of Delaware, Of Jersey.
Of Maryland and Virginia, made offers OF
eession under the terms OF the constitution.
A partial cess,on was accepted by Congress
from maryland and Virginia. If y new
disposition is 20 be made OF this district,
he did not see why Congress might not
convey it to any OF those states, which had
profered TO comply with the constitutional
suggestion, and receive from the same a
no.her territory in lieu thereof. This
statement he made merely to shew the alb
surdity Of recession, as it had presented
itself to his mind.
We are asked to recede this territory on
accoun, OF the difficulty oflegislatins Tor III
inhabitants. The same arguments, would
apply for the recession of tbs. cvden terri
tory OF Georgia, or louisiana their in.
tsresls are alss too iadlstincly understood;
their distance TOO remote for ourlsSis!d.
ton. But no gentleman would act on such
an argument in those cases; in his oplni.
on it would he equally improper to act in
the case now before she com nittes.s'.
Ii has been said tina. the city ofWssh-
iagten, .wouldbe the gem Of aristocracy
in hiis country. He did nor apprehsnd
such an effect. 1t would be rseollectsd that
congress had the power of self defence;
they had the power Of the mil,ta to sup.
press instructions thew had not that
power under tie old ARTICLES of confedera.
lion, vet they resisted every menace, eve
nv attempt 10 introduce arisrecracr. Look
at New York, at oas time the residence
of forty Thousand British troops, with aa-
d,,ional support, to the amount OF eighty
thousand. Were thess adeaeate &c, drive
the people Of Amrrica into tas tois of
monarchy and aristec ;acv WINCH beset
them. Neither thas force nor gay other
could effect such an enI, SO long as the
constitution remained, and the psepls pre-
served their virtu.. si5utif he was IN ia
ver of system of aris,"cracy, nc moYsd b
IN favor oflaying han is upon the consti.
,ution, and changing it from day 10, day
till it had lost al! that synetry aud eonrc,l~
al which endsared it to the hearts OF A.
mericans. IL that event the people would
throw il from them in ds.dain, aad then
would be the time toPropose anoeher sys-
tenn. For his pare he considered the eo,.-
stitu,ion sacred instrument, zach ougit
rot to be rhtiy touched. Considering it
thus sacred, he should ave: sensider it his
duty to elevate mis- voice agains. its viola
ton and that he believed would be one Of
the consequences Of the. preseas measure,
Mr., Nelson meant to Law his opinion be-
fore the committee, bseausesis sPpeased 70
be the habitof members,s assign. reasons
for voting, without expecsing<o make apy
impression upon others. He consider
cd thepresen, question Of the greatest mag.
nitude to the Uoited States generally; and
of peculiar ,mportascs to his immediate
constituents. - Il - = 7ts =
He thought heshould be:able to shew. to
the Satisfaction Of every mcmber sprfsent
,ha, the removal Of the-seas ofgeyernfaens
which would be tie consequence II recess.