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

carving the sword Of devastation against US,
are at the same time mourning new debt, to be
paid by those whose rights are violated; while
those who viUlate them are to receive the bene-
hts in the shape of bounties and expenditures.
And for what purpose IS the unlimited con-
troll Of the purse and of the sword thus placed at
the disposition Of the Executive? TO make war
| against one Of the tree and sovereign members
| of this Confederation; which the bill proposes to
deal with, not as State, but as collection OF
| banditti or outlaws. Thus exhibiting the imp.
Gus spectacle of this Government, the creature
of the States, making war against the power to
which il owes It's existence
| The bill violates the Constitution, plainly and
palpably, in many OF its PROVISIONS oy au'hor-
izins the President, at his pleasure, to place the
different ports of thi, Union on an unequal foot
;nu. contrary to that provision OF the Constitu-
ton which declares that no preference should be
given TO one port over another. Ii also violates
the Constitution, by authorizing him. at his dis
cretion. 20 impose cash duties on one port. while
credit is allowed in others; by enabling the Pre-
silent to regulate commerce, power vested IN
Congress alone; and, by drawing within the ju.
r,sdiction Of the United States courts, powers
never intended to be conferred on them As
great as these objections were. they became ill.,
significant IN the provions OF a bill, which, by n
SINGLE blow. by treating the States as mere law
less mass of acknowledgements all the bar
riers of the Constitution. He would pass over
tn. minor considerations, and proceed directly
| to the great point. This bill proceeds on the
ground that the entire sovereignty OF this cnun-
try belongs to the American People, as forming
one great community, and regards the States as
mere fraCt or counties, and not as an integral
part of the Union; having no more right to re-
| s,st the encroaChments of the Government than
a county has to resist the authority of State;
and treating such resistance as the lawless acts
of so many individuals, without possessing snve-
reign or polite al rights. 1t has beer SAID that
the bill declares war against South Carolina -
No; 1t DEGREES massacre OF her citizens! War
has something ennobllng about II, and, With all
| its horrors, brings into zion the highest quail
ties, intellectual and moral. Ii was perhaps IN
the order Of Providence that il should be per-
mi,ted for that very purpose. But this bill de-
clares no war, except, indeed, il b. that which
savayes wage-a war, not against the coinmun'.
", but the citizens of whom that community IS
| composed But he regarded 1t as worse than sa
wage warfare-as an attempt to take away iife
under the color Of law without the trial by jury,
or anv other safeguard which the Constitution
has thrown around the life Of the cltiZen IL
authorizes the President, or even his deputies.
when they NAV suppose the Law 10 be violated,
without the intervention Of a court or jury, tn
kill without mercy nr discrimination!
Ii was said by the Senator from Tennessee,
| MIR Grunjy) To BE- measure ut peace. Yes,
such peace as Inc walt gives to The lamb; the Kite
to the dove Such peace as Russia gives to Po'
land; o. death to ITS victim! A peace By ex
tinsulstins the political existence OF the Stately
a~ eng her into an aban comment OF the exer.
of every power which constitutes her d sovt'r's
| COMMUNITY. Ii is to South Carolina question
Ut self preseiva'ion,a"d proclaim t,'hai, should
tins bill pass. AMI an attempt be made to enforce
H. i, will De resisted a. every hazar'-even that
ut death itself Death is not the greatest Gala
mi.y: there are others still more terrible to the
! free and brave; and among them NAV be placed
the nss of liberty and honor. There are thou
sand. Of her brave sons. who. if need be. are
prepared cheertuly TO Law down their lives in de-
! fence of the State, and the great principles oil
constitutional ibert, for which she is conteDding.
God forbid ina, this shoC Id become necessary. Ii
never can be, unless This Government is resolved
to bring the question to extremity. when her gal
LIANT suns wi, stand prepared to perform the last
duty; to die nubly.
| | 90 .said Mr.. Cahoun) on the ground that
this Consultation was made by the States; thatii
i
IL federal union of the States, in which the Sc
veral States sill retain their sovereignty. II
these rvs be correct. he had not characterized
the bill too strongly. which presents the question,
whether they be or bp not. He would not enter
! into the discussion of that question now. lie
would rest it, for the present. on what he had
said ON the introduction of the resolutions now
on the table. under hope that another opportu.
NIFTY would be afforded for more ample discussion.
He would tor the present conhne his remarks tn
the objections which had been raised to the view
which he had presented when he introduced them
1 The authority of Luther Martin had been ad
duced By the Senator from Delaware, to prove
that the citizens If State, acting under the au.
thority OF a State, were liable to BIZ punished as
traitors by this Government. As eminent as Mr.
Martin. was, as a lawyer, and as high as his au.
thorty might be considered, on legal point, he
could not accept It, in determining the point at IS
sue The attitude which he occupied. if taken
into view, would lessen, If no, destroy, the weight
Of his authority. He had been violently opposed.
4 ~ Oh ,tint atH