Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-02-20
III II ctnts .Siasie.]

really thus oppressed, we should have
complaints ard memorials f,om every
quarter CT the union. but, sir, SIC have
no such oompla;nls--they are satisfied, and
am entirely so.
We are told, and the alarm is given.
that there is great daseer OF dssporism
sprinsing upiu this disfricl hatii.s seeds
OF drspo,ism are siready sown--,aat the
germ Of Aristocracy already begias 10 APP
pear--an they b.g us To- q II Acct upon
the Certain conduct Of an anibi,ioDslsad-
/ err"
J Sir, spprehend no evil, dangerous 10
the liberties Of the country, flowing ftom
this source. suppose, fol The sake of ar
tBunent that an ambitious leader or cor-
rupt president, should iise W, could he.
With q military force, confined 10 The Mill
va Of the district, give laws o the unione
Can the territory aaord sus;enapce 10 an
army! Herce the idea Of dasger, held
up by the genileman, is .redcstsd op th.
corruption ot The legislature, and total
i defelction from tbs principles OF liherty.
4 Whiie The legislature shall remain pure
and Urcorrup,, the liberties OF toe. people
are ssfe.--WithoAt the aid Of ths Ierisia-
'dre,tbe executive IN Tbs case is impotcnt.
| he can neither raise nor feeo one soldier.
Butt the dangers and diiieuliies Pointed
oGt by the advocates OF these resolutions,
be real, Why do they not apply at once. am
efiseiuaI REMEDY Gerry them inc sf.
isc2 aid he n f'lcEfof evil will sill remsin.
II is Topping of the branches While the
sioc. remains. Voc still reiain al, that
in my opinion, eao ever Grove dangerous
to the liberties of his ceuulrS. Tie gen
tleman comedies tina, congress must sill
lcgizlate for he city /; ibis ack.o@iedg-s
ment destroys csc hall of their arcu-,
menis for il will We qfire nearl, as much
time 10 enael laws Tor five ,,,iies as Tor ten
miles tquaie.
The advocates ofihese resoiatioss, call
! on MS 10 prove The adsaniexes ce:syed hy
cong ess in exercising exclusi,s ,unsdic-
/ ton over this terrisoty If lAaY arc dis
satisfied and wisI, To lnake,iniovatjons OK.
the reaulstiprs established ~ the consti-
| tntion and the laws, the bnfthen les on
them to prove thai injasy is done T. Tie
Z citizens by our cSetcl,ng this cops,ituti.
onal po~eF. But sir, tins il a task ton
hard sor Them to perform.
& Mr. Chairman, viii now make one OBJ
se'Yation as 70 the rolicy C the mrasare.
n consider il bad policy q, any time TO
make unnecessary innovations III on estab-
lshed laws and customs. WIZ IN disease.
ask, Sc, the government aGoat9 Or, " hy
:, destroy the confidence OF the ciuzens in
their government? Our Constituents are
happy IN the enjoyment OF their freedom
ana Liberties, ths people ogthe distri6l are
! also happy and satisfied silh their presest
! Initiation, and cannot por do wish 10 -
g''ate the public mind wiihoat ;use
cause. Under the IMPRESSION that "a A.
dept these resolutions would produce
much eTii, without doing any good, / shall
vote against them, and hope they VIII NOT
paas.
Mr. Findley observed Tia, efler what his
colleague Mr Smilie) and u,6ers lied aid
IN favor OF the resolutions for fetfocessi-
on oil he territory, exclusive Of tlis civ,
he rad not expected 60 leae an, objection
70 The resolu,ious OF Arguments Gefived
from the constitution; the res0lu,ions Tor
receding The territory 10 the states who
had made the original ceasion mieh,. he
. thought, have been fairly com5g,ed on ,be
ground Of e1pedieucy. on This ground on
/ ly did the resolutions before Tie commit.
tee rest. He gave credit however 10 the
gentlemen opposed 70 the resolutions for
theiF ingenuity IN takiug The most tenabie
around, tsoogh not directly involved in
lhe question, but lie acknowledged 4 was
Indirectly connected win il. Ii ye lad
not right to reeede, the representatives
al the United States undoubtedly might
/ decline 10 exercise Jurisdiction, FOR what
/ eyer The tights Of The p, ople wete,tlic le-
gisiature mus; DC free TO acl ornot to a6l.
II this IS not The case !; conij uol g,e a So
Vrreigo lcgislaiure congress ifselr In this
case woui'Fa6l by compulsiun.
IS the cons;iiutiouali;y Of the question
had been discussed 10y every member hat
hsd spoken On the sabiea. he would en-
csHVor 10 be very concise IL bis ub,erva-
hons on Cat ground. Tile puwer vested
~ congress by the Consultations 70 exercise
eFcluslve jurisdiction oveJ aierrsory not
exceeding ten niles square, was cydent-
y one Of those powers ief 90 the tisore-
non 81 CONGRESS, such as the power tor re.
Ehiale weights att measures. 10 make a