Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-03-22
TIE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH q.
KENTUCKY CONVENTION.

the senate CndhUeT tuiS ulOTHlDS HOU 4
sick bed, with The faint, perhaps the pre-
sumptious hope, of being able TO weaken
IN some degree, the impression, which
the ingenious ADD eloquent argument OF
his friend from Frederick, could not have
failed to leave. He was not sure that Ell
Their his strength or his voice would sus.
tain him in the effort. But be felt 1t bis
duty to make il. and the senate would
have ample security in the circumstances,
under which he addressed them, that Hhat
he had 10 say, would be said in very lew
words.
will not deny, said he, that entered
on the inv estigatioB OF this subject, with
sincere, and all earnest desire, 10 be able
TO vote for the bill on your liable. Nor
will | conceal from you the doubts and
difficulties which. at very early stage Ut
my investigation, bad almost, indeed
might say, haG entirely determined me, to
vote against the bill Subsequent reaec'
ton, however, has opened new views 10
me and sincerely rejoice that my Judg-
ment has, al length, conducted me to the
very paint which my feelings have always
indicated. And may not hope that there
are other members OF this body situated
like nyseli; others, VINO will not permit
themselves in the pride Of hastily formed
opinions, 10 reject the light " hich suisse
quent investigation may have been caicu'
lated To elicit.
With the importance OF the OCCASION,
and the awful responsibility under which
we must act. we all seem to be fully M
pressed. The slow and cautious steps by
which we are proceeding, and the earnest
soicitude with which we have sought Tor
information from every source, that was
accessible TO W., are evidences, that We DO
not look upon this as one OF our ordinary
subjects of legislation. And as it is not
an occ aston OH which the hrebrahd OF dis
cord can be thrown amongst US, and our
preludices enlisted against our reason,
we have some grounds anticipating de-
cison, worthy OF the subject, worthy OF
the high character OF Virginia. and salts
factory TO those whose interests are most
deepiy Involved. -
The senate need not be reminded. al this
stage OF the discussion, that the object OF
the bill is, to give legislative sanction to
the compact, which has lately been a.
greed on by the commissioners OF VTgi-
MA aud Kentucky. The compact propo.
.es TO organize a board OF commissioners.
for the purpose Of deciding on all matters
OF difference between the two states; and
presents to it, as subjects of invesig alton I,
the right of Kentucky on The one hand, to
enact what are called her occupying claim
ant lar, & herobligation on the other. 10
permit the location OF the military tund
scarranfs issued by Virginia prior to the
year 1899
To the reference OF the first class OF ca
.es. confess, that bad not anticipated
an direction. Nor until came into this
hall Yesterday, could my imagination have
conceived the character ct the objection
that would he urged AFecurrence 10 the
proceedings OF last winter, will shew, that
our refusal to org auize a board OF cDmrnls-
sioner4, when demanded by Kentucky,
did moi result from an unwIllingEess TO re-
fer the particular class OF cases but from
the Limited powers with which she propo'
sed TO invest that board; and the very re-
solutions which contained our refusal, in
Dictated The disposition OF this legislature
TO unite in the organization OF board,
whose jurisdiction should be extended to
all matters in dispute between the two
states " :,
But the gentleman from Frederick
meets US at the very threshold OF this sub
iect. with difficulty of most exlraordl..
nary character, partly constitutional and
partly growing out OF the original com,
nact between the states Of Virginia and
Kentucky. Under The latter, he tells US.
that none but national disputes, or disputes
to which the states in their sovereign ca
nacitjes are parties, can be referred to the
contemplated board, and over all such ca.
SOS he reminds US that the federal con
.t;tution has given absolute and exclusive
Jurisdiction TO The federal courts. This >,
indeed diemma-but one from which
apprehead, we shall find very little dith-
Guilty in extricating ourselves.
/ The gentleman will recollect, that, bu
for the constitution OF the United STATES
every difference that could have arisen IN
relation to the compact, no matter Wbeth
er it affected The sovereignty OF lhe SAFE
Themselves, or the rights OF their respec'
i've citizens, would in tacf have been
national difference, and must have been
decided by an arbitration, TO which the
st.,es alone would have appeared ds par:
t;as Blu, in this case the decision would
h.ys been final, and equally obligatory on
A.. citizens as on the states themselves,
Tbe constitution OF the U. States, how
ave, has placed this matter on different
too,ing. II extends the Jurisdiction OF the
fsd.ral courts, "to controversies between
.hs sta,es. and between citizens OF ditrf
a", states" But in doing this, it certain
To- did not design TO take away either from
he states. or fIom the cilizens, The priv
zoo of settling their differences ID Their
own way, either by amicable arrangement
a,,ony themselves or BY the arbitration Oh
'rec,sely such tribunal ss To-. bill p'oop1'
t'..isa The anlz eandiiisR n hish