Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-23
CONGRESS-.
IN SENATE.
B.;.,-1 OF THE UNITED s7:fTEs.

% enter;n,o the discussion of the subject now
under the consideration OF the SENATE ou'
the observations, which fell from the Ao.nofs'-
BILE gentleman from Georgia Mr.. CrawIord)
were of such a character, as 70 llhPoso Oh Hio
an irresistible obligation to present liis' vac"
of the subject, which has resulted ron t''e O0S'
reflections have been enabled 70 oeSto" Oh
il. This obligation arises from eae very s'l5'i
respect ! entertain for the legislature Oh TIC
stare 7 have the honor to -cprestnt--che 5:ei.s
res,ect feel fer the gentleman, VINO maze
the observations as well as from the respect
which is manifestiy due TO myseif- In cHecn-
t;no This unpleasant task, labor under CIR
cumstances of peculiar embarrassment. MS
embarrassment arises from a convlcuon. that
the views of the subject now proposed
to be exhibited will disaPpoint the eSpecta- :
tons both of the opposers and the tavoFefs o.
the bill: and that they will not be acceptaoie
to either. shall not however IN this Ia
stance depart from my inyaIiabie habit when
urged by duty to participate Ill debate before
this honorable body, OF disclosing in the most
undistinguished manner my real opinions up
on the whole subject, from any Consideration
of political difficulties or inconvemencies
which may conscquenti.liy affect myself.
Ir the first place, find myself Called upon
to oppose a law on constitutional grounds
which has been In existence tor nearly t"ctitP
wears; and during that period. am COMP
led to admit, which has been acGuiesccd III ny,
the several state governments as well as oy
the general government, and its republican
administrations Il is peculiarly irEsomc 10
nc 70 question the constitutionality Ola law
which has been thus and SO long acquicscsa
in because il tends TO give the chal"ctef "a
instability to the laws generally and III IA!
Judgment tends also in some degree TO Ih-
pair the sacred character OF the laws ana OF
course to lesson their efficacy in govern
ment like ours, where the iUuiabie boast OF ev-
erv citizen is, that lie lives under govern
ment OF laws, aud not OF men no s05Ject'
should be touched with more caution and de-
licacv than one which questions the VALIDITY
of the laws, lessons the confidence OF the c:t!T
zens in them, or impairs the obligation Q, ohcf
d;ence to them. Yet, sir, the course OF of
seryations propose to make may have scne
of these tendencies, which | should extren"-
IL regret, and this apprehension OF course pro-
duces embarrassment. Connected Win inns
idea, is another circumstance o, enoaii ass-
ment. Cannot help observing the moralhNe
zeal manifested by the opposers OF TINS Dill
evidently resulting from belief that IT'S re)ec-
ton will lessen the powers Of the federal &C.
vernment Although it may be property OIL
rected in the present instance YET, TIM.
have seen, and fear, | may hereafter see, the
same shirt directed against some OF the pow
ers, and proceedings ort}c government, which
have dce..ed indispensable to its own pre-
s,rvation, aud It's beneficial efficacy toward the
people. 1t may perhaps be thought by sohe
nos becoming in me 70 say, that have not
been IN inatten,iye observer or the progress
of this government for twenty years * more
particularly, since the republican party came
into power Some Of the scenes, through
which have passed, have produced an I'M
pressivc influence on my laind. Such is the
nature of the government, that Its admlniStra-
ticn will vibrate from one principle to ano-
Their, and it will always require great wisdom
20 keepits oscillations from wandering too tar
Whilst those, who preceded US III power en-
deavored to legislate into the constitution an
unnecessary constructive energy, leading TO
what has been called consolidation it appears
70 me, that we have taken too much the oppc- i
site course, leading to disunon and dissolutlon,,
by depriving it eonstrae'tvely OF It's leglti1nate
necessary and proper powers. If this course
should be unfortunately persevered IN, 1t re-
ouires no spirit of prophecy to foresee, thai
the government will fall to pieces from tie
want Of due energy in the administration of y;
legitimate powers or that some extraordma'
~ means must be resorted to for It's resuscl.s
ton. When we cast our eyes abroad, antsre
the aeeressions committed on our rights BY
all the belligerents, sc. when we rehectthat
we cannot calculate upon perpetual exemp-
ton from wars and other political calam:1es,
the common lot Of all nations When we box
at home and see the state governments Inter-
ferine with and controlling the proceedilss Of
the general government even in relation to
measures directed towards these aggtessing
belligerents When we look around US at
home, and we see every where the inTeterate
struggles amongst political partizans for po-
r,ical power: When we reCollect Che num-
Der of choice spirits amongst US, No content
with the dull pursuits of civil life :sWhen We
look at our extensive defenceless Fo9tier, al
most without limits, and see almost eIery year
,,rh,,;ous eptcrprising indivitualsSwhb hostile