Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-12


pU,Oer should be received as the most conclusive
evidence, while tina, which is at least equally
strong in favor of right and liberty, is wholly
overlooked or rejected
Notwithstanding all that has been said, he
must say. that neither the Senator from Della.
ware, (Mr Clayton) nor any other who had spo'
ken on the sane side. had directly and fairly met
the great questions at Issue: Is this drrai
union! union Of States, as distinct trom that
ofindlviduas? Is the sovereignty in the several
States, or in the American people IN the aggte-
gate! The very language which we are compel
led to use when speaNins of our political lnstitu-
tons, affords prout conclusive as To ITS real char
acter. The terms union, federal, united all i'm
ply combination of sovereignties, confedera-
tiun of States. They are never applied To an as.
ISOLATION of individuals VIM ever heard OF the
United State Of New York, of Massachusetts, or
of Virginia. Who ever heard the term Federal.
or Union, applied to the aggregation OF indi'Idu.
ais into one communit,s Nor is the other punt
less clear-that the sovereignty Is IN several
States, and that our system IL union OF twenty.
four sovereign powers, under constitutional
compact, and not Of divided sovereignty be-
tween the States severay and the United States.
In spite Of all that had been said, he maintained
that sovereignty Is. 10 its nature, in divIslble -
l
Just as we'll speak of hafa sovereignty. LISA
gross error to confnund the exercise OF sovereign
pswess ~t,h sorere,gafY itself: or the delegation
of such powers with surrender Of them. A
sovereign may delegate hi powers to be exerci'
sed by as many agents, as he may think proper,
under such conditions and with such Limitations
as he NAV impose; but to surrender any portion
of his sovereignty To another Is to annhate the
whoIe. The Senator from Delaware Mr.. Clay
tony calls this metaphysical reasoning, which, he
says, he cannot comprehend II by metaPhys-
les he means that scholastic refinement which
makes distinctions without difference. no one can
hold it in more utter contempt than he. Mr. Z. ]
but if. on the contrary, he mrans the power OF
analysis and combinaion-that power which re-
duces the most complex idea into its elements.
which traces causes TO their Fl 81 principles, aud.
by the power Of generalization aud cOmbnat ton,
uniles the whole into one harmonious system.
then, so far from deserving contempt, II Is thu
highest attribute OF the human mind. |, IS the
power which raises man aboye the brute-whitb
distinguishes his faculties from mere sagacit,
which he holds in common with inferior animals.
Il Is this power which ha> raised the astTonome'
from being mere gazrr a. the stars, tn the high
intellectual eminence nf Newton or La Plae"
and astronomy itself from mere observation ot
insulated facts INTO that noble science which dts
plays to our admiration the system at the Uni
verse. Aud shall this high power of the mind.
which has effected such wonders, when directed
to the laws which control the material world. b'
forever prohibited. under a Senseless cry OF met
apavsics, frnm being applied t. the high purpose
of political science and legislation H. he'd
them 10 BE- Subject TO laws M fixed as matter II
self, and To b. a. fit subject for the application
.I, ia, In, ,taI al IL Ia
NAV indeed fall npnn the pni;osophta al enquirer
into ,he>r fist principles. it did upon Ga lieo
and Bacon. when they Fl 81 uEfolled the gr-a,
discoveries, which have inm0r allied their name.
out the time will come whrn truth will prevail III
spite of prejudice aud denuncldIIon; and when
pnli,ics and legislation will be CunsIdei ed as
much science as astronomy and chemistry.
In c0nnexion with this part o the subject. he
understand the Senator from Virginia. Mr.
RIves,) 10 saw that sovereignty was divided, and
that a portion remained With the States, several
l,, and that the residue vested in the Uniun
By Union. he supposed that the Senator meant
the United State. Ir such b. his mtaning-It
he Intended To affirm, that the sovereignty was
in the twenty four States. in whatever light he
might view them. their opiniOns would not dis
agree; but according to his Mr.. C.'sj concrp-
lion, the while sovereignty was IN the several
+ States, while the exercise nf sovereign powers
VAS divIded-a part being exercised under com.
pact, through this General Government. and the
residue through the separate State Governments.
But # the Senator from Virginia, MIR. Rnes,)
meant TO assert, that the twehy.fo States form
ed but one community, with single sovereign
power, as to the objects of the Union. it would
be bnt the revival ot The old question:. Of whether
the Union was nnion between States, as distinct
communities. or mere aggregate OF the Amefl.
can People. as mass Of individuals, and in this
light his opinions would lead directly to consol'
dation
But to return TO the Bill 1t is said that the
bill ought TO pass; because the law must be en-
forced. The law must b. enforced. The In
perial EdiCt must be executed. Ii is under such
sophistry, eouched general terms, without look
ing To the ,imltatioDs which must ever exist IN
the practical exercise of power, that the most
cruel and despotic acts ever have been covered.
II was such sophistry as this. tina. cast Daniel in.
IN the lion,s den and the three Innuceuts into