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

the President aud his Message proceed on an err
roneous basis, when they assume that by the De-
claraton of Independence we are considered as
one nation; that this instrument was adopted oy
the people Of the United States as one nation,
nv a mass of individuals Of the United States, as
In coatradlsnct.on to the principle asserted by
some that it was made by the people ot the Sc
parate States: and that the Constitution had no
ether reference than to the people, considered as
the people Of the Union. What was this Unons
II vas not an union Of the people OF the whole
United States acting together, but of the people
OF the several States. and IN that sense alone. he
con.euded. were the terms used IN the Constitu-
ton of the Uuiied States. The words people OF
the United States, had no other meaning than
oeopIe of the States. The Convention which
was called to form the Constitution, was the
work Of the thirteen United States. Ii was TO
that proposition, to the question as to the organic
structure of the Goyernment, that he felt bound
to 90 for the foundation of mis- argument. for. I'M
MI that was settled, he could not discover any
standard by which he could test the constitution
atty of the provisions Of this bill. When this
point should be sufficiently explained, the Senate
would be able to come 10 a more accurate deci
sion whether the contl6ct of the State OF South
Carolina ought to be made the subject o. unquali
fed denunCietiun, and how tar II VAS proper Tor
the United States, as 4 nation, TO act On her by
war, aud thus preserve the Constitution OF the
United States, AMI thus demonstrate. at this
time, to what extent South Carolina had violated
the Constitution. If he rightly understood the
language Of the message, 1t went on the idea that
the United States Government was the Peoples
Goyernment; that II was established by the PEG.
ole acting in a mass, in opposition to the idea
that the Constitution had been adopted by the
people Of the States; that it was ratified by the
States, set in motion by the States, and depend
ed on the States for its support and continuance.
This idea of the Government being made by the
people Of the Union, in opposition IN the idea
that il was created by the people Of the States,
and dependent on them for vitality and existence,
was one which he wished 10 reute.
In the fl 81 place he would make reference
to our situation as colonies. As colonies, these
States were all separate and distinct colonies,
each colony holding its separate Executive, each
its oUn legislature. or, as it was termed. general
court, and each hoding its own Judiciary
There was no other cement existing between
these colonies except that which nature made,
and that which arose from their owing common
ALLEGIANCE 10 Grea, Britain The first settlers
came to this country, and established. as they
came their separate colonies, each having It's
own Executive. In this condition they we're
found whea the oppressive acts OF Great Britain
coerced them into separation from the mother
country. A common interesr. common cause.
a common oppre ssion, q common burden. united
them in determination To resist, AMI IN prepa
ration of the means It resistance. They sepa-
rately resolved IN their course of action, and by
common consent exchanged communications with
each other, and determined to have a general
Congress.
There were some Of the States which had de.
clared their independence before that Congress
issued the Declaration of Independence. The
Declaration of Rights by the State Of North Ca.
rol.na, preceded the general Declaration OF ln-
dependence. Virginia also had previously adapt
ed her Bali of Rights and her Declaration of liz
dependence. Before the general Declaration
was made, each of the Colonies had by itself.
and by its uwn separate authority, thro~n off its
former allegiance 10 the Crown of Great Britain,
and declared It's own sovereignty and lndrprnd
ence. b. virtue of that Declaration, and Of the
means which were taken to resist the efrrt made
By the Crown to rlvet a standing army among
them. and force them into Submission. they as
sum,d right To enter into a mutual compact
against the cOmm0n cuemI, with such ct the CO.
lonies as were willing To jnin IN such compact.
Acting on this cling. they assumed the right to
send delegates to Congress. He requested the
Senate to look at the facts. and see II there was
the slightest color for the idea that we declared
our independence as Il nation, and cOnsolidat
ed government.
He reminded the Senate Of the historical fact,
that the delegates so chosen did not. on the in-
slant, terminate their work, but that, after hav-
inc met, they drafted their constitution, and had
been in session, dav after day, for some time,
engaged in dehberalIon, before they agreed on
the form which the document should bear. L.
was as early as the mon,h Of September. IVA.
that these delegates first met. They went Oh
with their abors, and the various acts done shew
that they still settling this matter until Ju-
~ 4th, 1776, when the declaration was finall v
agreed upcn-,he unanimous declaration of the
thirteen Un.ted States of America. Bat that
was not all When they came to adopt this de-
claration. which was consequent on the unjusti
fable acts uf the British Government. which
formed the ground of complaint. they used this
language" We therefore, the representatives
Of the United States in Congress assembled. .
Xvr ssl anil I,xt I'M fhnr,fy oil