The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-31

snre. Now call upon the advocates of this
Oil to point ont, in all the debates of that
period. in any one publication. in any one
pamphlet, in any one news paper of those
times, single intimation. by friend or foe tn
the constitution. approving or censnring it for
containing the power, here proposed to be
usurped or single suggestion cha, i. might
be extended to such AN object, IS is now
proposed, / do not say that M such sugpcs.
ton was ever made.
but this 4 will say, that do not believe
there is such an one any where to be found
Certain l am, l have never been able to
meet the shadow OF such a sugges tion, and
nave 'nade no uncomfortable research up
on the point Such may exist--but until
IL De produced, we have right to reason
as though 1t had no existence. M, sir.
he people OF this country at that day had
no idea of the territorial avidity of their sue
cessors. 1t was, on the contrary, all argyll
ment, used against the success of the pro-
ject that the territory was too extensive for
republican form OF government. Rut, now
days, there is no limit to our ambitious
hopes We are about to cross the Missis
sppi. The Missouri and Red River are bat
roads, on which our imagination travels to
new lands and new states to be raised and
admitted (under the power. now first
surpeul into TINS union, among undiscovered
ianos, IN the west. But it has been sugges.
tea that the convention had Canada N view,
IN fhis article, and the gentleman from North
Carolina told ;his House, that a member of
the convention, as I understood him. either
now, or lately member of the Senate. i'm
formed him that the article had that refer
ence.
S'f, have no doubt, the gentleman frsm
NHth Carolina has had commune alton
such as he intimates But for myself I
have no sort of faith in these convenient re
collections, suited to serve a turn. to furnish
an apology for party, or give color to a
project. l do not dcny on the contrary,
believe 1t very probable, that among the
coursngs OF sonle discursive and craving fan
cy, such thoughts might be started. bnt hat
is not che Question. Was this an avowed OBJ
)ect IN the convention when it formed this
Article? Did it enter into the conctntion Of
the people when its principles were discus-
seds oir, 1T did nat, it could not. The We
ny IN entlon would have been disgrace both
TO this people and the convention. What,
sir Shall It be intmated; shall il for a
moment be admitted that the MODEST and
purest band OF patriots this, or any other
Country, ever could boast, were engaged in
Matchmaking means for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF the territories of a power to when they
had pledged friendship, and the observance
OF ali the. obligations which grow out of
strict and perfect amity The honor of
our country torbids and tlisdains such a sue
gestion.
bu' there is an argument stronger, ~ N
,han all those which have been produced. 4.
Ee draw from the nature Of the power here
proposed 10 be exercised. Is il possible. that
such power, # it had been intended to be
gwen. by he people, should be lett deem
dent upon the efflct OF general EXPRESSIONS;
and such TOO, were OBVIOUSLY applicable
to another subJec; to d particnlar exigen-
Cy contemplated at the times SIR What is
TINS power, ae propose now to usurp . No
fh'"S tess than a tozoer chcne,ng all the
proportions Of The 7oetght and influence. hos
ScsSed by he Potent SoUerignties co1aho-
sing this unio,. A stranger is to be in ,ro-
dnced t. an equal share, without their con-
sent Upon principle, pretended 20 be de
ouced from the constitution, tins government
alter tins bill passes, may and will multi
ply foreign partners in power. at its own
mere motion; a its irresponsible pleasure ::
IN other words, as local interests. party pas.
s'ons' OF ambitious views may suggest
1t Is power, that rom its mature. never
could be delegated never was delegated.
and as 1T breaks down all the proportions
nt power, guaranteed by the constitution. tn
the states, upon which their essential seen
rity depends, utterly annihila .es the moral
force OF this political Contract Would ,bi,
people, so wisely vigilant concerning their
lights, have transferred to Congress a power
% balance. at It's will, the political WEIGHT.
ot any one state. mach more OF all the states
by authorship IL To create new states at its
pleasure, In foreign countries, not pretended
TO be within the scope OF he constitution or
the people, at the time ofpassing it This
is not SO much question, CONCERNING the
exercise OF sovereignty, as it is VINO Shall
BE- sovereign. Whether the prorrietors of
the good old United States shall MANAGE
their own affAirs in their own way or ,ybe
ther they, and their consttution. and their
political rights, shall be trampled under font
by 10; eigners introduced through breach
OF tn constitution. The proportion of ,be
political weight Of each sovereign state. CON
stItnting this unfcn depends uJon tn. MN
Der. OF the states. which have a voice under
the Compact. This humber the { .n>titntio,
permits US to multiply at pleasure within
the llmits ot the original United States =
observing only the expressed Limitations in
the constitution. But when in order 70 IN
crease your power OF augmentinC thi, nam
Der you Pass the Old liTils, you are guilty of
violation Uf the constitution in fundamen-
tai point; and in one also which is rot ,liv
inconsistent with the intent of the Contract
ana the safety OF 1.-The states, which establish
ed the association. What is The prac .ical
difference TO the old partners, whether they
heid their liberties at the will Of master,
N.g