Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-30
DINNER TO P. P. BARBOUR, ESQ.

was on a VISIT 10 MS SuuIu'id", Jonn j. Am.
bier, Esq, appointed Committee to wait on
Judge b. and request him to partakc Of Publ
Dinner with them.
On the appointed day, large and respectful.
number Of gentlemen sat down to all elegant and
sumptuous repast, prepared by Dr.. Jas. Powell
The utmost harmony and good feeling prevail
ed. Every thing was conducted with dignity
and prcpriety.
After the cloth was removed. Sterling CIa
borne was appointed President, Champ Garter
lst Vice President, DR.. James Powell I'd Vice
President, and Capt. Howell L. Brown, Secre,a
~. When the 9th toast was announced, a. lgb.
ly inspiring scene followed. Cheers ard p!4q
dts. with other ardent manifestations Of appro
baton, made the s'weIkin ring" and every eve
sparkled with pleasure.
After the noise had subsided, Judge Barbour
rose and addressed the company, most eloqueur
ly and feel;pgy, in substance as follows:
81 should be wanting. gentlemen, as mach ia
candor as in sensibility, it | did not acknoa
ledge the qualification which l feel at the good
opinion which you have just expressed, and tue
very great kindness with which it has been re
ceived.
From those with whom have long been &C.
auainted, towards whom have stood for sc.
ries of years in the most intimate relations.
| might have expected somewhat Of The par.
TALLY of personal friendship. But to many
of YOU, | am a stranger, alike unknowns and
unknown. Indeed, il is the second time in d.,
life that have been within the borders Of your
county, and on each Of those occasions, lei BY
paternaI feelings TO visit the famil y Of daugi,
ter. Upon YOU, therefore, have none OF those
claims arising from individual intimacy.
To what cause, then, am to ascribe it, thai,
under these circumstances, l should receive such
a decisive manifestation Of confidence and good
opinion, as would almost have exceeded my mos.
sanguine expectation, even 1t it had come fiom
those whom | number amongst my neighbors, nv
acquaintance, my fIiendss Gentlemen, it is .
tribute not So much to any merit of mine, as 10
those principles which you profess, in common
with me. 1t is not the man, but the doctrines:
to which you pay respect. 1t IS in part, The
fruit of spirit of liberal justice, which dispose.
you TO award to faithful erertion in the public
service, that appreciation, which belongs Of
right, only to successful action. 1t is the out.
pouring of the goodness Of your hearts, in favor
of one, who, If he have no other claim to your "a
vOrable consideration, can assert that of an ear.
nest and steady adherence, through life, to those
great principles Of constitutional law, which con.
sti,ue your and his political creed, At an early
period adopted that creed, which have not only
protested, but with fidelity endeavored to practice,
throughout my whole career, as public man.
Its articles are few and brief; but, in my est.
nation, they constitute the true faith. As to The
first all parties profess to be agreed.-lndeed it
could not be otherwise, for it is written in the
book, in language so plain, that he who runs may
read-lt Is, that powers not granted to the Fe
deral Government, are reserved to the States re.
spectvely, or to the people. But, gentlemeD
the great question which arisesis, by what rule
shall it be decided, what powers are granted
creed. that this question shall be resolved BY
restricted construction Of the instrument assign.
ing them.
When speak of a restricted construction, let
me not be misunderstood. do not mean, like
the miser, who srudgingIy deals out from b;
hand, to stint the Federal Government, By
strait laced system of constraint, in the use Of
the faculties which the constitution has impaired
to il. do not mean to curtaIl it Of its fair pro.
portions, and to present a mass Of imDeclty
where it was intended to iniuse into it strength
and energy. No gentlemen, this IS no part Of
my purpose.-My object is to retain the d,t'i.
button Of power in the exact proportions in which
it has been made-to prevent the stronger party
from taking, by construction, what is not given
It by the instrument to be coustrued-to Restrain
both the Federal and State Governments within
their respective spheres-so that they shs!
revolve around their COMMON centre, in concen
trio circles, differing in dimensions, accordiust
their respective natures and objects; thus AVOID
ing all collisions, and preserving that harmonOu'
action which is indispensable to the happiness
and prosperity Of our country. As one star dit
fereth from another in magnitude, so do these pc
litical bodies-yet, like the stars, each is neee:
sary. in its proper place, to complete thu. great
design with which the whole system was formed.
Gentlemen, this IS neither the time nor place for
political discussion. Rut 10 vindication Of thoss
principles, which you and profess in conmon'
| may be permitted, for a moment, to enquire
what is the cause which has disturbed the harmo
ny Of the Union. and produced so much painful
anxiety in the minds Of our people7 Is there one
who hears me, who is at loss for the answer;
Is not the assumption Of disputed powers BY the
Federal Government confessedly the source FROM