Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-06

NUE.
l take my stand, said Mr.. b., on the reserved
rights of the States. IrepuG,ate the doctrine ot
Modification. repudiate also the high toned
doctrine Of the Federal party. / believe that II
is to that heightened doctrine that we are to At
tribute notification. believe that doctrine pro-
duced it. is the parent Of it. tits by an imPro-
per pressure oi the Federal Government on the
rights OF the States, and by exercising doubtful
pawers, that the State Of South Carolina has
been thrown INTO this position. He did not mean
to Justify the course Of that State. But whether
she was right, or whether she was wrong, this fur
nished her with something like an excuse tor her
conduct. He believed that the principle was as
susceptible Of demonstration as any principle Of
mathematics, that almost any attitude Of resls-
lance against the Federal Government, IN which
States had been seen, arose on! OF the unwarran.
table exercise of doubtful powers by the United
States. They had always been inclined to tran
guilty. They had always been disposed to make
a child's bargain with the United States-if you
will let US alone, we will let you alone. They
would never have admitted the idea Of rising in
opposition to the United States, unless there had
been some exciting cause. The whole history
of the world proves this fact. There is no pre-
cedent where People have arrayed themselves
against supreme power without any occasion,
because the great body of mankind has always
been found more ready to acquiesce in oppres'
sion than to resist it. He desired gentlemen TO
produce single precedent where People whose
pursuits are peaceful, and agr icultural for thr
most part, we're willing to cast away " the PIP.
ing times Of peace" and for the mere love of
| glory. to rush into conflict against power, and
that power twenty times larger than itself. -
Could gentlemen produce an instance where any
| State. without provocation, had ever offered re.
sistance to the General Government? lie had
thus, he believed. established the great principle
| that the States themselves we're always willing
to be quiet. and that most Of the opposition which
had been manifested against the General Govern.
ment had arisen from the exercise Of doubtful
power by that Government, by which had been
provoked that State pride which the gentle
man from New Jers ey SO earnestly denounced
Without that pride this Republic would now
have been as nothing To justify this principle
that most OF the controversies which had arisen,
have arisen from the circumstance Of The Fede
raj Government taking their debateable ground.
| he would read an authority which would NEE
with the appreciation Of all pure democrats. |,
was the authority Of George Clinton, a name de
serving Of all respect clarem Ct venerable no
me,l-a man distinguished for his steady adhe
|
President Of tie Senate in 1910. he gave his
casting vote against the Bank. Ii was on tina
occasion that that he used the following language
=. In the course OF hong life have found
that Government is not to be strengthened by thu
assumption OF doubtful powers; but by wise
and energetic execution of those which are in.
conte stibie; the former never fails 10 proIue,
suspicion and distrust, whilst the latter inspire!
| respect and confidence.
elf, however, after o fair experiment, thu
powers vested in the General Government shall
be found incompetent to the attainment nf III,
objects for which it was instituted, the CGnstitu
ton happily furnishes the means for remedyinl
the evil by amendment, and have no doubt,
that, in such event. on an appeal to the patriot
ism and good sense Of the community, it will b.
readily applied"
What was the result Of his experience? That
| the Government was never Strengthened b,
the exercise Of doubtful powers. A doctrine
which still prevails among the distinguished lead
ers OF the party in the State Of New York, and
which they can never consent to surrender, un
less they should become recreant to the great
principles which they have always maintained.
But he would not only quote authority, he
would always quote facts. WHAT was it which
excited ,h. first controversy between a State and
I the Oniteu SldteS, COnHlCt winch threatened
to bring ruin OH the country, and which was de.
signated the reign Of terror BY the Republican
party, as it well deserved to be characterized-
He referred to the Alien and Sedlion Law,
which. by usurping the power OF trampling into
dust the liberty Of speech, the freedom Of the
press, and all the rights aud securities which the
people had enjoyed. called forth movement the
most glorious to the country that can BE- imagin.
ed. II drew forth the celebrated report of Mr..
Madison, report to the merits of which he was
totally inadequate to do justice. This was a
movement Of the aspiring pride of the State
sovereignties, which, instead Of destroying the
Union, brought back the Government to its 6rst
+ principles. So much, then, for state pride. II
that State pride had preserved the Constitution
at Its last gasp, it ought not TO have called down
upon it such unqualified Reproduction. The doc
trines of Virginia saved the confederacy in that
dangerous crisis. They produced civil revolu.
ton, which brough: Into power the wisest and
! the ablest statesman who ever lived in any coun-
try. This was one Of the benefits which had 70.
suited from State pride.
In the case Of the establishment Of the United
States Bank, there arose also conflict Of powers.