Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-09-17

members of Congress are but agents and ser
periodically removable BY the People, as much
subservieuf, as much dependent. as willingly
obedient, as any other OF their agents shu ser
wants. This dependence on the People Is '!s %.
curity that they will not act wrong h's 70 ."e
security which the People themselves have eho-
sen to rely on. in addition to the guards con-
tain ed in the Constitution itself.
lam onite aware. gentlemen. that 1t Is easy TOT
those, who oppose measures deemed necessary
for the execution of the laws. to raise the cry U,
consolidation lit easy to make charges, anu
10 bring general accusations. 1t IS easy 10 call
names. For one, | repeI all such 'mPutau"ns'
am no consoiidationisf; disclam the character'
altogether; and instead OF repeating tbs gene
raj and vague charge, will be obliged to any one
to show how the Proclamation, or the 'ate ID"
Of Congress. or, indeed. ans measure u ~n,.n
| ever gave my support tends, IN the s,sh'e:.
degree, to consolidation. BY conso'aa''"n 10
understood, grasping at power, not e"p'"'u'
tmnally conferred. But the Proclamation asser'
ted no new power. 1t only asserted The r'Sh''
in the Government, to carry into effect. IN the
form of law. power which 1t had exercised tor Tor
| " wears. should oppose anv srasP'ns al new
! powers, BY Congress. as Zea'ou'iy a. ,he '""S'
jealous. I wish to preserve the Constitution a'
i, is, without addition. and without dim'nu''on'
by one lot or title. For the same reason that
[ would not grasp at power, not gwen "ou'o
not surrender nor abandon powers. "h'ch are
given. Those who have placed me IN puohc
station, placed me there. not to alter the C"hs''
| tuition, but TO administer 1t. Inc power o'
change, the People have retained to themselves.
| Ihey can alter, they can modify they can
.lv If no go
2hev can tread il under foot. and make another,
or make no other; but while II remains uha'ter'
, ed by the authority of the People. it is our pow
pr of attoruey-our letter Of credlt-Onr creden:
tials; and We are to follow It, and obey ITS IN.
iunc tons, and maintain ITS just powers, TO the
best of our abilities. | repeat that tor one.
seek to preserve to the Constitution those pre-
| else powers, with which the People have clothed
Int While no pncroac hment is to made. on the
| reserved rights Of the People or OF the states.
while nothing is to be usurpcd. II is equally clear
that we are not at liberty to surrender. either IN
fact or form. any power or principle which the
Constitution does actually contain.
And wha, is the ground TOR this cry Of consol.
idat,onf maintain that the measures recommend
ed by the President and adopted BY Congress,
| ere measures Of self defence. Is II consoiIda'
ton to execute laws? It is consolidation to re.
sst the force that is threatening to upturn oar
government Is it consolidation to protect Oil
GERS in the discharge Of their duty, from courts
and juries previously sworn to decide against
them!
Gentlemen. I take occasion TO remark, that,
after much reflection upon the subject, and after
ali that has been said about the encroachmpnt OF
our general government upon the rights ct the
states, | know of no one power, exercised bv the
Il ,.btc admitted
the immediate friends and foes of the Copsiitu.
ton TO have beer conferred upon II by the people
when thar instrument was adopted | kno" OF
| no one mower, now claimed OF exercised, which
every body did not agree. IN 1889, vas conferred
on the general government On the contrary
there are several powers, and those, too. among
the most important tor the interests ct the people,
which were then universally allowed to be- CON
ferred by the Constitution Of the UnItrd States,
but which are now insenlousiJ doubted or c'a'
marously denied.
Gentlemen, upon this point shall detaln YOU
with no further remarks. IL does, however, give
me the most sincere pleasure Ia SAL. that, IN a
long visit through the state vest OF you. and IN
the great state north Of you, as vel! a. IN t"ur
of some DAYS duration in the respeo table state 10
which you belong find but QUE sentiment. in
regard to the conduc' OF the government upon
| this subject. | know that those Who have seen
fit to Intrust to me. IN part. their interests N Con
gress. approve OF the measures recommended by
the President. We see that he has taken coca
sion. during the recess Of Congress. to visit that
part Of the Country; and W. know how he has been
received. No where have hands been extended
with more sincerity Of friendship; and tor one,
gentlemen. take occasion TO say, that having
heard Of his return to the seat of government,
With health rather dcbilitated, it is among my
most earnest prayers that Providence may spare
his life. and that he may 60 through with his al
ministration, and come out with as much success
and glory as any Of his predecessors.
submit a story, recorded, I believe. by
Montague. A lady who had been long married,
and never had child. paid visit to one OF her
tenants who had ten or eleven. The formers
wife was complaining to the lady how hard she
found it to provide for her numerous
family; the lady sooth,neIy said. "Be comiorted
good woman; when God sends mouths, he al
ways ends meat " eyes truly nv dear Ma