Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-25
SPEECH OF MR.. MCCARTHY,

Mr. Madison. its abiest advocate, said, that it
was not "a complete consolidation" &c. lin
some respects it IS government OF federal ma.
ture-in others, II is of consolidated nature"
Sc. Should all the States Adopt it, it will
then DE a government established BY the thirteen
States of America, not though the inter, nliun
Of the Legislatures, but BY the people at large.
In this particular respect, the existing and pro-
posed governments u very material. The exist
ing system, has been derived from the dependent
deri,atiye authority of Legislatures of the States:
whereas this is derived from the superior power
of the people," Mr. Pendleton (anoher able
advocate ct the C"nstitution) said: "W We the
people, possessing all power, form government
such as We TANK will secure happiness; and sup.
pose. in adopting this plan. we should BE- mlstak-
en- in the end. where Is the cause Of alarm III that
quarter? In the same plan ~e point out an ca
sy and quiet method Of reforming what may be
found amiss." Again he says, - But an objec-
ton is made to the form. The expression, "we
the people," is thought improper" Permit me
to ask the gentleman who made this objection,
who but the people can delegate powers? who
but the people have right to form government!
The expression is a common one, and a favorIte
one with me-the representatives of the people
by their authority is mode wholly inessential.
Ii the objection BE- that the Union ought not to
be Of the people, but Of the late governments,
then | think the choice of the former very
happy and proper. What have the State Govern
ments to DO with iti Were they to determine,
the people would not, in that event. be the judy.
es upon what terms it was adopted" Mr.. Nj
cholas said, I" As there can be no liberty with
out government. It must be as dangerous to make
powers too limited as too great He iMr. Hen
ry) tells US that the Constitution aHnihilates the
confederation. Did he not know that every DO
DIV had right to change their form OF Govern
ment, when it should be deemed inadequate to
their happnesss The confederation being utter.
y defective. will he deny our right to alter or
abolish its But he objects to the expression of
- we the people," and demands the reason why
they had not said, ''we the U. States of American"
In my opinion. the expression is highly proper;
il is submitted to the people, because, on them it
is to operate. Till adopted, it is dead letter,
and not binding on any one. When adopted, it
becomes binding on the people who adopted it.
1t is proper on another account. We are under
great obligations to the Federal Convention, for
recurring to the people. as the source of all pow.
er. He says that persons in power never reIin-
quished their powers willingly. If. then, the
State Legislatures would not rellnquish part of
the powers they now possess. to enable General
Government to support the Union, reference to
the people is necessary" INV, MIR. Chairman,
think il must be perfectly apparent to the Com
mittee, that the Stat. Rights Party, which oppo
sed the Constitution in the Virginia Convention,
regarded it as forming very different govern.
ment from that which 1t is now described to be.
by the existing party. Indeed both the parties
in that body agreed upon the vital principle that
the Constitution was not merely confederation
Of States, but that it formed governmcn, of the
people. II any doubt still exists as to their opi-
Mons upon these points, it must be removed BY
reference to the following terms. in which the
Convention ratified the Constitution. I'VE the
delegates of the people Of Virginia." &c. 6 do
in the name aud in behalf of the people of Pirgi-
MIA, declare and make known, that the powers
granted under the Constitution, being derived from
the people Of the United States. may be resumed
by them, whenever the same shall be perverted
to their injury or oppression" &c. &c. We
the said delegates in the name and in behalf of
the people Of Virginia, do by these presents, as.
sent to and ratify the Constitution" &c.
Here, Mr. Chairman, it is shown that they ra-
tfy on the part Of the people Of Virginia; assert
ing at the same time, that the powers granted un.
der the Constitution being derived from the peo-
pie of the United States, that they land not the