Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-21
coMGREss1oMALa
"a HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MARCH 2, g.. 1876.
ON MR.. NErUI1EEIE,S r E,SOI Ir,rIONrc

On MIR. ArBUFFIE'S RESOLUTIONS.
MT. stevenson, of Va. rose and said, there were
lew subjects which could be discussed in that
.souse' without commanding the attention OF the
l,a'ion; ne Character and station which the
mouse he!d before the People, was well calculated
10 give Importance to its discussions upon subjects
OF ordinary legislation; but upon questions touch
i"s 'ne fundamental principles Of the Gov eminent.
ana me sacred charter of our Union and liberties
me proceedings and discussions OF that House r;si
Ne iookea to- by the great body of the People, with
deep and intense interest
In Government like ours bosea ,,n,,s o,,,,,;o
confidence, this was not only to be expected. but
was desirable; and was this ing principle of
wa'chiuiness and attention onfhe part of the peo-
pe' this right in them, and in the Press to discuss
'he merits OF public measures and public men.
Whch constituted one of the CHIEF excelencies of
our free institutions.
f. me subject now under consideration, Mr.. s.
saic, was one peculiarly calculated TO attract and
In me pubic attention. 1t had produced strong
ana general excitement in every quarter of the
onioh' and there was evidently an anxiety in the
puoic mind 10 have il fully investigated and So
iemniy decided: He felt gratiiied, therefore. 10
witness IN the House asdispesiion TO discuss de
su'Jec' WIN The calnness, deliberafion, and free
dom, which its elevated and important ,baS,r.r IA
manded! In mingiing in this discussion il yyos ,I,.
20 hinseii TO say, that he was not urged to ii
a!one oy the Importance of the subject or the pris-
s'pies involved in it. He felt himself placed in a
ceHcate situation, and ne was about 10 ineur res
pohsniiity deeper than any he had ever met in The
course OF his public life In voting against the
PROPOSED amendment, for distiictjRs the Union,
ne should probably not only differ with maioritv
oil his colleagues, and with many Of his roi,;c.l
associates and friends, with whom he had acted
ana nom IN whose opinions and judgment he had much
Heohhee@ce, but, from what lie had ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
nc should probably differ with many of those
%hom ne had the honor to represent upon this
,toor' nose to whose confidence and blindness he
Was indebted Tor any portion of public honor or
eisunction he might have received and 10 whose
rFpToootio'a he had always looked a the HIGHEST
,e""'aior MS public iabors. These Considerations.
ne SAID, must and ought to have weight Tbey
su peen well considered and Justly a,,preciate nv
hiin' out, impressed as he was with the danoero,,s
consequences OF the Observation-Disclosures that il
was cacnla'edto take from the States some of their
"sose wat ana important powers, and to infuse a
PIlnc'pie OF mortality into Constitution tba,
should live forever, he was constrained. nv the
au.y winch he owed himself, his country, and lis
union, not only 70 vote against but resist IL br
| every effort in. his. power. 1t was under tbess
circumstances that he asked the indulgence of tbs
committee: whilst he submitted to them, briefly
- ne cou,a' nus views upon the subject, and the
reasons which would govern his vote
The f-yo resolutions of the honorable oentIe,,.r
ron south Carolina, Mr.. S. said he considered as
WHOLLY indepsnd cpisis.r. 5,
essentially, distinct principles. They did not resi-
on each other, nor they, in his view necess,.
riy united He should vote for the first resoutioc
.iu against the second But, in giving his assent 10
| the proposition TO take the election fror, tb,
House, he did not intend 10 disturb. in The sia.
degree any OF the rights or powers secured to The
states oy the existing provisions of the Constitu-
uon' nor TO unseule any CT the great princinle.
| upon which that compact was based: nor was h.
| 10 be understood, in the course which he should
take as denying the right to amend the Consti-
'uiioh. he knew very well that the right existed
not only TO amend, but destroy. when Hose ~
whose hands the power was, should cbooss 10 o..
ercise ii but this ne would say that it was WORTHY
OF consideration. whether the time had not arrived
when TINS right to amend the Constitution ro,s,
ana ought, tobe confined exclusively TO the oner,-
tion and modification of existing princinles and
rights rather than to the destruction of those rrin
/ cipies and rights themselves: In other words
whether the proportion of uokifica,[ oo,,e, nv,
vested in the States of this Union were mo, 10 g.,
considered as unalenable, essential and INTANGIBLE
rights meyer TO be assailed by the hand ofinnova.
uon. His opinion deliberately formed and
he DID not hesitate TO say, that looking to union
as ne only means Of safety TO his country. he neve
would consent to make any amendment TO the Cor.
sutu'lon, winch should diminish or impair the re-
fafiUe rights and Pooers of the States, secured br
the compact
I ihere were many and powerful considerations
which, In his opinion, forbid it, and, whenever the
attempt should be made, it would be found to b,
one ul OF difficulty and danger to the peace Of III,
'onfon. The great error into which gentlemen
iail, In relation to the character of our Co,s,it,
non, and indeed in the administration of this CIV.
eminent, ism considering US, for all purposes. a,
one People. In our external relations. and fo,
many great purposes it is true, we are one Nation
- but internally, and for other objects we are die
linct and independent Societies of Freemen. enjoy
ing and exercising separate and independent sove-
reign powers. To the world, and agsins, the
| world, we are one, and indivisible; amongst MIR
selves, we are manyl
How strongly, said Mr.. S. does the situation oi
our country, at this moment, admonish US of the
danger OF innovation upon the Fundamental prpci
pies of our Union!
Our situation, Mr.. Chairman, admit, is one of
great prosperity. We are marching on with giant
STRIDES, to wealth, and power, and GREATNESS!
Our population is rapidly spreading itself over
THIS vast Continent, and the star of our Enpire
West. - VIC
Soon will the arm OF this Government be stretch
ed from the Atlantic to the shores of The Pacific.
and our People will be found upon the banks OF
the Columbia
Already, we number 9 millions of People; in
ten years more, we shall reach to 20.
/ We have now twenty-four States in the Union:
I a lew more years, and when Florida shall open her
bosom 10 the thousands who are ready TO pour into
| IL, we shall have thirty.
| Heretofore, we have been divided between two
great interests, the agricultural and commercial lat
terly, we have seen third rising up, which fear
u TO curse, rather than bless US
In such country, with its millions Of inhabitants
spread over such snrsce-dfferino 50 essentislI,