Daily Richmond Whig & public advertiser. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1833-1840, 1833-04-03

bill, J, OF course, cotDluded that its members
would proceed in the discussion, and explain the
principles, aud the necessity for the bill, before
| the other Senators would enter into the discus.
SION, and particularly those from South Carolina
understanding, however, that BY the arrangement
OF the Commipec, il was allotted to the Senator
from Tennessee To close the discussion on The
Dill, waited 10 the last moment in expectation o.
nearing from the Senator from Massachusetts
lie Is member OF the Committee But moi
hearing from him. rose TO speak to the bill. and
as soon as had concluded, the Senator from
Massachusetts arose, will not say TO reply tc
me, aud certainly not to discuss the bill but The
resolutions which had been laid on the table, a.
have stated. do not state these facts in The
way OF complaint, but in order to explain my
own course. The Senator having directed hi,
argument against my resolutions, felt mysel
compelled To seize the FIRST opportunity to call
them up from the table, and to assign day fol-
their discussion, in the hope not only that the
Senate would hear Inc in their vindication; but
would also afford me an opportunity Of taking
the sense OF this body on the great princIles on
which they are based
The Senator from Massachusetts,, in his argu.
meats, against the resolutions, directed his at
TACK almost exclusively against the first, on the
ground, suppose, that was fhe basis of the
other two, aud that unless the first could be de.
molished, the others would follow Of course
In this he was right. As plain and as simple as
The Facts contained in the first are, they cannot
De admitted TO be true, without admitting the
doctrines for which |, and the State represent
contend. He (Mr. W. commenced his attack
with verbal criticism on the resolution, in tbs
course OF which he objected strongly TO two
words, constitutional and "accede." To IN,
| former, ON the ground that the word, as used
(constionai compact was obscure-that it con
veyed no definite meaning; and that the consi
tuton was noun substantive, and not an adjec
i've. regret that have exposed myself to the
criticism OF the Senator certainly did not in
tend 10 use any expression Of doubtful sense
and1t have done So the Senat u must attribute
IL 10 the poverty Of my language, and not TO de-
sign. trust, however, that the Senator will
excuse, me, when he comes to hear nv apology
In matters OF criticism, authority is Of the high
est Importance, and have an authority OF SC
hish character, in this case, for using the ex-
preston which he considers so obscure and SC
unconstitutional, as will justify me even in his
eyes. 1t is no less than the authority Of the
senator himsell--siveu on a solemn occasion
the discussion on Mr.. Foot's resolution,) and
doubtless with great elaboration, after having
duly weighed the force Of the expression
Here Mr. Z. read from Mr.. Webs,er's speech
IN reply to Mr. Hayne, in the Senate Of the U.
niled States, delivered January Is, 1880, as fol
lows:1
=" The domestic slavery Of the Seth leave
where find Tin the hands OF their own GO
vernr:snts. IL is their affair mt mine Nor dc
complain of the peculiar elfec, which the mag.
nilude oil that popuatian has had in The dsir
button of power under the Federal Government
we Know, SIR, that the representation of the
States IN the other House is not equal. We
Know that great advantage, in that respect, is en-
Joyed by the slave-holdng States; and we know
100 that the intended equivalent for that advan-
iage that is 10 say, the imposition Of dircc
taxes In the same ratio, has become merely no
minal; the habit OF the Government being al.
most invariably TO collect its revenues from Other
sources and in other modes Nevertheless. dc
not complain; nor would i countenance any
movement to alter this arrangement OF represen
tatlon. IL is the original bargain--the compact
let il stand-let the advantage Of il be full;
enjoyed. The Union itself is loo full of 5ene.
hts TO be hazarded in propositions for changing
us original basis. go for the Constitution as
| 1t Is, and Tor the Union il is. But l am re
solved not TO submit, in silence, to accusations
either against myself individually or against the
North, wholly unfouuded and uniust-accusa.
tons which imputs TO US u disposition TO evade
ire CONSTITUTIONAL COMPACT, and 10 extend the
power OF the Government over the internal laws
and domestic condition Of the States"
IL will be seen by this extract, that the .Sena-
tor not only uses the phrase constitutional CON-
pact" which he now so much condemns but
what is still more important, he calls the consii.
tuition itself compact-a bargain; which con.
tains important admissions, having direct and
powerful bearing on the main issue involved in
the discussion. as will appear in the course OF
his remarks. But, as strong IS his objection is
TO the word constitutional" it is still sire. ger
to the word ''accede,n which, he thinks, has been
introduced into the resolution, with some deer
design, as suppose, TO cntrap the Senate into
| an admission Of the doctrine Of State Rights
| Here, again, must shelter myself under author.
Ity. But suspect that the Senator, by sort OF
instinct, dor our instincts often strangely run
before our knowledge,) had prescience which
would account for his aversion for the word that
this authority was no less than Thomas JeiTer-
son himself, the great apostle Of the doctrine OF
, State Rights. The word was borrowed from
him. IL was taken from the Kentucky Iesolu-
ton, as well as the substance of the resolution
ITSELF But trust that may neut ,.lize what
ever aversion the authorship of this word NAV
have excited in the mind Of the Senator by the
introduction Of another authority-that Of Wash
ingion hlmsell-who, in his speech TO Congress
speaking Of tie admission Of North Carolina in.
TO the Union, uses this very term, which was
repeated by the Senate in their reply. Yet, in
order to narrow the ground between The Senator
and myself rs much as possible, will accom-.
MEDIATE myself 10 his strange antipathy against
the two unfortunate words. BY striking them out
OF tue TesoIuiion, and substituting IN their place
those very words which the Senator himself has
designated as constitutional phrases. In the
place OF that abhorred adjective CONSTITUTIONAL
| will insert the very noun substantive, 'const
tuhon;' and in the place Of the word "accede, II
will insert the word "ratify," which he desig.
! mates as the proper term TO be used.
Let us now see how the resolution stands
and how it will read after these amendments
Here, Mr. c. said, the resolution as introduced
J reads
Resotred, That the people ofthe several States
composing these United States, are united as
parties to n constitutional compact, TO which the
people Of each State acceded rs separate and
sovereign community, each binding itself by il.
Owl particular ratification and that the Union
Of which the said compact is the bond, is an
Union betieeeH be States rshfyipg the same.
As proposed TO be amended
Resoired, That the people Of the several State,
composing these United States, are united as