Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-24

In SENATE, June 4.
Read and concurred, and the hnho ,,.
ble Messrs. Quincy, Ashmuh anu '''''
are Joined. ,.;asnt
The committee appointed to CONSIDER
g so much Of his cxcel.ency,s speech :, 80
relates to AN extension Of territorial II.
m;ts "and forming new states wi'nU =,
the territorial limits OF the Y. ota'eS'
RESPECTFULLY REPORT
Tbat t!aey have considered the SUP
Observation-Disclosures investigation WIN
The a,tep.,on and soIichude, which us
nature and importance demand. oo the
one side, they have been careful to give
tu,, weight to all the obligations, when
are due from the people of Massac nset's
to the people OF the United States; as
pesulting from the federal compact on
The other, it has been their study not 10
forget the duties, which a powerful ana
Independents state owes to itself ana pos
,erity ON occasions, when great consul:
,utional principles are deliberately vio'
Mated. On occasions OF this kind, III the
opinion Of your committee, the duty OF
a .eople is as plain, as 1t is lmperioss'
The beginnings Of manifest usurpati'n'
are never to be neglected; since silence
on the part of the people is always taken
as aceuiescence by the advocates OF u
.urpation What power SEXES without
right TO day, it holds to morrow by pre-
cedept; and the day alter BY Prescrlp'
ton. A wise people therefore. VIII al.
ways canvass every new pretehsl n o.
hover at the threshold being assured
that the liberties of people have no.
thing to fear from Vigilance, 'and every
thing from apathy. Nor, IN he opinion
of your committee, will a wise people
refrain from such an examination be-
cause the nature of the usurpat!on, or
the circumstances OF the period, may, IN
the judgment of some, render farther
measures untimely. Much is gained to
liberty, by distinct assertion OF the
constitutional principles, on which 1t
rests. And people may l"se by being
ignorant OF their rights, bat never by
understands E them.
In entering upon this Investigation,
your committee nave not cT;'itted to con-
slider the reasons for present acqnies-
cer &c, in violations Of The constitution,
drawn from the pa!tic ular esnbarras-
menls resulting from the war, and The
encouragements which The enemy may
receive from any evideEcc-cf 1:scon'ent
at the present mom:nt U'n"ng AZ states;
or among the people They have given
this suggestion all the attcI ton 1t aP.
pcarcd 10 newt. Bat, in loi, opinion.
this objection has the less weight, mas
much as the particular object of AMI
lnadversion is indie pendent altogether OF
The principle of the war; SO far as this
principle is known. Besides, it would
ne little else than a bounty On foreign
Wa, if domestic usurpau1n should hind
in TIA shield or sanction. You com
a,ittce have given this consideration the
|
entertain, that the American people may
have peace whenever the administration
Of The general governments stall seek it
with sincere disposition Tor its attain
ment.
AS your committee have deemed it
their du!y not to be restrained by such
temporary considerations, from delibe-
rate and public examination OF the sub
Iect submitted to their inquiry, so also,
they have not been disposed to connect
this great constitutional question with
the transient calamities o! the day, from
which it is, in their opinion, very appa-
rently distinguished, both in its cause *
consequences. IN the view, therefore,
they are abcut to ptescDt Of this great
constitutional question, they have CON-
fined themselves strictly 80 topics and
arguments drawn from tie terms of the
constitution, and the history of the peri
cd at which it was adopted; and with a
reference to fulfil their duty to their
country and posterity, by distinct avo~-
al of their opinions aid The grounds OF
them, with the hope of limiting the far.
Their progress of the evil, rather than
any expectation Of immediate relief, du-
ring The continuance of the existing in.
tiueuces i'll the national administration
. The question touching the admission
into the union of states, created in terri
tories, living without the ancient limits
of the United States, has been consider
ed by your committee, in relation to
constitutional principles and political
consequences. BY an act of the con.
gress of the United States, passed the
9Th day Of April, 1912, entitled, An
act for the admission of the state Of Lou
islana into the union and to extend the
the laws of the United States TO The said
state" the state Of Louisiana was admit
ted into the union on an equal footing
| with the other states. This act was, in
tto rs