Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-02-07

der IT, a. Incompatible .Hittzrk Fane4lss
ple OF 1sxstion and Representatives being
and couuseraeting the just
principie of equal rights ser forth IN our
drrlsra,ioa Of independence g Obtain
which the noble pa,riers OF America fought,
bled; and died: And shall We whilst thou,
sauds are: yet living, who At the RISK OF
Their lives obtained for as the inest,ma6le
blessing Of liberty, evinee toto the world
inat we ..dsspi,e and reject this heaven
" r;ft. this celestial treasure, by continuing
In shs centre of the Unios, at the sopetii'
nent, thousands Of our fe!law Citizens, ae.
ariived OF ,ths elective franchise, exactly IN
tina, degraded situation. ~aieh the noble
patriots before mentioned, chose, rather 20
suacr dea,h, thar .contiaGe III! laore NC
shall not.
Finally Mr.. Chairman, considering t6e
rrincipe of exclusive jurisdiction ever 50
large aterritors, dangerous in Its tendency
and as contrary in its nature, to the ,lloer'
~ and independence o! these Un n!.s. states
sidering it as nursing the gem of aristocra-
cv in our, bosom ;--as an inexplicable
paradox, ofl5ersy supporting :yranny; as
avul,ure rising IN the centre of the union,
to prey upon the vi,s!s of liberty,i con.
ceive it duty / owe. not only to my con-
:sti,uents, and the preseRr senera:ion.; bat
also for the sake of millions ye, unborn, 10
call upen the members Of this house, II
not IN our power>a, present, To DESTROY this
set inf, dged mons,erin i,sinfancy,a at least
TO clip its wingsso close, that if permitted
TO live to mature age, twill be aaabse to
fly Upon lis prey. - ~
.Mt. Jackson. Mr.. Chairman. When
this subjec, was FIRST presented toCongress
during The present session, / felt asrong
prediction in tavor Of the resolutions, and
contemplated 10 give them my warmest
support after the maturest deliberationI
have changed the opinion i had partially
formed, aud with the permission Of the
committee will proceed to explain the rea-
sons, which to my mind have been conciu.
-sive in insuenc ng that opinion.
The qaestion depends upon two'ProPo>
rsi,ions. LIST. The right to ced7-.-2ndly.
fhepol:cy CT the cessioa. Upon the asst
pbint, am free TO declare, the clause in
the constitution which has b:en relied on
b. the gen,lemeo who have preceded me,
dses'not prohibit us from adopting the re-
solutions ;he.words, Congress shall have
power to exercise exclusive legislation"
are not imperative; grant OF power does
not inply.a coertion to assume its excr-
else !; If it did we should be in mon.
s,reus dilemma. Congress, the consti.u-
uon says sha!i hive powerte declare war,
10 lay and collect taxes, to borrow money.
to raise and support armies, &c. yet no
nan will contrna that we are bouad TO ia.
Gopt these measures indlscri hlna:eit.--
W. Sc al h the ns;iitionin vain Tor thar
authority to repeat a law; it is IA inherent
night inciuen. TO all governments ; the
night 10 repeal unless expressly prohibited
Or unless viola ing or inpairlng contracts
growing out of our iaws, is co.exsensivc
" tn the power to exclusive legislation, is
conceived in the same terms with Inc other
pow, IS given by the 8sh section to Con
gess. $50.
SIR. Char mas.--whle admit there is
nothing 'nthe fcn,titu!iau directly prohi-
s,,ory Of the retrocession believe the
sRir, of that us,:,, nens wouid,;hesshy be
siolated. 1t lis predica,ei ,.pon the soye
reignty and jndiy;sibill,y IF the states, and
the i'm, oss;iiiuili,y Of d,.d;ns ,hem of trans.
firing, or extending their territories, or
O. ever exerci. ng any act OF soser. gliy
oyer tic people Without their coaseo..-
hy the adoption of The constitution
,h= people OF The United Sac en-
,sn,ed THAI a rar a transfer sioIld b:
made to Congress eft a territory not ex.
e.sding ten miles square, with rs c''izehs,
for certain spe clhed purposes bs, by do
ihe 50 thev did not authorize Congress to
dis pose of them as.-they thick fit. An in.
terfe rrce has been made b. the friends OF
the re solutions that the right nt transfer is
an iu,plied right, because i is SO proAib't-y
ed. Is this true construction OF our char
ter If it is then indeed the great care
II i, <les opiup the mowers Of This