Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-01-31
TIE .MiL'L{G.3.f BILL.

EsicslEa o;a1s. Tuesday, Fan. 81.
RE .NiCLUG.lN BILL.
We have not had it in our power 10 publish any Of
the Speeches delivered in the Senate Of The u. S. on this
bill. Some of them were distinguished by great puwer
and eloqucncc. They brought into review the great qucs-
ton Of chartered rirHs, and the still greater question cf
The Rights c. Me States. Mr.. Calhoun even conlended
that by admitting Michigan into the Union, on The vnle
of the popular Convention at st Annc's, Congress would
strike u deadly blew at the sovereignty Of the S.a!cs.-
All lis arguments and opposition were, however, of no
avail-Gr. the bl! has passed both Houses; Michigan is
now orr, Of the sovereign States Of the Union; and her
ltcpr, sentatives have taken their seats in both Houses
Of Congress.-A few words on these points, touched
upon in The debate, before we lay before our rtadtrs The
T. o wing extracts Ul Il letter from Washington.
MIR. Calhoun's position seems 10 Us to impugn, instead
Of C affirming tie Rights of the States. 1t is Of the very
essence OF sovereignty, TO act without supervision or
control from any cxtrancous power. Is Michigan
more sovcrtig On; are her State Rights more secure, when
Congress undertakes TO tell her, that as Il State, she has
no right To srlcc, the form in which she will declare her
will: VIII Mr.. Calhoun undertake To say, that her will
is not to he expressed, unless through Il Convention called
by her Legislature. when the People say, that they
will cal! 4 Convention tlrG:s Ives: The only question
in thHt cGse for Coz. kress TO decide, would be, Is this 4
| Convention Of the People of Michigan-or, II fragment
and fraction only? If the evidence be in favor of It's be.
mo . Convention Of the People, Mr.. Calhoun has no
| righ, 10 tell her TO go back; that she has no power 10
claim for herself the mode Of calling her Convenlion;
and that she cnl only enter the Union under the forms
OF a Legislative ca'i.-lt were better, if il had been prac.
lic"Lic, .nr Michigan to have resorted 10 THIS method; bnt
her treat Interests with the General Government would
no, admit of any further delay.
And rs to Maryland-we think the principle to be
this; lhat while atstraclly speaking, the ma jUriiy Of her
,elp!r tavr L decided right 10 call a Convention 10 amend
irI Constitution, II is better in practice to await the
action Of tie LeglSlatutc-aud much more, 10 preserve
the present Constitution, until she forms a new one
We lunIblr Conceive, that the better course IN these
eases generally, is to circulate n. emurials among The pro-
pie, against the evils of which they complain-to avail
themselves even Of drlibcrativc Convention OF the
friends Of reform, 10 devise the best mode Of collecting the
public scniiucnt-tlipn to 20 with this decided express Oh
uf the public Will before the Legislature and to demand
the call o Il Gcneral Convention, 10 amend The Cunsti
tuition. We humblv conceive, that the moment the new
Senate was elected, the friends Of Reform ought 10 have
adopted this plan OF operations. They should do II now
other wise, there will be no Convention called-and
they Will be put oil with such reforms only as the limit.
cd amendments Of Il Legislature will give them-and
that Leg stature too elected under the present obnoxious
CONSTITUTIONAL the Legislature of a State should still
resist the voice Of the People, and deny them the rrpara-
ton tiCy drmlnd for their crying wrongs, tits the night,
and We will say more, the duty Vi te People 10 carry
out The great principle which is recognised hy our own
Bill Of lights: ''1Iiat government is, or ought t" be, in
| stituted for the common benefit, protection and security
Of the People, nation, or community, &c-and that,
when any government shall &c :uund inadequate or con-
,rary to these purposes, a maj"rity of The community
hath an induhitablr, unulienuLle and indrltasiblc right,
to reform, alter, or abolish 1t, in such manner, as shall
be utgcd most conducive 10 the public veal: -
Extract If a Letter from HushingiOn, January -.
81 have listened with heartfelt satisfaction, To the de-
bate upon the Michigan E!l, and feel proud Of the abil!-
ty and rlo9uence, which our friends in both Houses dis
PLAYED. in support Of popular rights, and the sovereignty
Of the people. am not, | hope, the :naa, ever to for
sake the broad doctrine of popular rights; the iunda-
mental and inalienablc right Of the people to alter,
amend. new model, or abrogule and antiul the existing
government under which they live, whenever II shall
cease 10 subServe The great purposes for which 1t was
originally established, nor have ever had more cause
for hearty congra,ulation, so far as my party pTedllec,
tiuns are concerned, Than that which has been inspired
in the progress Of Tins very debate. Never have | been
prouder OF my political association. upon any occasion,
than in the discussion upon this bill. Let me tell you,
that the patented and exclusive pTnpri"tors OF all the
talents. Nc, have upon this occasion. had the tables
turned upon them. The long fnrbeurance of our friends
had, indeed, eInboldcncd the Wings, and really seemed
10 have inspired'tie belief, that they did possess a very
large proportion of the talents and intellectual superior
ity. But if that impression has not been shaken with
in the last few weeks, greatly mistake the just lnhu.
ence of the proud and brilliant displays CT our democratic
friends in both Houses Of Congress.
IL witnessed this day, 4 most sou! stirring scene. !
saw that prosecuted patriot. ':Fr0nk IHomas' Of Mary
land, rise in the House Of Representatives, to reply TO
his colleague Mr.. Jcniier. lie has been, as you know,
denounced by the Wings of that State as an anarchist,
and Mir. Jcniler reiterated the same charges as to the
party with which Mr.. Thomas was Identified III that
Silie. with some personal illusions to the part wh:ch
Mr.. Thomas had taken. in favor of RETURN. But uni r
tunate nan he was! for he only afforded a 1t occas!"n
for nne Of the most brilliant ~r!Ioris, which ! lave ever
head. Thomas is an orator Of tie first grade; Classical
in his style, clear ana rcrspicuous in his views: with an
energy uf q, sticulalinn, and !ervour Of elocution. MlIich
dpirs description. II he is all anarchist, so am and
Cod send US many more. To Mr.. J%enlter, lis superior
powers of Intellect, and holy ardour for the cause of re-
form and popular rights, may seem anarciia', because,
Wit! such an advocate at their head as Francis Thomas,
The majority of tic ireeInen of Maryland cannot br
much longer deprived oil their just political rights, by the
party with which Nh. Jeniier, ! should infer, was lden-
titled. In truth, he is one Of the FIRST Men Of his age
in Congress, and u gallant and patriotic son, OF whom,
Maryland may well be proud, because true to her, he
can only be dreaded by these who would manacle and
oppiess her"