Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-01-24
CongreG Of the United States.
House or REPRESENTATIVES..

adni&s,oa Ct sueh state into tse Cno",
en- an equal footing with the sr,s"a'
states and for ether purposes.
The bill being on IFS 6nsl passage.
: MI. Qu1NcY.-Mr. Speaker. ! address
YOU sir, with an anxiety aud distress OF
mind, with me wholly unprecedepted.--
fThe friends Of this bill seem 10 consider It
as the exercise of common power; as an
ordinary affair; mere municipal rrguia'
ton which incy expect TO see pass without
other questions than these concerning de-
tails. Blu, sir, the principle of this bill ma.
,erialIy affects tbs liberties aud rights OF the
whole people of the United States. To me
it appear. that it would Justify a revolution
in this country, and that in no great length
of time may produce it. When see the
zeal and perseverance, with which this bill
has been urged along its parliamentary
path, when | know the local interests aud
associated projects which combine to pro.
mote its success, all opposition to it seems
manifestiv unavaillng. am almost tempted
to leave withous struggle. my country TO
US fac. Bur sir, while there is life there
is nope. 81 long a. the fatal shaft has not
vet sped, ii hrav.n so wilt, the bow may be
broken and the vigor oi the misclef-!neeli.
tatir arm >wi,he.ed. If there be man in
this mouse, or nation, VINO cherIshes the
constitution, uoder which we are assembled
as the chief stay of his hope, as the light,
which is destined to gladden. his own day,
and to soften even the gloom OF the grave,
BY the prospect its sheds over his children,
| fall not behind him in such sentiments.-
I will yield 10 no man in attachment. to this
constitutions, in vencration Tor the sases
who laid its foundations, in devotion 70
those principles which form it's cement, ard
constitute lis proportions. What then must
be my feelings; what ought to be the feel!
inps of man cherishins such sentiments,
whea he sees an act contemplated which
laws ruin q, tfe>root OF all these hopes 49,
When he sees I principle of action about to
be usurprd, before the op ration of which
rhr bands of tins constitution are no more
than flax before the FIRE, or s,ubble b~fnre
the whiriwMd. VIM this bill passes
an act i, done and such principe usurp
ed. t-,
Mr.. Sp-ak-r, There is great rnie Of
hnroan conduct, which he who honestly Oh
serves cannot err widely from the path OF
his sought duty. 1t is. to be vely scrupu.
lou. concerning the principles you srlec,
as the test Of your rights and obligationns :
TO he very faithful in ooticing the result
ofthrir application aud to be very fearlrss
in tracing and exposing their immediate ell
fec;s and distant Consequences Under the
san ton of this rule Of conduct am COM
PEELED TO declare. il is my deliberate opin.
ion tina, If this bill passes, the bonds Of this
union are virtually dissolved that che
states which compose ie are free from their
moral Obligations, and that as II will be the
RICH. Of all. SO it will he the duty Of some,
to prepare definitely for separation; amt
eably if thy can; violent if they must.
[Mr. Quincy was here called to order
by Mr. Poiadexter, delegate from the Mis-.
sss,ppi Territory, for the words last used.
Alter it was decided upon appeal to the
House that MIR. Quincy was in order, as
stated in the Inteil'gencer of the 18Th inst
Mr. Quincy proceeded.
Ireioce, Mr.. Speaker, at the result of
this appeal. Not from any personal con-
siderst'sn, but from the respect paid to the
essential rights Oft thu people, in one of their
representatives. When spoke of sepa.
ration Of the states as resulting from the vi
ola,ion of the constitution, contemplated in
this bill. | spoke of it as of Q necessity,
deeply to be deprecated; but as resulting
from causes so certain and obvious, as TO
be absolutely inevitable, when toe effects of
the principle is pracsicallyexperiehced. 1t
is to preserve, to guard .he constitution OF
my country, that | denounce this attempt.
l woud rouse the attention OF gentlemen
from the apathy with which they seem be-
set. These observations are not made in
corser; there 10 40 low intrigue no Sc
crrt Vaccinations. an on the peoples
own grouHd-,o them appeal, concerning
their own rights, their own liberties, their
own intent in adopting this constitution,
The voice have uttered, at which gentle
men startle with such agitation, is no un-
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