Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-15
our oaths Of Office, we are, like themselves,

/ But. my honorable Coiie&ue, m"o ha'
just addressed you, has ardently endeaVor-
ed to interpose yet more iormidaoie on-
stacle to the adoption of these resolutions.
He has gafiantly unfurled the ANCIENT BAN
ner Of his party, and sought to rally his re-
publican forces on the side OF the Execu-
| tive. He has reminded them OF their an
Gent victories. and summoned them 10 the
same field of triumph triumph OF the
states over the federal constitution. he de-
rves his principles, he tells US, from the re,
solutions of the Virginia legislature, and
the argument OF Mr.. Madison, to which he
ascribes, what he is pleased TO call, the g!o-
rious revolution of 1898. lis, perhaps,
common to the inhabitants of every state in
this wide spread union, nay, to every Peo-
| pie on the habilable globe, 1t IS certainly
imputed to US, that we pride ourselves on
the land which gave us birth and csnnol
| refuse TO acknowledge the glow OF feeling
which mounted to my cheek, when my COL
league thus swelled the political conse-
quence of Virginia in the counseis OF the
Union. But [, too, Mr.. Chairman, have
some recollection of the times OF which we
have been lust reminded and,, in spite OF
all my native sensibiity, am driven TO o.
Their causes than those assigned by my ho-
norabIe colleague, to account tor the politl-
cal revolution of that day. lno more as
cribe il 10 the argument of Mr.. Madison,
| than should the origin Of the wind, to the
weathercock which indicates It's present
course or The impulse and direction OF the
passing current, TO the feather which floats
upon its surface.
The basis of that argument, that the states
are the parties to the federal constitution, IS
not only unsound in fact, but inconsistent,
alike, with the preamble of the constitution,
| and with the doctrines Of the Federalist,
that able defence oft, to which, the author
| OF this celebrated argument so largely con-
| tributed; and, of which, he now shares the
glory with his illustrious associates. The
very resolutions, which this argument was
designed 10 sustain, held out TO the nation,
as objects of wasteful extravaganza, in
themselves, and of alarm in their conse-
quences, a navy consisting Of few frigates,
and an army OF half the extent Of that which
now mans The military posts that encircle
and guard our territory. The political re-
volution, Of which the honorable member
has so triumphanty boosted, began in OPP
position TO the federal constitution was ac-
celebrated by the French revolution was
staid for awhile, indeed, by the great, but
declining, influence of Geseral Washing
ton, whose administration II often shook to
its base; and finally vanquished disunited
party, guided by disco-lant, rash, and i'm
provident counsels.
Since the period of this revolution, we
have traverseG a wide field of experiments
experiments not always successfully ter
minated-and have, at length, been recon-
Quoted, by the good sense Of the people, TO
the ground from which we had departed.
The theory ofthe constitution has been set
tied Ly practice the policy of the govern.
menf, by experience, that unerring test OF
truth and. with the wars OF Europe, our
own political agitations have subsidized into
tranquility, which, most earnestly trust,
no tocsin, however loudly aud passionately
sounded, will be able to disturb. America
no longer looks with dependence abroad,
but exults in the excellence of her institu-
tons, and burns in light OF her own
If the constitution can ever be correctly
expounded, it is surely at such period as
the present Lei us, then, Mr.. Chairman,
deliberately open it, and enquire if it con-
fers on us the power which we have pro-
posed to exert-the power Of constructing
roads and canals, for certain specified pur-
poses or, If that be denied US, the power
of appropriating the public money to SINH
lar objects, previously authorised by the
states for they are but different, though
very unequal means, admit, of attaining
the same end.
In prosecuting this enquiry, regret the
danger, to which ! am exposed, OF repea-
ting the arguments that have been already
employed, with so much ability, by the gen
tlemen who have preceded me in this de-
bate. shall endeavor, however; to avoid
the ground over which they have travelled;
and, when insensibly drawn on it, by the
reasoning have to oppose, shall labor TO
maintain, by additional! facts and argu-
ments, the positions which they have al
ready assumed.
Allow me, then, in the outset, Mr.. Chair
man. to assure my colleagues who have OPP
posed the resolutions on your table, that
mean, in expounding the constitution, to
sustain the same doctrines OF construction
for which they have contended. deny,
indeed, that those doctrines have arrested
the career of M administration !" for,
without their aid, no administration what
ever could subsist and | beg leave 10 as
sure the honorable Speaker, who has es-
poused the same side of this question with
myself, that they are not more "republi-
can" than they are federal. lmean to APP
ply, to the constitution, the plainest die
tales of common sense, and common ex-
perience to infer its powers from its Ian
guage where that is at all doubtful, from
the intention; and, as the best evidence of
this, the acts of its authors.
In performing this duty, | cannot howe.
yer concur in opinion with my two col
leagues, who spoke in an early stage OF this
debate, (Mr Smyth and Mr.. BARBOUR that
The sole, or chief object of the constitution