Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-06-05
THE GAZETTE.
JUNE S, 1873.
Biographical Sketch Of John QUINCY .9dams.
[coSTINuED

The votes given by Mr.. Adams, while the
as,ails of the louisiana Cession Treaty were
,oder consideration in the Senate, and which
have given rise to some unfounded reports of
his hostility 10 the acquisition OF that important
territory, have been triumphantiy explained by
himself in his celebrated Reply to the "LetteF,
addressed by Alexander smyth to his Constitu
ants" Indeed il is difficult to conceive how
those who professed to be the exclusive Repab
ncans Of that dsy--who pretended to watch
With jealousy every exercise Of power no, spe
officially granted by the constitution to Congress-
and to regard with veDeraton the principles
promulgated by The Charter Of our Indepen.
dence, could, consistently with their svowed
opinions, act otherwise, than in pursuance Of
the course, recommended and adopted by Mr..
Adams.
This Replv Of Mr.. AID ans was az the period OF
its publication, deemed conclusive refutation
Of the charges preferred agsins, him--snd for
the satisfaction of those who have not had an
opportunity of perusing IT, we wiilextract that
portion Of il which relates to his votes on the
louisiana Purchase.
On the 26th of October, 1908. bill was in.
.roduced into the Senate TO enable the Presi.
dent to take possesslon of Louisiana Against
this Mr. Adams voted in minority of sig.
"Upon recurring to a private minute of my
ewn, made at the time, 1 6ud the following
semarkss
sThe objection mas 10 the second section az un.
Constitutional"
"ro enable you to Judge the sincerity with
which voted upon tina, principle sgains, the
bill, beg leave to submit to your meditstions
the section against which this objection was
taken:
Sand be il further enacted, That, until the
respiration of the present session of Congress,
s'unless provisions for the temporary govern.
"nent If the said territories be sooner made by
s'Congress. attn miAtory, ciua, and .judsiGl
"pozyers, exercised by the eff GERS of theierssng
'gorernmens of the same. shall be vested in such
sperson and persons and shall be ererctsed in
"such manner, as the President d the United
ESTATES shall direct, Tor projecting the inbsbit
"antS o, Louisiana, the free enjoyment Of their
slibe ty, property, and religion"
"Le, me ask you, before We proceed further,
60 sop here; to reflect well upon the extent
& and consequences of the power conferred in
A this section, by the Congress upon the Presi-
dent Of the United States, and then to open
the Constitution of the United States, and
point out to me the article, section. and para.
= graph of that instrument, whcn authorizes the
Congress to confer upon the presideat of the
United States this tremendous power. If you
can produce il now. will plead guilty to Gen.
Snyth's charge of factous motives for voting
sga'nst this act; but, if you can produce il nov,
his more than the majority could DO them
They were called upon to produce i, ard
could not. They could find it only in construc
a aon.
"Observe, that do not now deny the exis
sencc OF this authority ia the constitutions; but
1t is constructive power: and at the time when
Twas called 70 record my vote upon it, the
question was new 10 me. and new to Congress
With reference to the legislative exposition Of
the constitution. The principle had not been
settled; and 1t was the first time it had ever
been made by duty to act, as a member of the
legislature, upon question involving the ex
tent OF the powers of Congress. believed, as
isull believe, that the constitution of the U.
states was a constitution of limited powers.
That some ofthese powers must be construct.
''e' never doubted; but tba, this construc
ZION must itselfhave some limits, was equally
convinced; and could not reconcile it to my
judgment, that the authority exercised in this
SECTION was within the legitimate powers of
congress comfortable to the constitution
were the question new one, have no hesita.
Nos IN saying that ! should return the same
opinion and give the same vote. And 1 am
Wiling now TO record it again; and to leave 70
ny country and to pos,erity the opinion that all
''"eF constructive powers, assumed BY Con.
e'ess from the 4th OF March, 1889, TO this day
put together, are, whether considered in them.
WIVES OF III tleir consequences unequal to the