Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-04-07

hIoy nm the whole constitution, t,'e!
otherwise get rid of its operation. IL - "a':e,
of sincere qualification. gentlemen 'hat Tue wiz
Of this great State has been so Clear anu suns
and her vote, all but unanimous, OF tle nus
terestng of these OCCASIONS IN INC ilouso ~.
&c. Certainly such respect to me
rn;", becomes New York. 1t is consistent win
Sor interest. and her character. That singular
", nrnsner,,,s state,-which now is, and is IKE
10 IN cootinue 10 be, the greatest INK 1he I''a'"
rs the Jynion.-wil ever be, ills TO Oe hoPcu' I:e
stronoest link also. The great states w''.c" ':s
IN ner ne;phborhood agreed with her fully III ,''s
matter. Pennsylyania. | believe was loyai 1"
the Union. to man; and Ohio raises her voice.
like that of lion, against whatsoever threatens
dsunion and dismemberment. This harmony OF
sentiment is truly gratifying II Is no! 10 y.
painsaid that the union of opinion, 10 'his s1t"'
Central mass of our population. on ms mU"e"-
tous point of the constitutions, aa"a'a 'e' 'o'
our future prosperity and security.
have said gentlemen, what Se't!' i'' u
he true: that there is no danger I" :.
from open and avowed attacks Oh IL
principles. Nothing is to be feared lee
who will march up boldly to their own oP"I-
tons, and tell us that they mean toann''a POW
ers exercised by Congress. But ccT,a'"',' t"',t
are dangers to the CONSTITUTIONS, and we "'N'''
not to shut our eyes to them. We kno" the Import
ance of firm and intelligent judiciary; but no"
shall we secure the continuance OF a nj and NJ
teiliyent Judiciary? Gentlemen, the Judiciary IS
| in the appointment OF the Executive power IL
| cannot continue or renew itself. Its vacancies
are to be filled IN the ordinary mode OF executive
appointment 1.-THE time shall ever come, which
Heaven avert! when men shall DE placed IN the
supreme tribunal Of the country, who entertain
| L., mi
ton. we shall then be visited by an evil defyHg
all remedy Our case will be ''past surgery. -
From that moment the constitution is at an end.
Ifthey who are appointed to defend the castle
shall bctray il. woe betide those within! IL live
to see that day come, shall despair Of The COM
try. Shall be prepared to give 1t back to all Its
former Affections, in the days OF the confedera-
/ ton. know no security gentlemen, against the
possibility of this evil, but an awkened public VI
GLANCE know no safety, bnt in that state OF pub
| lie opinion which shall lead it to rebuke and put
down every attempt, either to crafty party. ny
judicial appointments, or to dilute the Cons'iln-
! ton. by creating court which shall construe a
way its provisions. If members of Congress be-
tray their trust, the people will lind 1t out. before
they are ruined. Ii the President should, at any
time, violate his duty, his term Of office is short,
and popular elections may supply seasonable
remedy. But the Judges of the Supreme Court
possess, for very good reasons, an independent
tenure Of Office. No elections reaches them. II
with this tenure, they betray Their trusts, Heaven
save us! Let US hope for better results. The past
certainly may encourage us.-Let us nope that
we shall never see the time, when there shall eX-
ist such an awkward posture OF affairs. as that the
Government shall be found in opposition to the
Constitution, and when the guardians OF the Union
shall become its betrayers
: Gentlemen, our country stands, at the present
time, on commanding ground. Older nations
with different systems of government, may be
somewhat slow to acknowledge all that justly be-
longs TO US. but we may feel, without vanity,
that America is doing her part, in the great work
of improving human affairs. There are two
principles, gentlemen. strictly and purely Amer
lean, which are now likely to overrun the civil
lied world Indeed they seem the necessary re-
suit of the progress of civilization and knowledge
These are, first, popular governments restrain
ed by written constitutions; and. second gene
raj education, acting and re-acting, mutually pro-
ducing and reproducing each other, are the
mighty agencies which, in our days, appear to
be exciting, stimulating. and changing civilized
societies. Man every where is~now found de-
handing a participation IN Governmcnt-and
he will not be refused-and he demands know
ledge as necessary to self government. On the
basis of these two principles, liberty and know
ledge our own American Systems rest. thus far
we have not been disappointed IN their results.
Our existing institutions, raised on these foun,
datons. have conferred on us almost unmlxcd
happiness DO we hope to better our condition by
change? When we shall have nullificd the pres
ent constitution. what are we to receive IN Its
place? As fathers. do we wish for our children
better Government, or better laws? As members
of society, as lovers of our country, is there any
thing we can desire for il better than that as ages
and centuries roll over 1t, it may possess the same
invaluable institutions which it now enjoys! For
my part, Gentlemen, can only say, that | de-
sire to thank the beniGccnt author OF all good,
for being born where was bern, and when was
born; that the portion ofhuman existence allotted to
me, has been meeted out TO me in this goody
land, and at this interesting period. | rejoice
that have lived to see so much developemcnt of
truth-so much progress of Iiberty-so much
diffusion of virtue and happiness And through
good report and evil report, it will be my consola
ton to be citizen Of republic. unequaed in
the annals of the world for The frpPdum of its in