Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1811-02-18

We have a right to reafou as though
Il had no exiiience. No, hr-The
people Of this country at that day had
20 idea OF the territorial svidity of
their fucceaors. Ii was, on the con-
trsry, argument, ufed againlt the fuc-
cels Of The proje6t, that the territory
was TOO extengye for a republican
form Of government. But now a
days, there is no limits 70 our ambl- |
tious hopes. We are about TO crofS |
the EliGiGppi. The MiRouri and |
Red River are but roads, on which
our imagination travels to new lands |
and new hates TO be railed aud adj
mi;ted, (under the power, now hrR
ufuIPed) into this union, among un-
dilcovercd lands, in tLe welt. But
it has been fuggeiiUasthat the conven-
ton had Canada in view, ia this artl-
Gle, and the gentleman from North
Carolina told this HoH(c, that mem
Der Of the convention. as | anderiOoS
him, either now, or lately member
OF the Senate, informed him that the
articls had tina; reference. Sir,
have no doubt, the gentleman from
Al. Carolina has had a communication
fuch az he intimates. But, for niylelf,
| have no fort Of faith in tbefs conven-
lent rccolle6ions fuited 20 ferve
turn, 10 furniih an apology for par
~, or give color to a proie6t. do
not deny, on the contrary | believe
it very probable, that among the sour-
fings of fome dlfcurGve and craving
fancy, fuch thoughts might be ttar.
ted ]; but that is not the queGion.
Was this an svOwed object in the con-
vsntion when it formed this article 2
Did il enter into the conception Of the
people when its principles were dis
cuGcd { Sir, ii did not, it could rot.
Tbs very intention would have been
a difgrace both TO this people and the
convention. What, EI Shall it be
intimatcd fhaIl it for moment be
admitted, that the noblea and psrclt
band Of patriots this, or any other
couutry, ever could boat, were enga-
ged in matchmaking means for the diff
menb=rmcnt of the territories Of
power to which they had pledged
lriendlhip, and the obiervancs of all
the obligations which grow cut Of a
Aaia and perfect zmity I The honor
Of our country f0rbids and diidains
fpch fuggeRion.
But there is an argsmcnt ifronger,
even then all thols which have been
produced, to he drawn from the ma
tHre of the power Ecre p ofcd to be
exerciled- l. it polIiblc, that fuch a
power, if il had bscn ixtsndc4 to be
given, by the people, ihould DC left dc.
pendent apon the efsct of general ex-
prcilions aud fuch 100, as were OBJ
Vious!y applicable to another fubjsa
to particular exigency contemplated
At the tine /? Sir, whar is this power,
ws proPofc now to ufurpl Nothing
hJG than tswFr. changing az t5s pro-
portions Of tbs 'Vfigbt AID is,7ufnce, p4c
.jSged5J Tx PefeEt joUsrEigTtis5 c9EstgEnE
this UAios. A ttranger is to be intro
duccd to an equal 1hare, without their
content. Upon a principle, prcten-
ded to be deduccs from the conititu-
ton, this government, after this bill
Paht', may and will multiply foreign !
partners in power, at its own mere
motion; at is irrcfponGblc pleafure /; |
n other words, as local interests, par
~ P1ilons, or ambition, view. NAV |
iuggsR. 1t it a power, that, from |
ITS nature, never could be delegated |
never was delegated and 80 it break. |
down all the proportions Of power,
guaranteed by the contribution Of the
Eates, upon which their si:nti,I fecu-
rity depends, utterly snnihilatcs the
moral force Of this political contract.
Would this people, 70 wifcly vieilant
concerning their rights, hove tranffer-
red TO Congrei' po~Sr to balance, at
It's will, the political weight, of any
one fats, much mors ef all the fatrs, |
BY authorizing it TO create new hatcs
az It's Pleature, ia foreign countries,
not pretended to be within thc fcope
Of the contribution, or the conception
q the people, at tEr time Of paiiing il {
This is not 70 mach a quelion, CON
cernisg the excrcil-s or loycrcig,ty, |
as i is who hlll b. fovcreign. |
Whether the Proprietors Of the good |
old United States hall manage their
own affairs in their own vav. or