The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-05

| VIZ p"hh'S~A PoWCI vi TIC original partners
and according to the undeniable principle
OF moral law the obligation of our national
compact is dissolved" What, sir, does the
gentleman mean by poll zeal power in the
original partners! Have we such thing
as patent power in the United States -
hank God, Sir, we have neither cuunts,
dukes N lords, nor members of the grand
legion OF honor, nor any other grade of pri.
VileSed orders in this Country who posses,
political. power" by lineal or collat. r. |
descent. r by purchase In his govern
ment all power is vested in and flows from
the people. and we sit here mt as their
masters, hut as their seivants, and to- that
august tribunal are we responsible for the fl
deiity with which We execute he trus, conf
ded to u.s. Political power then being i'm the
great body of the people. it cannot be de
nltiyely apportioned among the states, but
each state possesses weight proportionate
TO Its numbers. IT, for in lance, two thirds of
the population OF Virginia should remove to
the Mississippi territory, which they have
perfect right to do the influence of Vjr-
gina in the National Councils, in point of
representation, would be two-thirds less
than at present, and it might with equal jus
tice be said that state, inferior in politi
Cal power at the time the compact was en-
tered into, should remain in ;ha situation adj
fnH'nfnm, as TO contend that number of
CITIZENS residing in a territory belonging to
the United States should not be admitted to
the enjoyment of those political righl s. to
which from their numbers they are entitled
1t results from the very nature of our gov.
eminent, that political influence fluctuates
N proportion o the augmentation or diminu-
tIon OF population in the various sections of
the country. The addition of fifty thousand
inhaoitants to the whole People of the Uni
ted States increases the political weight of
the Whoie, just IN the same ratio that a SIM
liar addition to an army would increase its
physical strength. Ii, as the gentleman has
ailedged, the proportions of political power,
In the several states is an unalienable,
essential. intangible right il must forever
remain the same. like a chartered priv.
iege' let the weight of population rest where
't may. Such principle is Inconsistent
with the genius of a free government and
incompatible with the sovereign AUTHORITY
OF The people.
Mr. Speaker, on all the great questions
which have been discussed in fins House
Tor me last four years, war with England
ana separation OF the eastern states from
the union. have been Constantly thrown IN
the way tn obsiruct he measures OF the ad =
".'nisration. Why hese subjects have 2, ne
hand IN hand, / leave gentlemen who ar IN
the secret to explain. Il ought not to be for
go 'en that on proposition to repeal the
embargo. at time when its effects were
severely fell both in Gre ut Britain and her
colonies tn gentleman fron Massachusetts
tod us IN It IN people of New EngI nd were
prepared Tor nsurrection and revolt, unless
that measure OF resistance to the aggressing
oelllger nts was reiin4ulshed. And cote IN
p"raneousiy with these opinions, uttered n
ne moor OF the House OF Representatives.
the British ministe, reside mt in the u. :.
made a confidential communications to his
government, in which a dissolution of the
union was deemed probable event, should
the commercial embarrassment of this
Country continue. From whom that minis
Ter received ms iormation, no gentleman
acquainted with the history of that TRANSACT
ION Can doubt. He who deliberately Yields
tue mischief-medtating' hand OF civil
cofnmotion, will seldom hesitate as TO the
means which he employs to accomplish a
iavorite object. The mind, which oncs
iesolves on political parricide, can never be
restored to sense of moral virtue and in
teSrity. And are tched indeed would be the
|ia,e OF TINS country, were It's destnies com
mittec 10 those who openly >ayow that in
tentiCn.
Inc notorious conspiracy of Aaron Burr
mad Tor It's basis the detestabe project of
a'sme mberng he Union. And what. sir.
was tn fate of that infatuated individual
Exled rom his native Country. in which he
once held distinguished place, not onl;y in
ne adm inlstration of It's go, eminent but al
som me ate ctions of the people a bergar in
farls, and mt instrument to be used bv To-
reign courts, to bring distress and ruin nm
'he country, from which his crimes have ex-
pe'led him And yet that man did not dare
10 go the lengths which the gentleman from
Massachusetts has been permitted to on
wthn these walls. Did Aaron Burr. in all
the ramlhcations of his reasonable projects
ever declare, {" an assembly oil citizens, 49, AT
inc states we're free from their moral obliea-
'ions And that as it will be tho right of
all, so 1t will be the duty of some 70 pre
pare definitely for separation, peaceablv
US they can, violently it they mus ?" No.
sr' HAD such expressions been established
oy the evidence IN his trial I hazard an
opinion, that 1t would have produced :, very
different result Perhaps, sir, instead Of cx-
ne ne would have been Consigned to a eib
Oet L n 1t cannot be concealed thar the Ian
sua8e VI the gentleman from Massachusetts
accompanied by an Overl act, to carry the
thie eat which it contains into execnt,o.,
wV'hd amount to treason, acc, rding TN lie
h'era' and technical definition in the consti
,ullon md laws ut the United States, The
Ihte OF Aaron Burr ought to be salutary
warning against reasonable machnations--
ana II Others, having the same views. do no,
snare similar fate, IL will not be because
they 90 not deserve il. Sir, the gentleman
l'p ON massachusetts, unfortunately ,or him