Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-01-28

my house no d ?" doubtless sir. out a'e
these cases parallel? Are the three branch
g.. of this government owners OF this !ar'"
rallied III, y. States? | desire to thank
HEAVEN ,hry are not hold my lite, l'ber'
:, md property, and the people OF the state
from which / have the honor to be a re.
n,.sen NATIVE hold theirs, by better te'
nure than any that this national govern
ment can give. Sir. | know your virtue.
And ] thank the Great Giver ct every
good Gift, that neither tn. grnds man from
Tenn, ssee nor his comrades, nor any nor
all the members of this house, nor OF the
other branch of III. legislature, nor tbs good
&c n;!eman who lives in the palace yonder.
nor all combined, can touch these my essen,
tial rights and those of my friends and con.
stituten;s except in limited and prescr'h'
ed form. No sir-We hold these by the
laws, customs and principles OF the COM
monwealth ct Massachusetts. Behind her
ample shield we fad refuge and feel safety
II beg gentle man not to act upon the prln-
ciple that the commonwealth OF Massacnu-
setts is theIr farm.
BIZ. the gentleman adds, "what shall We
do, if VIC do not admit the people OF LOU
isiana INFO our union; ou- children are set
Ting that country" Sir, it is no concern
Of nine what he does. Because his chill
dren have run wild aud uncovered into the
woods, is that a reason for him to break
! into my ,k,.se, or the hous~s of my friends
TO hlth cur thildren's clothes in order to
cover his children's nakeon.s /! This con-
stit,tion nrver was, and never can be
strained to Lap over all the wilderness OF the
west, without essentially affecting both
the rights and convenience OF its real pro-
! pri.,o,s. 1t never was constructed 70 torn
covering for the inhabitants OF the Mis-.
! souri, and the Rid river country. And
WIN never it is attempted to be stretched
over h=m it will rend asundrr. have
done with this part Of my argument. 1t rests
upon this fundamental primer l~. that the
proportion OF political power, subject only
to the internal notifications permitted by
the constitution, is an unalicnable, essential.
intangible rga.. When it is tough the
fabric is annililated. For on the prese,ya.
ton Of these proportions dep:nd our rish,
and Iib1,ti-s.
live recur to the knozUn relations exist.
ing among the states, at the time of the q.
doption OF this constitution, the same con-
clusion will result The various interests,
habits, manners, prejudices, education, ST.
tuation and views, which excited jealou-
sizes and anxieties in the breasts of some of
our most distinguished citizens, touching
the result of the proposed constitution,
we're potent obstacles to its adoption. The
immortal leader of our revolution, in his
letter to the president of the old congress,
written as president of the conve ntion WHICH
formed this compact, thus speaks on this
subject: 6 1t l. at all times difficult to
draw With prrcisIon, the line between thos.
rights which must bs surrendered, & those
which may be reserved and on the pre-
scot occasion. this dlGculty was INCREASED
by hBTence amsns the srY-ral states as
To their situa!ian, extent, habits, ssnd bar.
Hcu!ar interests" The debates OF that ne.
Rod will shew tia. the eaee. OF the slave
VOTES upon the political influence of this
part OF the country, and the anticipated va
riauon OF the weight OF power to the west,
were subjects of Srra. and Jus, jealousy to
some OF the best patriots in the nor h n
aud eastern sta,rs. Suppose then, that !,
had been distinctly ioreseen, that, ia i'd.
dltlon 10 the effect Of this weight, the whole
population of world beyond the Mi,,;,.
s'ppl was to he brought into this and the q.
,her b'aaea Of the legislature, to fern our
laws, coo:rol our rights, and decide our
destiny. Sir, can itbe pretended thu, n.
patriots OF tina, day would for one aomeot
have l'staed 70 iii! Thy were no, mad.
msn. They had not taken degrees at III.
hospital OF 'dioey, they knew the nature of
man & the effect Of his combination, !, M.
l'.ical s'ci cites, they knew when the wr;ab,
@! particular sections of eonsederacv Va
greatly unequal, the resulting power would
be abused; that i, was not 10 the ua,u re- Of
nau to exercise it with moderation. II.
very extravaganza of the intended use !,
conclusive evidence again., the possisil;,v
OF the grant OF such power, as !. here nro.