Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-24
STATE RIGHTS-THE SENATE.

We publish to-day an interesting article from
the Philadelphia Examiner, on the value of the
Union.
The Senate.-Evcr since Mr. Jackson declar
cd war againt the Senate, for refusing to con-
firm some of his appointments and Tor stand
ing up in defence ofthe Constitution and Laws
in opposition to his dictatorial will his partsans
all over the country, imbued with the genuine
spirit of consolidation, have raised hue and
cry against this remnant of our confederate
system True it is, that many protesting devo-
ton TO the rights and sovereignty of the States,
have joined in the crusade, through ignorance
of the tendency OF their measures, but the major
part consists Of those who have no fixed prn-
ciples to govern them, and who are ready to
applaud any course pursued by their leaders,
which They consider calculated to. retain in the
hands of their party, the power and patron
age of the Government. With these last, we
would not pretend to reason. The man who is
under the influence Of the worship OF his fellow
man, is beyond the reach of argument, and can
only be cured of his folly, or corruption, by a
positive downfall. To the former, we would Of
fer a few words of counsel and would earnestly
solicit them to reflect, for moment upon the
result to which hostility against the Senate, may
ultimately lead.
AT the time of the formation Of the Federal
Constitution, it is well known, that the strong
government party were DESTROYS to do away with
the State sovereignties, and to form what they
termed A National Government" Their de-
sign was to establish one splendid consolidated
empire. making one people of thirteen separate
bodies of people, and thus reducing the States,
each of which had cautiously asserted lis reser-
walton Of its freedom, sovereignty and lndepen-
dence, to mere corporations. Against TINS
scheme the republican party most strenuousy
opposed themselves. They knew that liberty
nIy, ha oI with m
tons, and that one general code of laws could
not possibly extend over a wide eXpanse OF
country, without infringing upon individual
rights more than would thirteen distinct codes
of laws, adapted to the circumstances, habits
and feelings of the inhabitants OF the different
States respectively. They therefore refused to
unite in the formation of a Government that
would inevitably swallow up all the State sover-
eighties; and as one of the chief means of pro-
lection against such a catastrophe, insisted that
each State, whether small or large should be
entitled to an equal representation in the Sena-
torial body. Had it not been for this provision,
the Government, though nominaly federal,
would have been virtually consolidated; for,
had the representation in the Senate been pro-
portioned, like that Of the House of Represent
atives, to population, the small States would at
orce have lost their whole weight and influence,
and would have been wholly insignificant when
coming into conflict with the large ones. What
would the States OF Delaware and Rhode ISL
and be, in comparison with Pennsylvania and
New York, if they had no more power in the
Senate, than they have in the House? Nay,
what would even North and South Carolina,
and Georgia be? Mere hewers of wood and
drawers Of water to the large States, who would
trample under foot, and rob and pillage them at
pleasure.
And this is the institution that Mr.. Jackson
and his partisans are endeavoring to destroy.
This is the body, at this moment offering the only
guarantee for the sovereignty of the States,
which men protesting attachment to the rights
of the States. are anxious to see overthrown.
Sad indeed will be the day, if such consum-
nation can be achieved. Liberty might then
hide her head and flee for refuge to Turkey,
Austria, or Russia, as better adapted to afford
her shelter, than the hideous despotism that
would be erected on our soil. We exhort, we
earnestly exhort all who have been led astray
by their party passions in reference to this
mighty question, to ponder well what we have
said and to withdraw their countenance from
any scheme which has for its object, the over
throw of the Senate That body now stands as
the bulwark to protect the people against Exc
cutive usurpation 1t will some day be needed
to protect the States from the power of conso-
lidated I" National Government"
cAphTOC,A WATER from ConureSs Snrino