Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-21

| ger Of dlssolviDg the Union. Mr.. ID. how ever,
said that he was as much opposed To the exer-
else ofd0ubiiul powers by the Executive, as by
Congress. lie thought the question ought to
lac referred to the People, when II large portion
oi the country was dissatisfied with the oxerci ,e
of even Constitutional powers. These were
his motives for Offering the Resolution he had
offered. This was not sporting with the Pres-
u, nt's Message. ilc believed il was u most
important subject for reference: the powers of
TIE States ought to be Investigated.
Mr.. FosrER, of Georgia, said that he believed the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. DanieD had been
more candid in his expose than he had intended 10
be. The resolution, il seemed, was intended as a
cut ot the President Now, MIR. +. considered it as
looking just the other way. To him it appeared as
containing severe reelection on the conduct of
both Houses OF Congress, in the exercise OF doubtful
powers. Ii the gentleman wished TO examine what
The opinions ot the President, if the House of
Representatives was TO be occupied in the very be-
coming and dignihed employment Of sending about
in all quarters TO pick declarations of the Exccu.
tive opinions, he thought the most suitable course
would Toe to appoint committee, not of the Mem
beers of the House but of the editors Of newspapers
as that class OF pcrsons were usually very busy in
similar way. Ihs was no part of the Executive
message. How would such resolution look Or
how would the report appear which The gentleman
wished 10 produce by III A committee gravcly re-
porting to the House that they had discovered thut
nj such certuin time the President had expres.a
one opinion. and at another time that he had ex
pressed such and such other opinions Did the gem
tcman wish To give tho committee power TO send
for persons and papers? Or did lie propose to em.
ioy corps oil spies, OF those letter writer, who
were swurmng in this city This would he digni-
fed indeed The gentleman had told the House
That he should be so fortunate 10 get upon the
Select Committee, thi, would be what he should
do: IL this to be tue business of the Committee
Mr. f. Qhcush not aptrchensive Of cling selected
begged in ad, ance to be excused from serving upon
| IL. lie hoped the object in view would be stated n
little more definitely.
AS TO the other part of the gentleman. design he
joined heartily in it. lie should wish 10 see what
were the powers possessed by different branches of
this Government, He wi.he to see rcport hich
should point out those doubtful powers the exercise
oil which was bearing on tins Government with
accelerated velocity 10 ruin powers the exercise
OF which, the States would not much longer brook
There were far too many doubtful pow ers exercised
by Congress. He hoped the House would stop in
course winch was the downward course to ruin
MIR. STEWART of Pennsylvania said that with a
view OF putting an end TO this discussion, which he
considered as premature, he would move to strike
out so much OF the resolution related to the SUBJ
Ject oil Internal improvements, which had already
nreierred to the committee charged with the sub
ject.
The CHAIR replied that this would not be in order.
as the House had adopted one part of the resolution
MT. STEWART said there was no need of referring
any part of the message to a select committee will
view OF getting at the opinions of the President
as to doubtful powers. Whoever read tho ProcIa.
nation recently put forth by the Executive could
have no doubt as to what were the President,s oni
mons on the constitutional powers of this Govern.
ment; that document left no room for uny man tn
oouDt. Tue views there given wcro perfectly sound
and orthodox. He considered the whole paper as
one OF the most able, lucid, sound arguments he
mad ever seen. On those principles alone could this
Government ever be preserved. The gentleman
from Georgia had told tho House that the exercise
OF doubtful powers had brought this Government to
the brink ofruin Mr.. thought, on the contrary,
that 1t was the doctrines held by that gentleman
himself, and by those who agreed with him. and
which were Liumpha ntly refutod in the Proclama-
Ton, which had brought the Government into dan
ger. 1t was the doctrine OF State Rights doctrine
winch lett the General Government powerless and
useless, which had brought the Government to the
brink of ruin. These doctrines had been widely
dftused over tho country; and wherever they came
they operated like poison on the body polite The
doctrine was lmpraG tcablc it was doctrine under
which this Government could never get along II
was the doctrine alone put forth in the Executive
PROCLAMATION, which could save the Government,
and enable 1t TO continue its functions. He was
rcJoIced TO see that doctrine promulgated under the
great SEAL lie trusted it would be sustained by the
nation, and would furnish textbook for after
times. He trusted that the People, of all parties.
would rally one man round the President and
sustain him in all constitutional measures to en-
force the laws and preserve the Union. Ho then
moved to lay the resolution and amendment on the
table.
On this question Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama. demand
ed the yeas and nays. They were taken accord
ingly, and stood al follows-Yeas SO, Nays 49,
So tho House refused to lay the resolution on
the table.
MIR Polk said that he had not anticipated such
debate as now seemed likely to arise, on mere
incidental question. The clause of the message
which had ference to the exercise of powers, on
iy spoke of those powers as connected with the
subject of Internal Improvement. Mr. p was un
wiling to be responsible for the debate, and
therefore consented to withdraw his amendment
MIR DANIEL said that he had more remarks to
make than to signify his regret for the sentiment
expressed ny the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
that his views entirely accorded with those con-
tanned IN tho Presidents proclamation,
Mr. FOLK called Mr. Daniel to order. He was
proceeding to remark on paper not before the
House, and which had no connection with the sub
ject before the House.
The CHAIR read the resolution before the House,
and said that he could not decide whether the
gentleman from Kentucky was in order until he
proceeded farther in his remarks.
Mr. Polk said the gentleman was going TO dis
cuss the Presidents proclamation
The CHAIR said that that would not be in order
MIR. DANIEL said that he regretted that he should
be found ;ransceDdjng the boundaries of order in
the opinion OF the gentleman from Tennessee who
was, he know, great judge of order, and himself
very orderly member of the House. He regret
ted that such gentleman should consider him out
OF order. He was about to express his rcgret that
any member of that House should declare himself
Satshcd with all the sentiments contained in that
proclamatIon-a proclamation that declared that
Representative was not the representative of his
own constituents, but Of
The Chair decided the gentleman to DO out of
order. The proclamation was not before the
House. and tho discussion of it was irrelevant to
the subject proposed for tho action of the House.
Mr.. DANIEL said no had intended to discuss tho
subject of doubtful powers; and was going to bring
in to his aid tho opinions of the President, as ey.
pressed in certain paper. He had been going to
ask, whether the doctrine that Representative
was Representative, not Of his own constituents,