The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-16

whilst submit 10 them such remarks as oc-
,cnr to my mind.-Inthe Course wa,ch s,all
pursue shall be governed by the dictates
LOT my own Judgment. lshall not ground my
lopinion upon the authority Of great rGues
shall not enquire what were hel:.evailing
political tenets i'll the u. 5. twenty wears
previous to this time. shall not enquire
what were the opinions OF the Saees and
Patriots who sat in the Virginia convention
1t is OF no importance to me what was thought
by the celebrated Patrick Henry-pendlc-
e--Matlison--Wythe or Jeffer-
son--names which l shall ever reyerc-I
shall exercise the privilege of Judging for
myself, OF advancing such doctrines as are
approved by my understanding and support
ing such opinions as are sanctioned by my best
judgement. Nor, shall /, Mr.. Chairman, in
the course OF my observations, attempt to re.
fnte the arguments advanced few DAYS
since by the worthy members from Orange
and Frederick. l shall not do this for two
reasons-Becausc some gentlemen will no
doubt come after me who will be much better
qualified to perform this task of exposing
error and sophistry Gas far indeed as it will
be necessary toexpose them on this occasion)
than L can possibly be-and because in rea-
hty heard nothing like solid argument or
systematic reasoning from either of the GEN
tancy-l was delighted with their eloquence :;
but on subjects like these look for something
more than fancy and eloquence-I look for
solid argument Where could discover any
thing like reasoning-the ideas of the gentle
men seemed to me to be at war with each
lother-they reminded me of the fable of the
brothers who sprang up from the teeth of Il
| famous ancient serpent and DESTROYED each
other. Those of them which remain shall
not touch but leave them to stand as monu-
ments OF the weakness of the cause which
those gentlemen have espouscd
vi the two resolutions which are now I'M
der the consideration of the communicating
one has been the subject of discussioD-The
first resolution has for its object an amend
ment OF the constitution Of the u. S. SO IS TO
render Judges Of the supreme and inferior
federal courts liable to removal from office on
| vote OF two thirds of both branches of Con-
| Sress. he second resolution proposes to a
| mend the constitution, so as to render sena-
tors IN Congress removable, on address of
two thirds present of both branches of the
| respective state legislatures. Gentlemen
who have already addressed the chair have
shaped the course which / shall pursue.
hey have conhneithcir remarks exclusive
" TO the first resolution, and III this respect,
! | shall follow their example beg leave
however, before ! enter upon the discussion
OF the hrst resolution to make such general
remarks as deem applicable to both fcso-
| lutions.
| In the y. States, Mr.. Chairman, it is adj
mitted by all Sects and denominations of Po-
lltlclans, that all power resides Ill the hco-
ffr, belongs to them and flows from them AS
It's true source. 1t has never been questioned
that our liberty depends upon the entire pre-
serVatlon OF our representative system of go
| Vernment. 1t has never been denied that
Ipublic functionaries should be accountable 70
the people whom they represent and served
hese, sir, arc fundamental, elementary.
principles OF government that are as eternal
as the laws OF matter Ia vain shall sophis-
try strive to shake them and in vain NAV I
attempt to strengthen them by any thing
which can say.--The good old republican
maIims that the principles OF representation,
| responsibility should be reduced to prac-
tee as far as possible, hope never to see
abandoned in the u. States-a rigid adbe-
| renee to these maXims is essential to our ex
lStence and happiness as free nation-the
moment we abandon them, we become unfit
toDe freemen-we may humble ourselves at
the footstooi of Throne. These, sir, some
gentlemen may consider as old fashio,,ed
ideas In these days of refinement, but | shall
not on that account be more unwilling to
avoW them as well might we expect that
the great universe of which the earth is q
component part, would preserve it's regulari-
~ ana order without powerof gravitation.
as that the movements of our little Dolitica
world Will be iii harmonious concert when
these, It's essential laws, are impaired. Our
government is intended to secure the rights
OF the people, and the means by which it eff
fects this object, are the delegation of power
to representatives and the responsibility nj
those representatives to those from whom
they derive fo7oer. Ineed not support these
truths by an elaborate train of reasoning. I
VIII assume them as political axioms and bv
them will test the correctness of nv onini.
ons.
will, sir, make few more general re-
marks which are equally important, as thew
| apply to the first and as they apply tn tb =
| second resolution now before the committee
Gentlemen tell us a great deal about the dan
| ger OF touching our ConstItution-We are
terrified with apprehensions-we are alarm
ed with imaginary evils Let US see if there
| is noprovision i'll that sacred instrument the
Constitution ofthe United States for its own
amendment Constitution of the United
States, article V. "The Congress-. yhpne-
YER two thirds OF both Houses shall deero f.
necessary, shall propose amendments to this
constitution, or on application of the I.egis-
latures of two thirds of the several st,3o.
shall call Convention tor proposing amend,
ments, which, in either case, shall be rated
to all intents and purposes as part of This
CONSTITUTIONS when ratified by the Lef-isla-
lures OF three-fourths of the several states ~.
DV Conventions in threo co,,r.I,o a. -