Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-15
COZ NC r E S S.
HOUSE or REPRESENT T'lVEs.
January 90.
DEBATE ON EXTRA SESSION.
ICoNTINUED.J
( III. euiacgs Speech concluded.

lIr. Quincy continued.--l ola not m
sst..,s fc arc1,e the unconstitutionalltyo OF the
sen Forcing embargo law. Twas only illus
.trating my sense of the violation OF the
r;;phts Of the members on that occasion, by
showing that / had been preeluded from
URGING the objections was prepared TO Of
fer against it through the lateness OF the
hour and the utter incompetency OF all alter
the fatigue of eighteen hours uninterrupted
session. either to hear or to speak upon any
subject. The constitutional objections to
that bill were great, and as belieyenna
swerable. The haste with which it was
passed, and the little opportunity given tor
discussion of It's principles were little adapt
ed to satisfy the public that the bill would
bear thorough examination. The con-
nexiion of these observations with the bill
under debate is intimate and palpable. The
reasons urge against this bill are, that by
providing for meeting OF Congress in
Nav, without providing limitation OF the
EMBARGO law, YOU in fact leave the next
CONGRESS In the same bonds to the execu-
tive power, in which this house at present
stands that if it be your real intention TO
raisesthe embargo after May, as this extra
session seems intended to intimate to the
people, you ought at once to limit 1t; other
wise the people ought not to be satisfied;
but to examine into the constitutional OBJ
;ectiens to those laws. Ii these appear to
5 the people and to the state legislatures as
they do to my mind it is their duty---to do
what? To rise In Instruction! No, sir.
10 break the bonds of union! No, sir
But to take the constitution, that great
charter of our liberties, into their consider
alton. and to STRENGTHEN and support ITS
principles by vindicating them from viola
ton. Do gentlemen really think it trea-
son" to invite intelligent men, the natural
guardians of their own and OF the peoples
rights to take your laws and bring them 70
the touchstone Of the constitution? We have.
gained little by our independence, if this
liberty belong not to us. Sir, we perform
a high and imperious duty, when those who
believe that the constitution is violated say
to the people that such is their opinion and
call them to an examination of your laws
with that reference. All we say to them is,
put not eff this enquiry until June, under
the apprehension the embargo will bere-
moved. Look to your rights, if they are
violated demonstrate. Maintain the only
bond of your union the constitution. Let
ii not be broken for the purpose OF making
of its commercial power an instrument OF
hostility. For such purpose the CONNER
cial power was never granted. Gentlemen
Az al 1,r,
puagc as hostile to the union. Nothing car
:. be less founded In truth. Hostility it may
be to the principles of an administrator,
s which, for the sake Of maintaining favor
ate system to value as nothing all those con
stitutional principles, which the wisdom OF
our fathers erected as barriers round our
liberties. Suppose the present or any fl
ture Congress to pass any law, not only ma.
uifestly unconstitutional but so oppressive
mon the mass of the people that it is I'M
possible TO wait upon the slow processes of
the judiciary. The case may certainly be
supposed. ask, what is the remedy
Can there be any other than constitutional
remoustrance And how can this be effect
ed but BY calling the people to examine their
rights and the alleged invasion of them.
With respect to the feelings and senti-
nents, relative TO these laws in the part of
the country which represent, do not be-
lieye that this house realizes the nature and
extent of them. The doubt concerning
their constitutionality is not confined to men
of one particular party. | have reason to
believe that very great number of the in
telligent men who are supposed to differ
from me inpoitical sentiments, do agree In
questioning their validity. feel as strong
" as my colleage (Mr. Bacon) the hazard
Gus nature of the present crisis. A course
Of events is advancing upon US, which, ]