Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-08


STATES out OF eighteen. In either event,
there would be no war. Is it too much to
say that Britain could always be sure of
third in one or the other brarch of the lie
giSiature Look at what has happened, and
thFn Judge Where is the instance where
your party has condspnsd Britain in any
act OF aggression against us Have you not
rather most unqual,GeGly justified her in
every things Amidst all her atrocities, bar.
barities and vnndoiSn,s, who OF you has
d0u6fed, but that she was right 2 Free
oo'ting, confagration, rapine and massacre,
! AL, all excused and even justified. Show
me the man OF Your marty wno is an eXcep4
ton, and will ask his pardon, Let there
tore her means of influence he what they
now are, and human nature must, radicals
ly, change before any British OUTRAGE would
be repealed or avenged. These alterations
then, go To the destruction of our liberties
and the subIugatian ot us 20 British power
Had these Hartford gentlemen intended to
bring us to the footstool of the British throne,
they could not have devised more eiIectual
met. i than this
Are you not contented with your fire.
quent usurpatiou of federal powers ? Is it
not enough that you have made a most
dangerous aad fatal inroad upon the Con.
sutntion, by denying the power OF the Pres
ident over the militia Will it not satisfy
you that you also deny the general govern
menr the power to obtain an army except
By voluntary enlistment, and that you are
about to refieak law of Congress for the
listment of minors ? After these infrac-
ions ut the Constitution, we should have
supposed that gentlemen would have been
satisfied without further lettering the gene
raj government
Passing over the proposed exclusion of
naturalized foreigners from Office. upon
which enough has been said in debate upon
that article, let me ask why is it necessary
to contlne the President to one term, and to
prevent the selection of successor from
the same state The gentleman from Ess
sex, (Nr. White) has read much from the
debates in the Virginia Convention, tn what
purpose ] confess could not pcrceiye.--
surely the gentleman would not cite the
objections Of the minority in Virginia a
gainst the constitution, IS evidence that
alfeFent one ought to have been adopted
ne oOjectioLs OF rdis minority were over.
ruled. HE argument of the majority pre-
vailed, and Virs mia agreed to adopt this
consultation. We cited the arguments of
the majority IN the MASSACHUSETTS Convenr
| ton which adopted the same Constitution
but we never thought that the reasoning of
the minority was OF any authority. Ii Is the
| argument OF alan who has bad cause,
lie same gentleman laboured hard to
prove that the amendment was to be an off
set to that adopted some years since for
discrimination in the choice of President and
Vice President. But lac fajlcd-he stated
that that amendment was an injury to the
small states, and this was a remedy. It is
true, sir, that that amendment diminished
the probability of no choice BIZ the heohie,
IN which case the states would have an e
quail vote IN the last resort. But how does
the proposed alteration help the small
states! Not in the least--though the Sc
cond choice is not to be III the same state.
still each choice may be kept in the large
states 10 spite OF yoar proposed alteration,
am sure that no one but that gentleman
ever thought of this reason for fkis aLfeya-
Hon' ne true reason is that you wish to
controui the voice of the maiority-you find
that for some cause, which do no, wish 70
mention, your power and influence have de.
parted--The people are disposed to confide
IN men whom they judge to be friends to
'helr country. This does not suit your
schemes OF power--and this amendment is
to abrldge their rights.
All these alterations 90 to imnair and
finally Co destroy this, conslitution-In the
preamble to the resolution for the appoint.
ment OF the delegates who have recon
mehded this alteration. you have stated
that the constitution was unfit for heoce or
7par-and one OF this Senate in debate sta
tea that 1t wanted more energy and that
the executive should have more power. Is
TINS the way that you are to give il energy
| what with the construction YOU have hith.
erto given it aud thence alterations, /. will
not be worth having---it would be indeed
unit Tor peace or war. 1t is then taxing
our charity too much, to request us to be.
IIeVe that you are for improving this instru,
neht' are you not rather pursuing the We
~ course which Washington predicted -
attempting, by alterations in the name Of
amendments, TO undermine what Won
| dare not violently attack In debate on
! the report for the appointment Of Your del,
egates, 1t was openly avowed that Won must
have redress, even by violence. The con
stnton was secuted as ratier PORN eateH.
ne leading paper Of your party, edited by
q menber ot this Legislature, and a man
who voted for your delegates, has been mi,
| form and explicit in declaring that there
must he resistance Look at the crisis. for
which the editor is responsible-T ask, is
u scandal IN US TO say that the object of the
opposition was severance Of the
Union But violence was thought danger
| Gus and 1t was but to Undermine. Hence,
perhaps, these alterations are proposed at
this time,--l regret that ! Carnot perceive
| in them any thing bat hostility to the con-
/ stitutlon. The predcti1. Of Washing on is
verlhed--Put constructions upon the instru.
ment uniayorable to its energy, adopt the
alterations which you here propose. and
Your government is the football of every
| faction, and its destruction is certain
the want of these alterations has pro.
duced the war This fatal, disastrous, dis