The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-03-17


the time and manner oft only subject ofcensure
Now, sir, ! go much farther, on this point,
than the honorable member Surprising, as the
gentleman seems to, that the Hartford ConVen-
ton assembled for any such purpose as breaking
up the Union because they thought unconsti-
tutional laws had been passed, or to concert on
that subject, or to calculate the value of the
Union; supposing this to be their purpose, or
any part Of it then say the meeting itself was
disloyal, and vas obnoxious to censure, whether
held IN the tine of peace or time of war, or I'M
der Whatever circumstances. The material
matter is the object. Is dissolution the OBJ
ject If it be, external circumstances may
make it more or less aggravated case, but
cannot effect the principle. l do not hold,
therefore, that the Hartford Convention was
pardonable, even to the. extent Of the gem
tleman's admission, if its objects were really
such as have been imputed to it. Sir, there
never was time, under any degree of excite
ment, in which the Hartford Convention, or any
other Convention, could maintain itself one no
ment in New England, if assembled for any
such purpose IS the gentleman says would have
been an allowable purpose To hold conven-
tions to decide questions of constitutional law
Ito try the binding validity Of Statutes, by
votes in aeonyention Sir, the Hartford Con-
honorable gentleman should be their defender
or advocate, if he puts their case upon such
untenable and extravagant grounds.
Then, Sir, the gentleman has no fault to find
with these recently promulgated South Carroll
ma opinions. And, certainly, he need have none
for his own sentiments, as now advanced, and
advanced IN reflection, so far as ! have been
able to comprehend them, 60 the full length OF
ali these opinions. propose sir, TO say some
thing on these, and to consider how far they
they are Just and constitutional. Before doing
that, however, let me observe, that the eulogl-
UNI pronounced on the character Of the state of
South CaIolina, by the honorable gentleman,
for her revolutionary and other merits meets
my hearty concurrence. | shall not acknowl-
edge, that the honorable member goes before
me in regard for whatever of distinguished
talent, or distinguished character South Carroll
ma has produced. ] claim part of the honor
partake IN the ride of her great names. |
claim them for cuntrymen, one and all. The
Laurens, the RTtledges, the Pinckneys, the
Sumpters, the Mlrions-Americans all-whose
fame is no more 10 be hemmed in by state lines,
than their talens and patriotism we're capable
of being circumcribed within the same narrow
limits. In theirday and generation, they served
and honored thecountry, and the whole country
and their renowl is of the treasures of the whole
country. Hin, whose honored name the gentle
man himself bHrs-does he suppose me less
capable of gratitude for his patriotism, or SYM
pathy for his offerings, than il his eyes had
first opened pon the light in Massachusetts
instead of Sotth Carolina Sir, does he sup
pose it in his lower TO exhibit Carolina name
SO bright as Il produce envy in my bosom? No,
Sir,-increasd qualification and delight rather.
Sir, thank God, that If L am gifted with little
of the spirit which is said to be able to raise
nlortas tothe skies, have yet none, as trust OF
that etherspirit, which would drag angels down.
When hall be found, sir, in my place, here,
in the Senate, or elsewhere, to sheer at public
mercies. lecause 1t happened TO spring up be-
yond the little limits Of my own State or
neighborlooc; when / refuse, for any such
cause, o. for any cause, the homage due to
Amerlcal talent, TO elevated patriotism, to sin.
cere devition to liberty and the country, or il
see an uncommon endowment of heaven-ii
see extraordinary capacity and virtue in any
son of The Southland if moved by local preju.
dice, or gangrened by State Jealousy, get up
here to bate the 1.-THE of hair from his Just
charactF and just fame, may my tongue cleaVe
to the rbof of my mouth! Sir, let me recur to
pleasin; recollections-let me indulge in re-
freshint remembrance of the past-let me re-
mind yu that in early times no States cherish.
ed greater harmony, both of principle and Of
feeling than Massachusetts, and South Carroll
M. Would to God that harmony might again
return Shoulder to shoulder they went through
the Re'olutioG-hand in hand they stood round
| the Administration of Washington, and felt his
own geat arm lean on them for support I'm.
kind feeling, if it exists, alienation, and distrust
are thu growth, unnatural to such soils, of false
MI l.
seedsof which that same great arm never scat
tered.
Mr. President, shall enter on no encomium
upon Massachusetts-she needs none. There
she I-behold her, and Judge for yourselves
Their is her history-the world knows it by
heart The past, at least is secure. There j.
| Bostfn, and Concord, and Lexington, and Bun
ker Aill-and there will they remain for ever
The bones of her sons, falling in the great
struggle for independence, now lie mingled
withthe soil of every State, from New England
to Georgia, and there they will lie for ever
And, sir, where American liberty raised its first
voice, and where its youth was nurtured and
sustained, there 1t still lives, in the strength OF
! its manhood, and full of its original spirit Il
discord and disunion shall wound tiff party
strife and blind ambition shall hawk at andte
it-lt folly and madness-if uneasiness under
salutary and necessary restraint, shall succeed
to separate 1t fiom that union by which alone
its existence is made sure, il will stand, in the
end, by the side of that cradle in which its in.
fancy was rocked; it will stretch forth its arm
with whatever of vigor it may still retain, over
the friends who gather round it; and it will
fall at last, if fall it must, amidst the proudes;
monuments Of its own glory, and on the very
spot of its origin.
There yet remains to be performed, Mr.. Pres.
ident, by far the most grave and important du.
ty, which | feel 10 be devolved on me by this
occasion. 1t is to state, and to defend, what !
conceive to be the true principles of the con-
stitutlon, under which we are here assembled
| understand the honorable gentleman from
South Carolina to maintain that it is a right OF
the State Legislatures to interfere, whenever,
IN their Judgment, this Government transcends
It's Constitutional limits, and 20 arrest the oper.
alton ofits laws.
understand him to maintain this right, as a
right existing under the Constitution not as a
right TO overthrow it, on the ground of extreme
necessity such as would justify violent reyolu-